Ep87: Decision-Making in the EA Role. How Trust Is Actually Built

In The EA Campus Ep87, we’re talking about something that sits at the heart of the EA–Executive relationship. Decision-making, and knowing when to act without constantly checking in.

As Executive Assistants, we’re expected to move work forward, protect priorities, and reduce pressure on our executive. In The EA Campus Ep87, Nicky Christmas explores how judgement, problem-solving, and clear processes help EAs build trust through everyday decisions.

This conversation is grounded in real EA work. Inbox management. Calendar decisions. Priorities. Access. The moments where you pause and wonder whether to decide or check in.

You’ll hear why over-checking often creeps in, even for experienced EAs, and how executives actually experience repeated confirmation requests. In The EA Campus Ep87, we look at how trust is built through consistency rather than big moments.

Nicky shares practical ways to strengthen your decision-making using context, past experience, and an understanding of what genuinely moves work forward. This includes what to do when a decision doesn’t land as expected, and how to recover without retreating into over-checking.

Inside The EA Campus Ep87

One of the key themes in the episode is what changes once your Executive fully trusts how you think and work. Autonomy increases. Your role becomes clearer. You’re managing work end-to-end rather than relaying decisions.

We also explore how this level of trust affects influence. You’re involved earlier. Your recommendations carry more weight. Others begin to see your role differently because of how consistently you operate.

Beyond the relationship itself, The EA Campus Ep87 looks at how confident decision-making shapes your day-to-day work. Fewer check-ins. Clearer ownership. Less second-guessing. More focus on solving problems that matter.

If you’re an EA who wants to feel more confident making decisions, especially in fast-moving or high-pressure environments, The EA Campus Ep87 will feel very familiar.

We also reference current EA Campus training throughout the episode, including our Virtual Summit on 27 January and upcoming AI masterclasses in January and February, all designed to support better decision-making in real EA workflows.