Why an Executive Assistant Is Your Secret Weapon for Leading Through Crisis

When crisis hits, leaders tend to respond in one of two ways. The first, and most common:

“I’ll just hustle harder. I’ll jump into action, do more with less, work longer hours, and cut back on my personal margins. I’ll bend over backward to ensure that we (and I) survive this.”

This mindset is a trap.

Here’s why. This temptation toward busyness and fast-paced activity FEELS productive, and it’s addicting. It gives leaders a feeling of control and accomplishment. “I’m doing everything I can!

This is efficiency masquerading as effectiveness.

These are fast-spinning wheels, mistaken for measurable progress.

Living in mindset #1 is like jumping into a 90-day road trip without your destination in mind, without Google Maps, without support from a co-pilot, without rest stops, without getting your car aligned first. It’s a recipe for breakdown and burnout, and no doubt it impacts you, your team, your org, your clients, and your loved ones.

Here is the other way leaders respond to crisis:

“I’ll get laser focused. More than ever, I need to prioritize relentlessly and focus on what only I can do to move our organization forward. I’ll empower my team to level up. I’ll rally the resources I need to stay hyper-focused, so that we thrive through and beyond this.”

Great leaders know they can do anything, but they can’t do everything. 

By honing in on their top priorities, and by leaning into vision and strategy, effective leaders gain traction, build momentum, and drive change for their organization. They know they can’t go it alone, so they equip themselves with a secret weapon to supercharge their impact: an Executive Assistant.

Great EAs create the space leaders need, to focus on the value that only they can provide. 

1. A great EA keeps you focused

They expertly manage up, uncovering your top priorities and acting as a gatekeeper to your time and focus - protecting you from the tyranny of the urgent. They audit your calendar, filter your inputs, and coordinate your schedule and projects strategically, to ensure you’re focusing on your highest leverage work.

2. A great EA sees around corners

They see pitfalls before they arise and solve problems before they crop up. They anticipate what needs to happen and keep things running smoothly for you and your team, so your focus isn’t diverted. They understand the big picture and keep an eye on the details, tying up loose ends so you can make traction.

3. A great EA thinks creatively

They know your vision, priorities, and goals, and they think strategically about how to help you get there. They identify key stakeholders you haven’t considered, proactively manage your professional network to help foster new partnerships, and call out opportunities to enhance your communication both internally and externally. 

An EA is your secret weapon for leading through crisis. 

If you have a great EA, continue to empower them and share your top priorities, so they can protect your focus and compound your leverage. If you are underutilizing your virtual assistant or do not yet have support, let’s talk. Whether you need a flexible, virtual Executive Assistant for 10 hours/week or a full-time, dedicated assistant, we’ll help you find exceptional support.

In this crisis, you have the opportunity to choose how you show up as a leader. 

• Will you hustle harder or hone your focus? 

• Will you generate busyness or impact? 

• Will you survive or will you thrive?

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