I typically don’t watch football. I’m more of a hockey girl, myself (Go Bruins!). But this interview was too good not to share.
A couple of weeks ago my friend Michelle J. sent me this video of the Seattle Seahawks coach, Mike Macdonald talking about cornerback Devon Witherspoon. I mean, he could have been talking about an Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff, or other right-hand strategic business partner position!
Let’s break down the interview:
- Reporter: How do you assess Devon’s year to this point? Macdonald: I think I understand where the question is coming from because of probably a lack of stats. But I’ll tell you what, this guy, you hear about force multipliers on your football team – that is Devon Witherspoon.
Lack of stats? We’ve all heard this before. It’s incredibly hard to quantify the goals and results of an EA, Executive Business Partner, or Force Multiplier. How do you measure success for a role that impacts leaders at the highest level, spans across multiple departments and projects, and often operates behind the scenes to “force multiply” the effectiveness of others? But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. - He’s an elite competitor.
In business, elite competitors are individuals that consistently demonstrate exceptional performance, resilience, operational excellence, strategic focus, leadership, and culture. They go beyond the status quo and achieve consistent success through a mix of innovation, strategic clarity, and relentless execution. Sounds like a Force Multiplier to me! - Hopefully he’s leading the charge for us for a long time here.
When you find a high-impact Force Multiplier, you don’t want them to leave. Entrepreneurs and executives, take note! Do you know what is important to your EA? Do you know their goals? Are they being compensated above market value? Are you invested in the partnership? If you want to retain talent, you have to be intentional about it. - He’s so intelligent.
Check! - He can play all the multiple spots. Plays the way we want to play. You kind of want to play him everywhere.
Most Force Multipliers are generalists and know a lot about a lot. They are uniquely positioned in the organization (much like the Founder or CEO) to see all areas of the business, provide cross-functional insights and support, and jump in and fill the gaps when needed. Definitely someone I want on my team. - So it’s trying to figure out how we can play him the best to make him affect the game.
For Force Multipliers, the best way to ensure that they are able to “affect the game” is through access and information. Access to emails, meetings, continuing education, leadership training, industry conferences, and to other leaders in the organization. When EAs have this level of access, more often than not, they will be the ones to figure out where and how they can make the biggest impact.
If this doesn’t convince you that you want (and need) a Force Multiplier on your team, I don’t know what will! And to the EAs and executive support professionals reading this, take a moment to reflect on the unique impact you bring to the table.
– Hallie
ON THE BLOG
How Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff Become Impact Players
Impact Players are those individuals who make a significant contribution individually, but who also have an enormously positive effect on the team. What really differentiates them for their colleagues is that Impact Players believe that opportunity exists even amidst challenges and ambiguity. They see the world through a lens of opportunity, rather than a threat lens. They see these challenges as an opportunity to step up, add value, and take action.
So, what does it take to become an Impact Player? Let’s use Wiseman’s framework to explain what an Impact Player looks like and how those characteristics and actions directly relate to the roles that Force Multipliers fulfill. Here are the five differentiators that separate Impact Players from the rest of their colleagues, and how Force Multipliers can learn and adopt these behaviors to make the most impact.
WEEKLY TOP 5
1.
Vimcal, a powerful calendar app (which also has an advanced EA specific product), just launched their first podcast episode to complement their newsletter, CCing my EA. Love the title! On this episode Kelly Kovacs, former EA + Chief of Staff to the CEO of Twitter and founder of eaMAFIA + eaRISE, shares the top 3 soft skills she mastered in her role. Check it out!
2.
If it’s one thing I learned during my career break, it’s that slowing down is okay! It’s scary. It’s hard. It is counter to everything I have learned and embodied for 15+ years AND you can still create success on your own terms within this alternative construct – if you want! Need help figuring out how to do it? Sahil Bloom offers 5 simple ways to slow down more regularly here.
3.
The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan is one of my favorite books. And Jay is back to host The One Thing podcast! Take a listen to this episode (skip to 5 minutes for the fresh content) where Jay talks about new beginnings, dreaming vs. doing, and what to do if you’re stuck in planning mode.
4.
Master the art of making impactful asks in your career with practical advice and real-world examples. Click here to watch Tack Advisors CEO Meagan Strout and the COO of Strut Consulting, Nicole Fuller, as they share experiences as both employees and business owners on how to overcome hesitancy, effectively manage up, and learn how to confidently request the resources you need to succeed in your role.
5.
You’ve made a decision. You’ve taken the first step. It feels great. And then all hell breaks loose and you wonder why you took that new job, started a business, moved, decided to run a half-marathon or [insert whatever new thing you did]. Welcome to the messy middle! This is where a lot of people turn back or change the goal. But if you can stay strong and stay the course (remembering why you started in the first place!), that’s where the magic happens! For more, take a listen to this 2020 Unlocking Us podcast with Brené Brown.
COMING UP
It’s time to set some goals and create your growth plan for 2025!
Join me, Hallie Warner, on Tuesday December 10 for an interactive workshop as I walk you through how to get clear on your goals and how to create a personal and professional growth plan for the year ahead.
Register now! If you cannot attend the event live, a recording will be sent to you.
