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Category: Personal Development

The executive assistant’s hidden superpower

A superpower that comes with hard-earned experience is the ability to analyze a job description to determine viability. I can estimate how much time and effort it will take to perform the job well, as written. This ability to realistically imagine what it would take to implement the bullets on the page is every experienced assistant’s superpower, and in 2024, it is vital to unmute and reveal what you know.

Focus on AI in 2024

In 2023, artificial intelligence was all anyone was talking about for months. Will it be good or bad for administrative professionals? Is it just a fad or here to stay? At this point, it’s clear that AI tools are sticking around and will offer countless ways to allow you to do a better job with ease. Here are some AI developments that executive assistants can plan to use in the coming year.

New email scams to keep an eye on

When you ask some people how they keep safe from malicious email, they might say, “Oh! IT takes care of that.” The assumption then is that if it arrives in your inbox, it’s safe. Unfortunately, many have found out the hard way that this is not the case. The crooks and scammers are almost always ahead of the safety nets.

Are relief EAs the backup plan you’ve needed?

A niche but growing branch of the EA tree is the role of the “relief executive assistant.” You can think of this role as the substitute teachers of EAs, except you can’t simply get away with throwing on a movie and kicking back. The role can be quite important to ensure operations within an organization don’t crumble in the absence of the primary executive assistant.

Is going remote the right fit for you?

With the pandemic becoming more and more distant in the rearview mirror, plenty of organizations believe it’s time to move employees back into the office. Others have found that remote work has saved money and improved productivity, making them less eager to revert to in-person arrangements. So, if presented with an opportunity by your executive to choose between remote and in-person work, or if you’re looking for a new job, which should you choose?

Is Google better than Microsoft?

I get questions comparing Google and Microsoft a lot, but it usually sounds something more like, “Microsoft Office is really better than Google Workspace, isn’t it?” Not long ago, I might have simply said yes. However, in recent years, Google has improved its office productivity to the point where for many of the tasks on the typical administrative professional’s desk, it more than meets requirements.