5 Ways Executive Assistants Can Add Value To Their Company

Agree & Join LinkedIn

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

Sign in to view more content

Create your free account or sign in to continue your search

Sign in

Welcome back

Email or phone Password Show Forgot password? Sign in

or

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

New to LinkedIn? Join now

or

New to LinkedIn? Join now

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is better on the app

Don’t have the app? Get it in the Microsoft Store.

Open the app Skip to main content

Last week at a networking event I was called an “office girl” and a “very powerful person” within about 10 minutes by two different people. Yes, I am female. And yes, I work in an office. But that’s about the extent of my identification with the label “office girl.” I mean, what is an office girl, anyway? While that devaluation of my chosen profession always gets to me a little, I’ve been called worse. However, it did get me thinking about why that one individual called me a “very powerful person” in the first place. Did I really live up to that moniker? And how do career Executive Assistants continue to grow in their role and earn that title?

Here’s what I know: Great Executive Assistants are leaders, invaluable resources, and influencers (aka powerful people). But to be seen as such, we must provide exceptional value, not just to our Executive, but to the organization at large. We must go above and beyond the traditional EA responsibilities and think outside the box.

Below are five ways Executive Assistants can add value to their company:

1. Keep information, the right information, flowing. Executive Assistants are in a unique position where they have the privilege of learning from and interacting daily with the top Executives in the organization. A large part of an Executive Assistant’s role is to act as a gatekeeper. Yet, gatekeepers are not meant to keep people out; rather they should let the right people in at the right time. Control the flow of information, do not stop it. You can either hoard information and use your position of power as a crutch, or you can share what you learn with your co-workers and be seen as a leader, a resource, and an influencer at all levels of your organization. Information should flow up, down, and sideways throughout the company – and it often hinges on the successful communication skills of the EA. That does not mean you should be an open book. Your first priority is to maintain confidentiality and the confidences of your Executive. But understanding what information can and should be shared with which team members is an important part of our roles.
2. Volunteer to lead special projects. This may already be a key part of your role (as it is mine), but if not, step-up! Companies today are doing more with less and that often means with less people. But I imagine your Exec and organization are not slowing down. Often there are new projects or initiatives that the organization wants to work on, but they don’t fall into any particular category or department. That’s where you come in. Executive Assistants are problem solvers and fixers. Executive Assistants are detail-oriented, organized, perfectionistic, and the ultimate project managers. Executive Assistants do whatever it takes to get the job done. You are uniquely equipped to handle projects that are important to the CEO, but may not require a full-time hire (yet).
3. Tell stories. Are you great at writing or marketing? Perhaps you could create a company newsletter, take over your Executive’s social media accounts, start a company blog, write feature articles for local publications, or pitch stories to national media outlets. Content marketing and public relations are king. If your company doesn’t have a PR or marketing department and you are great at telling stories – then that’s your niche! Positive, free media mentions for your organization will definitely set you apart.
4. Create or join a committee. Are you passionate about wellness or company culture? Then create or join a committee that focuses on those issues and share your insights. Better yet, listen. As an influential person in the organization, you may be looked to for all the answers. Instead, ask questions and get other’s to share their ideas. The most powerful person in the room is not the one who talks the most, but the one who can take all opinions and information and make a decision that best serves the company.

Draw on your strengths and share your knowledge throughout the organization.What can you do better than anyone else? The ultimate mark of a leader and an influencer is to teach. Find opportunities to share your knowledge with your co-workers. Could you hold a seminar about event planning with the other administrative staff in your company? Perhaps you could train department managers on a new software the company is rolling out. Start and lead a monthly book club. Or hold a class about managing up for Executive Assistants.

Executive Assistants are powerful people. But that title is not just given. It is earned by providing extensive value not just to your Exec, but to the whole organization. Above are just a few examples of how one can add value – there are hundreds more. But it is the rockstar EA, the very powerful EA, that actually does them.

How do you go above and beyond in your role and add value to your company? Share in the comments below!

Like Like Celebrate Support Love Insightful Funny Comment

• Copy
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• X

Share 53 5 Comments Helen DiBartolomeo 8y

• Report this comment

It's important to me to also function as a mentor to other administrative personnel - not only to empower and educate but to be a counselor and sounding board. Additionally - follow the points you mentioned

Like Reply 3 Reactions 4 Reactions See more comments

To view or add a comment, sign in

More articles by Hallie Warner

• I Like It When You Lead Feb 22, 2025

  I Like It When You Lead

  Recently, as I sat down with one of my consulting clients and we were preparing to go through that week’s progress and…

  21 7 Comments
• Let Me Know How I Can Help Nov 12, 2024

  Let Me Know How I Can Help

  For more content like this delivered straight to your inbox each week, subscribe to The Inner Circle! The Inner Circle…

  60 11 Comments
• One Year Later: What I’ve Been Thinking About Since Quitting My Job Nov 1, 2024

  One Year Later: What I’ve Been Thinking About Since Quitting My Job

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  53 15 Comments
• Why “Soft” Skills Are More Important Than Ever Nov 1, 2024

  Why “Soft” Skills Are More Important Than Ever

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  41 2 Comments
• The 5 Daily Accountability Questions Nov 1, 2024

  The 5 Daily Accountability Questions

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  9
• 5 Tools to Set Your Assistant Up for Success Nov 1, 2024

  5 Tools to Set Your Assistant Up for Success

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  41
• What is the Difference Between Force Multipliers and Integrators? Nov 1, 2024

  What is the Difference Between Force Multipliers and Integrators?

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  4 3 Comments
• The 4 Elements of a High-Impact Executive Assistant Nov 1, 2024

  The 4 Elements of a High-Impact Executive Assistant

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  24 3 Comments
• Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Communication in the C-Suite Nov 1, 2024

  Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Communication in the C-Suite

  Want to learn more about Force Multipliers and the power of strategic partnerships? Grab a copy of the book, The…

  15
• FREE Webinars for Executive Assistants, Aspiring Chiefs of Staff, & Force Multipliers with Hallie Warner Mar 15, 2024

  FREE Webinars for Executive Assistants, Aspiring Chiefs of Staff, & Force Multipliers with Hallie Warner

  Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Hallie - a strategy and career coach, writer, and force multiplier dedicated to…

  95 10 Comments

Show more See all articles

Others also viewed

• How to Become an Executive Assistant

  ISE Partners 10mo

• From ₦5K Proposals to Managing Global Executives - Meet Nora! 🤗

  Favour Commander 10mo

• Trends Shaping the Future of Internal Comms for Frontline Employees

  Speakap 1y

• Impactful Communication: 5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an Effective Communicator

  Chiedza Nziramasanga, JD, AWI-CH 2y

• Nail Your Message, Skip the Misfires. A Real-World Guide to Better Comms for Event Profs.

  360 Destination Group 4mo

• Six insights from the IC Index (that you won’t find in the IC Index)

  Mike Klein, IABC Fellow 2y

• Seramount Monthly Briefing | September 2024

  Seramount 1y

• What should internal communicators be leading and influencing in 2024?

  Jenni Field 1y

• The #1 Internal Comms Myth Busted: "We Already Have a Tool for This"

  Speakap 1y

Show more Show less

Explore content categories

• Career
• Productivity
• Finance
• Soft Skills & Emotional Intelligence
• Project Management
• Education
• Technology
• Leadership
• Ecommerce
• User Experience
• Recruitment & HR
• Customer Experience
• Real Estate
• Marketing
• Sales
• Retail & Merchandising
• Science
• Supply Chain Management
• Future Of Work
• Consulting
• Writing
• Economics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Employee Experience
• Workplace Trends
• Fundraising
• Networking
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Negotiation
• Communication
• Engineering
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Business Strategy
• Change Management
• Organizational Culture
• Design
• Innovation
• Event Planning
• Training & Development

Show more Show less