Choose Courage Over Confidence For Long-Term Success
You know what we don’t talk about enough in business? Courage. One of the biggest myths about successful individuals is that they are inherently confident. Que all the imagery in magazines, on tv, and online of confident people leading teams, commanding crowds, breaking down doors, power posing on rooftops, interviewing world leaders, captivating audiences of […]
How to Motivate an Unmotivated Leader
Listen to our podcast episode about this topic here: I recently received a question from an assistant at Meta. She wrote: “While reading your book I kept thinking that it would be nice to have an executive who was motivated and promoted growth. So how we can help a CEO who is on autopilot? I […]
9 Signs You Need a Force Multiplier
The role of leader covers a lot of ground. But, to sum it up and simplify, there are four key things that a leader must do: What is a Force Multiplier? These four focus areas make up a leader’s 20%. That is, the 20% of activities that will produce 80% of their results à la […]
Build Your Personal Brand & Position Yourself as a Thought Leader
FROM EXECUTIVE SUPPORT MAGAZINE – Love it or hate it, the conversation around building a personal brand is not going away anytime soon. In fact, creating and managing your personal brand is only going to continue to grow in importance. And that’s a good thing because it gives you more control over your career and […]
What is a Founder’s Associate?
PLEASE NOTE: This is an evolving topic, as the role appears to have only gained relevance quite recently. This post will be updated as more information about this position becomes available. For some context, as of the writing of this post, there were 1,800 results for Founders Associate on LinkedIn, compared to 543,000 for Chief […]
Are You Delegating Problems or Are You Delegating Tasks?
Why do leaders hire Force Multipliers? Because entrepreneurs and leaders want (and need) more time back in their day in order to focus on growth and revenue generating activities or simply to experience more time freedom. But those relationships don’t always work out. Leaders often make a hire and then wonder why they feel like […]
What’s Next? Exploring the Executive Assistant Career Path
Do you love the Executive Assistant role, but feel like you are hitting a ceiling in your growth, responsibilities, or compensation? Are you thinking about what might come after your current job? Are you unsure how to continue to grow your Executive Assistant career? Don’t get me wrong, the executive assistant role is a dynamic, interesting, impactful, and […]
Emerging Chief of Staff Career Trends
As of the publication of this blog, there were 697 Chief of Staff jobs listed on Indeed.com. For context, there were 1,593 COO jobs posted and 427 for CEO. Of those almost 700 Chief of Staff job postings, the scope of work, leadership responsibilities, projects, and even the team with which these Chiefs of Staff […]
The Next Evolution of The Founder & The Force Multiplier
Late last week, I became the proud owner of The Founder & The Force Multiplier. It feels incredibly appropriate, poetic even, to be making this announcement during Administrative Professionals Week. I’ve been an assistant and force multiplier since my first job fresh out of college as a non-profit public relations assistant until my recent departure from […]
I Am Not Your Work Wife & Our Company is Not a Family
Work and family. Family and work. Work families. Families are work. You’ve probably heard the terms “work wife” or “work spouse” bandied about. Maybe you think of your company as a family, or maybe you keep the two strictly separate in your mind. Inevitably the lines can get a bit blurry in this ever-connected, work-life […]
The Founder and the Force Multiplier: Strategic Partnerships – Adam Hergenrother & Hallie Warner
FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE INSIGHTS PODCAST Listen to the episode here.
Using “First Principles Thinking” to Solve Complex Problems
“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” – Albert Einstein Think you know the best way to move your company forward? Think again. Or rather, think first with “first principles thinking” to solve your business’s most complex problems, bring […]
How to Transition from Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff
I’m quite vocal about my years as an Executive Assistant and now Chief of Staff, and therefore I often get asked how to transition from one position to the other. I, in turn, always answer that question with a question: “Why? Why do you want to move from an Executive Assistant to a Chief of […]
Critical and Strategic Thinking for Force Multipliers
Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff can make an even bigger impact on their leaders and organization when they constantly level up their thinking skills. Learning to make decisions, anticipate issues, solve problems, communicate effectively, ask powerful questions, and think critically and strategically are all important parts of being a great Force Multiplier and strategic […]
What’s the Difference Between an Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff?
Several years ago, when I was an Executive Assistant (EA), I became obsessed with all things EA. I read books and articles, followed top EAs, listened to podcasts, and attended EA conferences. I studied the profession and implemented what I learned into my career. As Chief of Staff (COS), I did the same. While less […]
The Delicate Balance of Saying “No” To Your CEO’s Ideas While Fostering Collaboration
FROM THE RIGHT-HAND ROADMAP PODCAST – Explore the challenges of handling a CEO’s myriad ideas and learn essential strategies to transform them into actionable plans. This episode empowers operations executives to provide valuable input, prioritize initiatives, and collaborate effectively with visionary leaders without sacrificing their unique strengths. Listen to Hallie’s interview on The Right-Hand Roadmap […]
What Principles Do You Live By in Business and Life?
When working with coaching and consulting clients, particularly Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff, I like to start off with finding out if they are clear on the values and goals of their company and their Executive. This is the starting point for much of our discussions and growth. Why? Because without these North Stars […]
How to Start Difficult Conversations with Your Boss or Co-Workers
The first sixty seconds of a difficult conversation are often the hardest. What do you say? Should you dive right in? Start with some small talk? Hit them with a compliment first, then the tough issue, then another compliment? (Hint: Don’t do that!) The good news is, Susan Scott has a fantastic framework from Fierce […]
How to Have Fierce Conversations with Your Boss and Co-Workers
One of the books we recommend most often to Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff is Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott. Truly, it is a book that any leader who wants to achieve results through others should read. So, what is a fierce […]
15+ Apps to Enhance the Executive Assistant & Chief of Staff Experience
While being an Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff, or other Force Multiplier isn’t necessarily a 24/7 job for all of us (though it certainly can be!), it does require a lot of time, commitment, and energy to do it and do it well, while not burning out. This is where technology can play a huge […]
How to Become a Chief of Staff
“How do I start a career as a Chief of Staff?” “What do I need to study to make a career as a Chief of Staff?” “Now that you have been Chief of Staff for a while, are there things that you wished your EA self had known?” “Are there learnings/courses/development that had you could […]
Mental Health Awareness, The Admin Collective, & Being a Multi-Passionate Professional with Nick Ginsburg
Superhuman Nick Ginsburg is the Executive Assistant to the Provost and Senior VP of Monash University, Founder of The Admin Collective, advocate for mental health, Bachelor of Psychology student, among many other things. Nick shares how he manages his mountain of responsibilities while juggling his mental health, navigating burnout, and maintaining a social life. Nick […]
5 Things to Consider Before Starting a Career as an Executive Assistant
First, let’s get this out of the way—being an Executive Assistant is not a stepping stone to another career opportunity. It is a dynamic, interesting, impactful, and fulfilling career in its own right. While many people, myself included, kind of fall unintentionally into the role of Executive Assistant, most stay by choice. There are few […]
Why You Need White Space During the Work Week (Yes, Force Multipliers, Too!)
When we look at advertising pieces or interior design, our eyes are typically drawn to the ads or spaces that have a lot of “white space”, or open space, on the page or in the room. The presence of fewer words, throw pillows, or images forces the mind to focus on what’s important and increases […]