You’re not called an Executive Assistant just because you support an Executive

It’s the most common response I hear in class, “I’m called an Executive Assistant because I work for, or support, an Executive”.  To me, however, that isn’t actually the right way of thinking of the EA role, as I’ll explain.        

You can actually be an Executive Assistant and not work for an Executive.  You might support a Head of Marketing, or Head of Operations.  So, the view that the EA title derives solely from a boss’ status is quite old-fashioned and limiting in a modern world. 

I’ve trained and coached many EAs who don’t work for an ‘Exec’.  They might support someone who isn’t on the C-Suite, or someone who is a Senior Manager.  Some firms still call their Assistants ‘Executive Assistants’ only when the Assistants work for the C-Suite or Board. To me those firms are stuck in the dark ages.  The better clients I work with give an Assistant the title Executive Assistant based on their responsibility, not just based on who they look after.      

I think EAs also miss a trick here.  The reason you’re called an Executive Assistant is because of what’s expected and demanded of you.  The word Executive often implies something better, or enhanced.  For example, if you use the executive lounge of an airline, you’d expect it serves better food, has better customer service and has a smarter environment.  So, by default, being ‘executive’ indicates something more high-level and of higher quality – and that should apply to the performance and competence of an Executive Assistant. 

Let’s also think about the word ‘executive’ more generally.  To be ‘executive’ means you take responsibility and make decisions.  ‘Executive’ is often about someone who has power and puts plans into action.  Another definition of ‘executive’ is “a person with senior managerial responsibility in a business”.  By default, then, if you have executive in your title, we’d hope the job-holder operates as executively as a senior manager would. 

That said, I see lots of EAs who aren’t seen as senior managers, don’t behave as managers, and don’t have managerial responsibility.  (Are they really just administrators or Executive PAs?) 

I often used to close my conference speeches with the phrase: “I wish you all every success in being a more executive Assistant” – but that went over the head of most of the people there.  I was trying to encourage the EAs present to act and think like an Executive – with all that ‘being executive’ entails. 

The title of EA is much more than about who you report to.  An EA who is ‘executive’ will also enhance and support their leader’s executiveness.  That word executiveness, I think, capitalises perfectly what EAs add (and do) beyond administration.  All EAs are there to make their boss or leader look better – to make them more executive. 

I think all EAs should reflect on what being ‘Executive’ actually means.  The cop-out answer is, as I’ve said, that you report to an Exec.  But that’s never how I saw my role as corporate Assistant of 20 years and, here at my Academy, we teach our students the importance of being ‘executive’.  That relates to behaviours, responsibility and the EA’s role in acting and operating as an integral part of the management team.

In closing, then, I wish all EAs every success in being more executive! 

Adam Fidler Academy is the UK’s leading provider of education and training to EAs and PAs.  If you’re an EA who would like to increase your managerial effectiveness, The Strategic Executive Assistant™ and the Level 4 Certificate in Business and Administrative Management, are two must-attend programmes.  You can find out more at: www.adamfidler.academy