Every Executive Assistant knows that onboarding a new Executive is a challenge. You need to learn how to work together and find a good rhythm to hit the ground running. How do you show the impact you can make from the start and build a relationship based on trust and productivity? With some tips and tricks, you can ensure that your onboarding process is smooth sailing!
Building Rapport
The first step in onboarding is building rapport with your new Executive. This includes getting to know each other as well as understanding their working style. You can do this by having an open dialogue about expectations early on. Ask questions like, “What kind of communication works best for you?” or “How often would you like updates on projects?” These conversations will help both of you figure out what works best for you in order to facilitate productive cooperation.
It’s also important that during this initial process, both you and your Executive have some flexibility with each other. Acknowledge any mistakes made along the way so that it does not become an issue down the line. The goal here is to be able to work together effectively and efficiently—not just now but in the future as well.
Organization & Prioritization
Once there is a mutual understanding of how each of you likes to work, it's time to get organized! This means establishing systems for project tracking, creating processes for delegating tasks, setting deadlines, etc., all while keeping everyone accountable. It's also important to prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency so that nothing gets missed or overlooked. Additionally, make sure that everyone has access to relevant documents or resources they need in order to stay productive and efficient.
Show Impact Immediately (this is one is for the Executives to read 😉)
Onboarding a new Executive Assistant into the ever-changing Executive Leadership world involves more than just organizing paperwork—it's about making sure they are set up for success right away! Show your Assistant how their presence will be beneficial right away by demonstrating how their skillsets complement yours so that they feel as if they are making an immediate impact within their role from day one. Additionally, try providing them with opportunities such as attending meetings or events where their presence would be beneficial (or even essential!). That way, they get the chance to showcase why they were hired in the first place!
Pssst, Assistants, if they don't quite get it right the first time, try listing the above from your perspective, make some suggestions as to which meetings you could attend perhaps and get the conversation going!
Finally
Onboarding Executives should be done with finesse and thoughtfulness; it should never feel like an overwhelming task! With these tips in mind, take time upfront during your onboarding process so that both parties can grow comfortable with each other quickly—this will set up an environment conducive for success down the line! As long as there is good rapport established between both parties early on and everything is organized properly according to preferences and priorities, then your Executive Assistant-Executive relationship should be off to a great start! Good luck!
Let me know what you think!
Catch you online,
Meg 👋