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Back-to-school season tips for working parents

The back-to-school season brings a flurry of activity and new challenges for working parents. As an executive assistant, balancing your professional responsibilities with your children’s school schedules can be daunting. Thankfully, many of the talents and skills you’ve developed as an EA can help you navigate this area. Here are some strategies to consider that may help you manage this busy period effectively.

Preparing for tomorrow: Key trends shaping the future

As an executive assistant, staying ahead of emerging trends is crucial for your professional growth and effectiveness. In July, we polled our Facebook and LinkedIn group pages, asking, “Which emerging trend do you think will most impact administrative professionals?” The answers are telling and provide a roadmap for what to anticipate and how to prepare.

Overcoming the guilt of minor mistakes

Even the most diligent administrative professional can stumble upon minor mistakes—a mistyped email, a scheduling oversight, a forgotten task. While these missteps may be insignificant, they often trigger a wave of guilt and self-doubt that can be counterproductive to our growth and well-being. It’s time to reframe our perspective and embrace a more forgiving attitude towards these minor lapses.

A breath of fresh air for the office

When the gorgeous summer weather arrives, it’s no surprise that employees would rather be outside enjoying it than stuck in an office building under fluorescent lights. As an executive assistant, you can embrace the July celebrations of National Parks and Recreation Month and National Ice Cream Month to arrange fun team-building activities to get people outdoors and bonding—for both on-site staff and remote workers.

Communicating with strategic impact

As Lisa Olsen, senior executive assistant and speaker, shared at the recent Admin Pro Forum 2024, effective communication is crucial for administrative professionals looking to maximize their leadership potential. She opened with a quote from George Bernard Shaw: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

The key to setting boundaries as an EA

Your role demands a delicate balance of responsiveness and self-preservation. In a fast-paced and demanding environment, it’s all too easy to find yourself overextended, burnt out and unable to perform at your best. That’s why setting clear boundaries is essential for your well-being and long-term success. Here are some strategies for establishing healthy boundaries, both with your executive and your colleagues.