EA PROFILE
Lauren says that their work relationship wouldn ’ t survive remotely without open communication . Lauren makes a habit of doing a daily update at the end of the day with questions she has and tasks her executive needs to complete in the next 24 hours . This saves having to have task-based conversations on the phone and allows them to focus on strategy and planning conversations .
“ Trello has been a god send for us … Every morning — he ’ s a very early riser and will have a flood of thoughts — he just pops it into my to-do list . And I just chug away as soon as I log in and I can put all of my comments in and due dates and notes of where it ’ s up to . So , that ’ s been a huge help for us . And we work better now than we ever have .”
Being an EA means that you might have to transition between industries , but it also means you might have to transition between departments within a business . For an EA who has worked in a diverse range of roles , Lauren says the department you work in results in a different set of responsibilities and knowledge . For her , working in HR has been a game changer .
“ It has impacted me greatly working in a HR world . It ’ s made me realise the intricacies of dealing with a business and how something that I thought could be a really small change , such as asking people to move desks , can actually have quite an impact on that person . It ’ s made me really consider how I look at things big picture and the effect it might have on somebody else .”
Lauren ’ s experience working across different roles has helped her discover what she enjoys doing the most — something she believes all EAs should be clear on .
“ I know what portfolios I would work in and what I wouldn ’ t , and that ’ s personal preference . I think it ’ s really important to know that within yourself , like what you ’ re not interested in . Say I stayed in finance , I wouldn ’ t bring the same passion to work every day . For me , that ’ s something that I need . I can ’ t just go to work and then switch off at the end of the day . I really need to enjoy what I ’ m doing and that ’ s working in a HR function .
“ For me it ’ s just so important to make sure you work in a place where the values align with your own , as well as working for somebody . If mine and Scott ’ s values didn ’ t align , we would ’ ve clashed . We definitely oppose each other when it comes to some decisions , but we can understand where the other is coming from . If I worked for someone where we just didn ’ t gel together , then I ’ d never get the understanding of why he does things the way that he does .”
While Lauren has had an extensive professional background , she never stops learning and educating herself on different topics . She believes that ongoing learning and training is imperative to your success as an EA . Expanding on your skills and education is never a wasted effort and will only improve your success in the role of an EA .
“ Whether it be a quick online course that takes you 10 minutes or a university degree , you ’ re never going to walk away and think , ‘ What ’ s the point of that ?’. You ’ ll always get value , whether it ’ s a tiny thing or something monumental that changes your life . I would 100 % encourage people to go and do that … There are some really great EA conferences ; I usually try to get to one a year . And while some sessions might not be right up my alley , I ’ m always able to take something away from that session and apply it in the workforce . There ’ s nothing wrong with learning and trying to better yourself .”
For Lauren , being crowned Runner-Up Up and Coming EA at the 2019 Executive PA Awards was a huge achievement — one that she considers great not just for herself , but for the industry , too .
“ I ’ ve got my trophy on the desk and it ’ s just nice to know there is an awards ceremony … It ’ s a changing landscape and people are really starting to value the administration profession . Just to be able to have that award and have people ask , ‘ What ’ s that for ?’ or ‘ What does an executive assistant do ?’ is really great .”
Lauren is a huge advocate for self-nominating and encourages any EA considering an application to do so .
“ Go for it . If I had asked my boss , he would ’ ve done it and I probably would ’ ve ended up writing it for him ! But what ’ ve you got to lose ? I ’ m not good at recognising my achievements myself and I think there are a lot of EAs out there who are their own worst critic … So , to be able to sit down and be like , ‘ Wow this is actually what I do !’ is a really nice thing … A lot of people don ’ t actually reflect on the good things .”
While Lauren has dedicated her time to becoming the successful and recognised EA that she is , she hasn ’ t gotten there all by herself . Lauren ’ s relationship with her executive , Scott , is a special one that they ’ ve both worked hard to foster . Their working relationship is a prime example for all the EAs out there of the trust and hard work that ’ s needed to be successful in their role .
“ I ’ d like to thank Scott for all of his support and faith in me ; I wouldn ’ t be the EA I am without him .” S
Nominations open shortly for the 2021 Executive PA Awards . To nominate visit https :// executivepa . com / awards
Issue 1 2021 | Chief of Staff 51