Mid-Year Review Questions That Actually Help You Move Forward
We’re halfway through the year. Which means it’s time to do something most people skip, delay, or rush through in 20 minutes: a real mid-year review. Not the kind where you glance at your Q1 goals, feel vaguely behind, and tell yourself you’ll make it up in Q3. The kind where you actually stop, look […]
The Executive Assistant Role Is More Strategic Than Ever — And the 2026 Data Finally Proves It
Two major reports dropped in April 2026 that every Force Multiplier, Executive Assistant, and administrative professional needs to read — and every Founder, leader, and HR professional who works alongside one should pay attention to as well. The Global Skills Matrix 2026 from the World Administrators Alliance and The 2026 State of the Administrative Profession […]
Falling Out of Love With My Business and Finding My Way Back to Force Multipliers
“… I keep on fallin’In and out of loveWith youSometimes I love yaSometimes you make me blueSometimes I feel goodAt times I feel usedLovin’ you darlin’Makes me so confused…”(Alicia Keys, Fallin’) No, no, I’m not talking about my husband here, but rather, my business! As a soloprenuer, entrepreneur, small business owner, founder, or CEO… I […]
Executive Support Recruiters
You know it’s time to hire a right-hand partner. But you need help finding the right match. These resources can help! Specialized Recruiters for Executive Support Roles Monique Helstrom Specialized recruiting for Executives who can’t afford a mismatch. You’re not just hiring an Assistant—you’re selecting a business partner. Monique has spent her career on both […]
What’s an Associate Chief of Staff and Why You Might Need One
By Madeleine Niebauer, founder and co-CEO of vChief, a fractional executive talent network that helps organizations stabilize and scale through interim and fractional leadership. If you’re a Chief of Staff, you already know the drill: you’re in the trenches, juggling executive priorities, cross-functional projects, comms, board prep, strategy alignment, and about 47 other things that […]
Thinking About Partnering with an Entrepreneur? Read This First.
If you’re an Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff, or Force Multiplier eyeing a role alongside a founder, entrepreneur, or small business owner, read this first. I’m a huge advocate for the power of strategic right-hand partnerships in entrepreneurial businesses. When the fit is right, this kind of role can be deeply fulfilling, dynamic, and wildly […]
How to Align Your Work with Company and Leadership Goals
As you’re evaluating your job, considering your career growth, and determining how you want to make an impact this year, it’s important to align your work with company and leadership goals. If the company (and your Principal) are hitting their goals, that’s good for everyone. And, it can be much more rewarding for you when […]
LinkedIn News 25 Big Ideas That Will Change Our World in 2025 – Force Multiplier Edition
LinkedIn News recently released their 25 Big Ideas report, sharing ideas they believe will change our world in 2025. As Force Multipliers, I think it’s important to read through the article and consider how these predictions may apply to your company, industry, and career opportunities. To get you started, take a look at how I […]
What is the Difference Between Force Multipliers and Integrators?
If you’re an entrepreneur or building a career in an entrepreneurial environment, then you have likely come across the terms Force Multiplier and Integrator. While these roles are similar, in that they both work closely with a Visionary leader, they are not interchangeable. There are some key differences that are helpful to explore whether you […]
How to Actually Take Time Off From Work (Without the Guilt)
Whether you are the Founder of your own company, a Senior Executive Assistant, or the Vice President of Operations – and whether you have three weeks of PTO, have a flexible work from home schedule, or have unlimited vacation and paid time off policy – I venture to guess that you may not be taking […]
The 43 Best Quotes for Building a Strong Business Partnership
One thing you’ll always hear us talk about at The Founder & The Force Multiplier is partnership. Most leaders, Executive Assistants, Chiefs of Staff, and other entrepreneurs and Force Multipliers we talk to want the same thing: To build a strong strategic business partnership with their, well, partner. I think the most successful leader/Force Multiplier […]
The Power of Prosocial Skills for Leaders & Force Multipliers
In his book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, organizational psychologist and New York Times Bestselling author, Adam Grant, talks about the importance of prosocial skills in the workplace. Grant writes, “Prosocial skills are the glue that transforms groups into teams.” Grant even goes on to assert that we should choose leaders with […]
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 […]
What’s in a Name? How to Choose a Job Title for Your Assistant
For more content like this delivered straight to your inbox each week, subscribe to The Inner Circle! The Inner Circle is a weekly email for leaders and Force Multipliers to learn together, lead together, and achieve more together. Each week, we share a carefully curated collection of useful insights, trending business and leadership topics, quotes, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
How to Improve Your Leadership Skills By Asking Better Questions
Leaders don’t have many tasks on their to-do lists. Their responsibilities are few in quantity, but large in scope and impact. A leader’s job impacts the organization, the team, stakeholders, clients, customers, and sometimes, entire industries. Leadership is about making a few high-quality decisions each day, while continuously casting your vision and keeping your team […]
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 […]
13 Books Every Founder (or Executive) Should Read
Thousands of business books are published each year, spanning topics from entrepreneurship to management, finance, marketing, and leadership, and more. Approximately 81 million business and economics category print books were sold in 2021 alone. With so many options out there, from classics like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill to relative newcomers like James […]
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 […]