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BOOK REVIEWS Our EA members tell you whether these top titles are worth a read
BOOK REVIEWER BOOK REVIEWER
PATRICK WITCOMBE NATALIE KENNEFICK
Made to Thrive by Brad Giles
A great read for any executive level EA , or one aspiring to work in executive administration .
As EAs we have so much influence over how CEOs / senior leaders focus their energy and time . We have a powerful toolkit at our disposal to assist leaders and focus on the right areas — but identifying what those areas are among the onslaught of requests , priorities , and the occasional crises can be an overwhelming and impossible task .
Giles ’ book makes that task easier by framing those priorities as they relate to accountability , ambassadorship , culture , strategy , and succession planning . He then walks you through practical approaches and tools that will allow you to produce results in these areas . Giles commences with a simple diagnostic that frames your focus for the remainder of the book .
A drawback for EAs reading books like this is that it speaks directly to CEOs , and occasionally relies on non-standard business terminology that those not familiar with academic discourse will find confusing .
I encourage you to persevere , however , as the book does get easier to read and the practical tools are very helpful . I can imagine many of us drawing on them with our management teams to great effect .
Patrick is Executive Support Manager at cbm
The President Will See You Now
by Peggy Grande
I admit that as I started reading , confusion set in . We learn her back story — where she came from , how she got the job . Then suddenly , I am reading a full memoir about Ronald Reagan . How is this going to help me develop my skills as an EA ?
Through her memories of the President , she is teaching you about true leadership , the power of communication , and the ability to adapt , learn , and collaborate with those around you . Peggy outlines the main characteristics need to be not only a top EA , but also a top leader .
Many of the stories Peggy describes throughout the book touch on learning points that are critical to the success of not only EAs but also executives , and I will be taking on board some of these points . Striving to present myself as a leader , speaking with confidence , and conviction . Learning to be fully in sync with my leaders to ensure a mutually respectful and collaborative partnership and importantly , to try to not always see things as black and white , to think things through with more emotion instead of process .
One quote that stood out for me was , “ It ’ s an unwritten code among executive assistants that you help each other out , make each other look good and do anything and everything you possibly can to pull off the impossible .”
I cannot recommend this book enough , to not only EAs , but also to leaders as well . But fair warning , from page 230 you will need the tissues !
Natalie is an EA at Optus
64 Chief of Staff | Issue 2 2020