Gone are the days when Executive Assistants were only responsible for answering phones and scheduling meetings. Today, executive assistants are crucial members of the leadership team, serving as valuable assets to the executives they support. As the business landscape continues to change, so do the expectations of executive assistants. They are now expected to possess a wide range of skills, including project management, problem-solving, and strong interpersonal communication. They provide essential support to executives by managing their calendars, coordinating travel arrangements, and executing various administrative tasks.

The transformation of the executive assistant role has been driven by the recognition of their ability to contribute to the overall success of the organisation. They are relied upon to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and ensure effective communication within and outside the company.

In this article, we will examine how the role of an executive assistant has evolved, and also explore the influences behind this shift, and the skills required to thrive in this multifaceted position.

Executive Assistant VS Personal Assistants

Distinguishing between executive assistants and personal assistants becomes imperative when examining how the executive assistant role has evolved, to avoid any confusion.

According to Tealhq, Personal Assistants are versatile professionals who offer administrative and organisational support to individuals, notably executives, senior managers, or entrepreneurs. Serving as a pivotal liaison, they adeptly handle correspondence, scheduling, and various personal tasks to improve their employer’s daily routine and time management. Renowned for their exceptional communication skills, discretion, and capacity to juggle numerous responsibilities autonomously, personal assistants play a vital role in facilitating high-level professionals’ focus on strategic duties by ensuring the seamless execution of both personal and professional commitments.

On the other hand, an Executive Assistant is a professional who provides high-level administrative support to executives within an organisation. They typically work closely with top-level executives such as CEOs, presidents, and senior managers, assisting them with various tasks including managing schedules, coordinating meetings, handling correspondence, conducting research, and facilitating communication both internally and externally. In addition to administrative duties, executive assistants may also engage in strategic tasks such as project management, research, and decision-making support, depending on the needs of the executive and the organisation.

The difference between the two roles simply lies in their scope of responsibility. Executive assistants typically support executives or senior management within an organisation with high-level administrative tasks, while personal assistants provide support to individuals on a personal level.

Factors That Led To The Rise Of Executive Assistants as Strategic Partners

The rise of executive assistants as strategic partners within an organisation can be attributed to several factors. These factors have contributed to the growth of the role from an administrative assistant to a strategic partner necessary for the growth of an organisation. Below are some of these factors:

Increasing Growth Of Business Operations:

When an organisation is on a steady path of growth, it’s only natural that the executives and members of leadership take up more demanding responsibilities. Executives bear the responsibility of overseeing various aspects of the business, demanding substantial support in their day-to-day operations within the organisation. Recognizing the rigorous demands of their roles, organisations hire strategic partners to provide support to these executives. This strategic delegation allows executives to concentrate on the nuanced complexities of business while entrusting executive assistants with recurring mission critical tasks. Such a strategic manoeuvre not only enhances productivity and efficiency but also empowers executives to dedicate their undivided attention to driving the growth of business operations within the organisation.

Technological Advancement:

As business executives focus on propelling their organisations forward, they frequently find themselves stretched for time to figure out the complexities of emerging technologies. This is precisely where the indispensable role of an executive assistant comes into play. By guiding executives through the nuances of new technological developments, executive assistants play a pivotal role in driving understanding and adoption. Those executive assistants who adeptly integrate technology into their daily workflow witness a notable uptick in productivity. Leveraging tools ranging from advanced project management software to virtual meeting platforms, technology empowers executive assistants to improve operations and productivity not just within their own responsibilities, but across the spectrum of their executives’ tasks as well.

Changing Organisational Structures:

New age organisations have gone from traditional hierarchy organisational structure to more agile and flexible organisational structures. According to Techreport, a staggering 71% of U.S. companies have embraced agile methodologies, reflecting a widespread trend towards flexibility and responsiveness.

Amidst this shift, there arises a pressing demand for strategic partners capable of shouldering executive burdens and supporting informed decision-making. Overtime, executive assistants were positioned as a linchpin in navigating the complexities of contemporary organisational dynamics. This shift has led to increased collaboration across departments and hierarchies, enabling robust support systems for executives. Executive assistants emerge as instrumental facilitators, championing communication, coordination, and decisive action within fluid organisational frameworks.

Remote Work Culture:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more companies adopted remote work. With this new development came several opportunities and also challenges. Executives are too busy to coordinate all the nitty gritty aspects of facilitating communication across geographically distributed teams so they need help. This is where the executive assistant steps in. The Executive assistant ensures that every aspect of the remote team under the executive’s purview is meticulously followed up on and efficiently organised.

Why Hiring An Executive Assistant is a Strategic Move for your Business

The average executive assistant is able to save their employer 32 hours/week but even with overwhelming workloads, some executives hesitate to hire executive assistants. Reasons include seeing constant busyness as inherent to their role, scepticism towards handing over parts of their work to someone else , concerns about peer perception, high standards for assistants, and strategic decisions that delay hiring. Such hesitations are common with executives who may perceive hiring an assistant as a luxury rather than a necessity or underestimate the value of having someone responsible for providing support to them.

Now, while it’s understandable that executives may hesitate to hire executive assistants due to various concerns and perceptions, it’s crucial to recognize the immense value that exceptional support staff can bring to an organisation.

The average executive assistant not only saves their employer significant time but also contributes to increased efficiency, productivity, and overall success. Investing in the strategic partnership of an executive assistant is not just a luxury, but a necessity for any business looking to thrive and grow. If you’re a busy professional looking to optimise your time, optimise operations, and grow your business, consider hiring a Virtual Executive Assistant.

At Arwana, we help organisations recruit world-class talents in admin, marketing and design, and our team specialises in hiring skilled and experienced Virtual Executive Assistants. From £900/month you can have a full-time Virtual Executive Assistant to support you with recurring mission critical tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing email correspondence, coordinating travel arrangements, conducting research, social media management and much more.