Narrelle Matthey

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

GE Money

The Renaissance EA – implications from more than a decade of change

Agenda

• Problems that pervade a market when a workplace revolution is creeping rather sweeping – varying sentiments, outlooks, & attitudes about the nature of the EA role

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future

Evolution - technology

Evolution –attitudes

Evolution –now

Agenda

• Problems

• The role – reading between the lines in job descriptions & at interviews

• 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 and arrange detailed domestic & international travel itineraries

• Maintain accurate administrative, record keeping & filing systems

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

• Project co-ordination & administration

• Extensive client liaison both internally & externally

SKILLS1. Attention to detail2. Communication skills3. Anticipation4. Good written & verbal

communication5. Sense of urgency6. Time management7. Organisation8. Diary management9. Prioritisation10.Advanced technical

skills ie. Outlook, PowerPoint

ATTRIBUTES1. Trustworthy

2. Positive “can do” attitude

3. Proactive

4. Professional

5. Approachability

6. Confident

7. Diplomacy

8. Discretion

9. Energetic

10.Willingness to learn

GE CEO & Managing Directors survey

Ultimately…• 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

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

Agenda

• Problems

• The role

• Education – why it’s essential when a role is evolving yet so difficult to achieve given that the task of identifying specific training needs is virtually impossible varies from executive to executive

• Expansion

• Your future

• Entrepreneurial approach

• Demonstrated experience

• Specialised roles

• New skill sets & responsibilities

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

• Problems

• The role

• Education

• Expansion - your role and your skills when you have a boss that wants to give you wings

• 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

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

• Be confident of your

accomplishments

Keep compliments from others Show detail involved when a

meeting needs to be changed On a normal day, I

……………………..

Agenda

• Problems

• The role

• Education

• Expansion

• Your future – taking control & mapping out the role you believe you should have, & finding an executive who believes in you

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 President & CEO

GE Money

The Renaissance EA – implications from more than a decade of change