Assist With Impact

In this episode Liz is sharing the projects she's working on including a new membership for EAs called The Empowered Assistant Academy.

Register your details so you can be the first to know when the doors open.

https://bit.ly/empoweredea

Find out more about the coaching, training and speaking we offer at My EA Career.

In this special "road rambling" episode, Liz announces the conclusion of the "Assist with Impact" podcast at episode 200. Reflecting on the podcast's origins and journey, she shares her motivations and plans for the final episodes.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Origins of the Podcast: Started in June 2016 as "Being Indispensable."
2. Challenges Overcome: Podcasting during a difficult period post-breast cancer treatment.
3. Community Building: Aimed to support and elevate executive assistants.
4. Decision to End: Overcrowded podcast space; pivot to guest appearances on other podcasts.
5. Final Episodes Plan:
   • Most downloaded episodes.
   • Favorite episodes.
   • Liz's wish for the profession.
   • Q&A session.

Your Invitation: Be part of the final episode

• Q&A Participation: Email questions for episode 200 to Liz at [email protected].

Links Mentioned:

• Pod O'Sullivan Episode: Listen to Episodes 116 & 117 to hear my interview with my executive Pod O'Sullivan

Connect with Liz:

• Email: [email protected]

Subscribe and Follow:

• Podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms.

Thank you for listening! Join us next week for a look back at the most downloaded episodes of the "Assist with Impact" podcast.

It's a solo episode from Liz. All about improving how we ask questions, especially when it comes to asking questions of the person or people we support.

This month, we're focusing on enhancing our skills in managing up and engaging effectively with leaders. It's what I describe as the 'Leader Insight & Impact Zone'.

Why Questions Matter

Asking the right questions is crucial for understanding and growth. Many of us hesitate to ask questions due to fear of looking incompetent or being annoying, but it's essential to overcome these fears.

Key Insights

Reconnect with Curiosity: Let's embrace our natural curiosity and not be afraid to ask questions.

Types of Questions: I discuss four main types: elevating, funneling, adjoining, and clarifying questions. Each serves a different purpose in helping us understand and connect better.

Practical Tips: Use open-ended questions, balance them with closed questions when needed, appreciate the power of silence, and practice active listening.

Highlights

The Importance of Questions: They help unlock new knowledge and increase understanding.

Overcoming Fear: I encourage everyone to see questioning as an opportunity for learning, not something to be scared of.

Resources

Episode 48: How To Interview Your Boss To Clarify Expectations & Perceptions

Conclusion

Asking questions is a skill that can greatly improve our interactions and our work. It shows curiosity, vulnerability, and can lead to better outcomes.

Connect With Me: - Share your thoughts and takeaways from this episode on our social media platforms. - Join our community of Lovely Loyal Listeners (LLLs) by hitting follow/subscribe and be part of our journey in 2024!

Thank you for joining us on Assist With Impact.

Today's episode is an interview with Michelle Bowditch from Door20A.

Michelle is a Sydney based tech lover, tech educator and advocate for the EA profession and is the perfect person to interview to understand how you can leverage technology and set yourself up for success working remotely.

Michelle's top tips discussed in this episode:

1. App - Tom the Grizzly Bear (search for Bear Focus Timer in app store)

2. Take a photo of your OFFICE environment and replicate it at home as best you can

3. Don't set up in lounge or on dining table. Set up a dedicated space (ideally with natural light and a pleasing outlook)

4. Have back up communication platforms (ie if you use Zoom also have Skype, Messenger, Facetime or set up or Webinar Jam etc)

5. Take scheduled breaks and get out into the fresh air

6. Set up 'virtual coffee breaks'

7. Watch Michelle's '2 Minute Moves' video on Instagram

8. Send video messages to colleagues instead of just emailing and texting

If you need some support, take advantage of Michelle's tech audit ($99 for 1 hour consultation conducted via Zoom/Skype/Messenger etc)

In my interview with Adam we discuss his belief that Executive Assistants must take charge of their professional destiny because if they fail to do so, they risk others stepping in to influence it that do not understand the role and the true value that Executive Assistants can offer organisations and individual leaders.

The overarching theme of Adam’s work is about encouraging and enabling EA’s to align their behaviours with what is expected of a mid level manager and the sorts of EQ skills that are focused on in leadership development. He has a higher vision for the role which he articulates in his EA manifesto but rather than this vision being some sort of airy fairy, non-specific ideal he advocates for it being based on a proven foundation of skills development.

I’m already calling out that I’m going to have Adam back on the podcast for us to debate the word ‘indispensable’ as you will hear that he’s not a fan of it. I actually think he and I are in agreement and that it’s about not striving for something you can never achieve, because as we’ve discussed, we’re all dispensable. Anyway... Top takeaways from interview with Adam

1. Credibility is achieved through getting the job done, being professional and being qualified - therefore EA’s need to choose high calibre events to attend that will reflect well on them and be seen as an effective use of their time.
2. Focus on what you need to do to be seen as more ‘managerial’, more professional in your role. That means looking closely at what activities and tasks you are spending your time on and look at identifying how you can develop into more red box activities.
3. Aligned with this is spending time in ‘boss mode’ as opposed to ‘pa mode’. Thinking proactively, using initiative, having a growth mindset and asking less for permission and more for confirmation or correction. Boss Mode is about understanding your leaders’ objectives and priorities as well as the organisations and thinking strategically about how you can advance those without being given explicit instruction.
4. This is where Adam’s metaphor of moving up from the dancefloor is so powerful... I love this metaphor, I keep humming Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s song “Murder on the Dancefloor” (link to Youtube clip in the Shownotes for those of you that don’t know it)
5. Finally Adam acknowledges that there will always be a place for black box activities, he says these are the bread and butter tasks of EA’s but the reality is that no one ever got promoted for being great with Excel or Powerpoint. You may need to help your boss see your value in doing ‘red box’ activities but once they’ve experienced the benefits they will be converts. Saving your boss time makes you a huge asset but it requires you to act and work independently.

PA Life Interview

Connect with Adam Fidler on LinkedIn

Adam Fidler Academy website

Sophie Ellis-Bextor “Murder On The Dancefloor”

Adam Fidler’s “What I am” EA manifesto