How The Role Of The EA Has Evolved & Changed

Narrelle Matthey

Executive Assistant to the CEO Asia Pacific Europe & America

ANZ

How The Role Of The EA Has Evolved & Changed

Agenda

• Evolution

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future

Evolution - technology

Evolution –attitudes

Evolution –now

Agenda

• Evolution

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future

Typical job description• Provide secretarial & administrative assistance to the CEO – including email

management & PowerPoint

• Co-ordinate & organise daily/annual meeting schedule

• Co-ordinate & arrange detailed domestic & international travel itineraries

• Maintain accurate administrative, record keeping & filing systems

• Manage all incoming correspondence including e-mails, faxes, internal & external mail

• Project co-ordination & administration

• Extensive client liaison both internally & externally

GE CEO & Managing Directors survey ATTRIBUTES

1. Trustworthy

2. Positive “can do” attitude

3. Proactive

4. Professional

5. Approachability

6. Confident

7. Diplomacy

8. Discretion

9. Energetic

10. Willingness to learn

SKILLS

1. Attention to detail

2. Communication skills

3. Anticipation

4. Good written & verbal communication

5. Sense of urgency

6. Time management

7. Organisation

8. Diary management

9. Prioritisation

10. Advanced technical skills ie. Outlook, PowerPoint

Ultimately…

• Understand your manager’s priorities – does he want to be interrupted at home / on holiday, whose calls should be taken?

• You are the “window” to your manager – how you are perceived & how you perform have a direct impact on how the boss is perceived & performs

• The EA’s of today don’t just “do”, they think. They need to be well-rounded, well-read, & stay on top of what’s happening in the business world

• Dress the part – “clothes make the man” (Mark Twain)

• Develop that rapport/relationship with your manager so that you can provide input & not be another “yes” person

• Be a role model for other assistants in the business

• Keep confidential information confidential, don’t gossip

Agenda

• Evolution

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future

• Entrepreneurial approach

• Demonstrated experience

• New skill sets & responsibilities

• Specialised roles

Requirements going forward

Who will get the job?

• Those who master technology

• Effectively use their interpersonal & communication skills

• Have the ability to track & organise & be creative in solving problems

• Have the willingness to learn, grow, & accept challenges

Education

• Swinburne University Victoria: Graduate Certificate of Business

• Australian Institute Of Management NSW: Diploma of Business (Personal Assistant Development Program)

• Academies Australia NSW: Certificate III in Business Administration

• Queensland TAFE: Diploma of Business Management

Agenda

• Evolution

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future

Expansion

• Understand your Manager’s priorities, & therefore your company’s

• Look for other challenges, don’t become complacent

• See yourself as an active member of the team, not just “the go-pher”

• See yourself as your Manager’s “business”

partner

• Be proactive, not reactive

Skills required

• Leadership

• Problem-solving, solutions-driven approach

• Project management

• Team building

• Multi-tasking

• Communications/public speaking

• Board interaction

Performance review time

• Start collecting data –

• 360-Degree feedback

• Be confident of your accomplishments

• Do not assume your Manager knows or understands the steps it takes to accomplish a task or the difficulties overcome to create a success

Keep compliments from others Show detail involved when a meeting needs to be

changed On a normal day, I ………………

Agenda

• Evolution

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future

It’s all about “me”

• You are an integral part of your Manager’s team

• You provide a unique talent that no-one else within that team can

• Communication is your fundamental key to success

• You control & are responsible for your own life, both personally & professionally

Remember

“Ability is what you’re capable of, motivation determines what you do, attitude determines how well you do it” - Lou Holtz

The key is having the ability to view your job as:

• Nothing is below me

• Nothing is above me

• No task is too small

• No task is too large

Future….. not that far away

Narrelle Matthey

Executive Assistant to the CEO Asia Pacific Europe & America

ANZ

How The Role Of The EA Has Evolved & Changed