Category: Self-Assessment
In today’s breakneck business climate, speed is often seen as the ultimate virtue. Leaders are praised for rapid execution. Teams are rewarded for racing deadlines. But here’s the uncomfortable reality: speed alone is a blunt instrument. Without agility, it can cause more harm than good. Speed vs. Agility: A Crucial Distinction Speed is the rate […]
Trust is not only about whether other people believe in you, it is also about whether you trust yourself and whether you are prepared to place appropriate trust in others. For Assistants, that can sometimes be surprisingly difficult. We are often responsible for making sure things happen correctly and on time. When you are used […]
When your executive has no idea how much you already have on your plate, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, overburdened or both. But if they genuinely do not know what you are carrying, the solution is partly in your hands. Rather than take on more and risk getting burnt out or doing a less-than-optimal […]
If you’ve ever had one of those days when every request feels urgent and every ping demands attention, you’re in familiar territory. Your executive is rushing to a meeting, a department head wants a “quick” briefing packet, a vendor needs approval, and your inbox is filling with calendar conflicts. In the middle of all that […]
In his book Canoeing the Mountains, Tod Bolsinger shares an observation about anxiety. He writes, “Anxiety isn’t a bad thing; it’s a creaturely thing. It just is. We feel anxious when reacting to a threat, whether real or imagined. Sometimes the anxiety is a gift that tells us that something bad is threatening the clan.” […]
In the current business environment, administrative professionals are continuously confronted with numerous shifts – restructuring of organizations, technological advancements, changes in leadership, and rising expectations. Being adaptable isn’t just beneficial; it’s crucial. One often overlooked aspect that underpins adaptability is risk tolerance. Throughout my years of working with and coaching top administrative professionals, I’ve observed […]
Is your sharp judgment blurring by afternoon? That’s decision fatigue. Recent science confirms it’s hitting professionals globally, eroding quality decision-making and healthy cognitive load.   Do you: A 2025 systematic review of 82 studies found these patterns cut decision quality in 45% of cases. Decision fatigue doesn’t announce itself with fanfare. It sneaks in as an “off” day that stays for weeks!   What’s Happening in […]
One of the essential skills in ensuring we future proof ourselves as Assistants is critical thinking. We often see this as a skill only attributed to highly qualified executives; however, as time has proven and as our profession advances, this is a skill we all need to level up on to remain relevant and resilient. The Oxford Dictionary explains critical thinking as “the objective analysis and evaluation of an […]
How much power do you think you have over the events in your life? Here is an exercise to help you find out. Draw a line on your page with the word Internal at one end, and External at the other. Now plot where you are on this line based on the definitions below. They […]
Modern organizations operate in environments rich with management frameworks, productivity systems, and professional terminology. While these tools support performance, their impact is often lost in both internal and external interviews when candidates rely on naming concepts rather than explaining how they apply them in real situations. Having participated in numerous interview panels across a range of roles, I have consistently observed that many applicants possess strong qualifications and […]