Executive Assistants push back to push forward

Executive Assistants push back to push forward by Yvonne Collier CSP, The Assertive Skills Expert

Does this situation sound familiar to you? Judy is EA to three Directors. It’s a busy office. She is also the ‘go to’ person because she ‘gets things done’.
Increasingly she’s feeling physically drained, emotionally vulnerable, and her mind overwhelmed with negative worrying thoughts. She is struggling to manage her workload and all the competing demands from people who depend on her. She’s not coping like she used to.

Judy remembers when she loved her job. But now the pressures seem to be greater than ever. She’s accommodating others’ needs but not her own. Some days she’d rather just stay in bed . . . but is compelled to go to work because ‘everyone relies on me’.

What she’d like to do is say ‘No’ to some of the tasks / requests. To push back and redirect some of the requests she receives to others. Judy feels the need to establish boundaries to make it clear what she will do and what she won’t do to ensure she has life balance so she can enjoy quality time for herself, her family and friends.

It’s like her personal batteries are drained and she needs a recharge NOW!

Here are 4 tips that will help Judy (and you) regain a sense of calm, empowerment and resourcefulness and bring back the fun and delight with your ‘very important EA role’.

1. Set boundaries.

• Know what’s important to you. Know what’s expected of you

• Communicate assertively what you will do and what you won’t do

• Speak up respectfully, ask questions and clarifying meanings and expectations.

• Prioritize and communicate what is possible to be done, by when and what will need to be handled by someone else.

• Be willing and confident to negotiate on what others see as priorities i.e. ‘If you need this to be done which task do you want me not to do?’

• Craft the words, deliver with a respectful tone where you stand on an issue and how you feel. And the consequences if the boundary is not respected.

2. Say No ‘appropriately’.
If you know what’s important to you, you can say yes to that and no to the unimportant.
There are many ways to say No. Here are my 3 favourites.

• The rain check No: No for now, not forever! E.g. Sharon, I will do your report in the morning. I’m finishing off Geoff’s report to the Board now, and then I’ll do yours. OK.

• The ‘one reason’ No. It needs to be true so your words and body language are congruent and believable. Only one because the more reasons you give the weaker your case.

• Alternative No. I’ve a prior commitment this evening, but I can come in early so you will have the documents you need by 9am.

3. Recharge your personal batteries.

• Get 7 – 9 hours sleep each night. Getting 4 hours or less is like ‘operating drunk’

• Eat right. Minimize your sugar in take and aim to eliminate processed foods. Lots of fish and vegetables

• Stay hydrated. Eight glasses of water each day enables your brain to function more efficiently and clearly, and you’ll eat less!

• Have a ‘mini holiday’ at the weekend ideally without social media!

4. Be fully present in the here and now = ‘be in the moment’. In this way you optimise your energy and focus fully to the matter at hand. This means you’re more effective and efficient. Time and money is saved. You’ll be a star ??

Yvonne Collier CSP is The Assertive Skills Expert. M: 0417 203 106
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnecollier/
https://www.maddisontraining.com

Yvonne helps you handle ‘difficult people’ confidently, communicate persuasively and effectively, to foster better relationships and to ‘get along with others better' . . . to get what you want!

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