Working as an executive assistant is an interesting and varied career. There’s no denying the position involves a lot of hard work, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.
If this is the career path you’ve chosen, you’ll of course want to excel at your job, and there are plenty of ways in which you can boost your abilities and be a truly great executive assistant and a real asset to any business.
Working in this field, it’s likely that you already have some of the key skills you need to be a good executive assistant. You will have an excellent eye for detail, and you’ll be a super multi-tasker.
Many people get into this line of work because they are naturally talented in these areas, but there are also plenty of skills that can be learnt or improved upon.
Want to be a great executive assistant? Then read on to find out how to advance your skills and abilities…
- Keep up to date – be on top of the latest software and tech
- Be extra useful – learn some additional skills
- Don’t forget what you’ve learned – keep good notes
- Speed up your day – work on improving your typing speed
- Stay calm – practice mindfulness to remain cool in hectic situations
- Plan ahead – be forward thinking and anticipate what’s coming next
- There’s always room for improvement
Keep up to date – be on top of the latest software and tech
Advances in the technologies we use on a daily basis tend to come along fast.
When you’re busy, it can be tempting to stick with what you know and keep doing things in a way you know works. But by doing this, eventually, you’ll get left behind.
If you keep on top of the updates and new features of the software you use and keep abreast of the latest innovations, you’ll never find yourself behind the times, struggling to make that huge leap to get up to date.
It can take a little time, but this investment will pay off when you’re using software and equipment to the full and making the most of the time-saving features and shortcuts available to you.
Be extra useful – learn some additional skills
There’s always something new to learn, and when you work in such a varied field, there are so many complementary skills that could make you a really great executive assistant.
Learning new skills that aren’t necessary for your job, but give you an advantage, will enhance the resume of any good executive assistant and make you stand out from the crowd should you decide to apply for a different position in the future.
But what skills should you learn? Think about what you enjoy, and what could be of benefit to the business you work for.
If you love spending your spare time on social media, then you may enjoy learning some more advanced digital marketing skills.
If you give presentations, then perhaps a public speaking course would help you convey your message more effectively.
You’ll find courses both at local colleges, and online, so check out what’s available and see what appeals to you. If you choose something that interests you, you’re more likely to stick with it.
Don’t forget what you’ve learned – keep good notes
When you first learn how to do something, you pick up a great tip, or you’ve been given some information, make a note of it.
How many times have you forgotten something important, when you were sure it would stick in your mind?
That shortcut in Excel that was so handy, but you haven’t used it for a while and now you simply can’t remember what it was, or the name of that amazing hotel that your boss loved the last time you booked it for them.
You don’t need to have the memory of an elephant, you just need to keep good notes!
Speed up your day – work on improving your typing speed
One skill that is often overlooked, as it is so basic, is typing speed and accuracy.
A good executive assistant spends a great deal of time typing. You’re writing emails, creating reports, making notes, every day.
It’s easy to increase your typing speed, you just need to keep practising.
Type faster, and you’ll get your work done more quickly. It’s a skill that will save you so much time overall.
So look for free typing tests online and find out your current words per minute rate, then, when you have a spare moment, you can work on increasing that rate while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
Stay calm – practice mindfulness to remain cool in hectic situations
A good executive assistant knows how to keep their cool.
This job can be manic at times, it can be frustrating, and when you’re dealing with people, there are always going to be times when personalities clash.
Learning how to keep calm is a skill, and it’s a valuable one. A great executive assistant won’t get angry or upset, or at least they don’t let it show.
They take a deep breath, and they focus, and they move on to improve the situation, to solve problems and get the job done.
Incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily life and try to find a good work/life balance.
Plan ahead – be forward thinking and anticipate what’s coming next
Do you find you’re always running around, chasing your tail, trying to solve one problem after the next?
If work just seems too hectic, it could be time to start planning ahead a little more and anticipating the problems of the future, so you can have an action plan at the ready for any situation that arises.
As an example, perhaps you’ve booked your boss a train ticket to an important meeting, but you’ve heard there could be delays.
Instead of having a mad panic when your employer calls you and tells you they’re stuck at the station late for their meeting, consider your options.
Could you book a hotel for the night before, or opt for a taxi instead of the train to get there? It’s all about eliminating problems before they happen, not firefighting in a panic when they do.
There’s always room for improvement
A great executive assistant keeps learning, they never stagnate.
In this industry, there’s always going to be new skills you can master. And when you do learn something new, don’t forget to add it to your resume!
