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Executives and Assistants
Working In Partnership
The Definitive Guide to Success
Executives and Assistants are struggling
The way they are working just isn’t working. There’s frustration on both sides of the desk: Assistants are under-utilized; Executives are under-supported. Expectations are vague and unspoken and, sooner or later, the partnership turns dysfunctional and unproductive.
Eventually, things get to a point where clear, definitive processes and guidelines are a must to work together.
Well, we’ve heard you, and we’ve created the solution you’re seeking.
Executives & Assistants Working In Partnership
This tool is designed to support the relationship between Executives and Assistants by providing a structured path for managing both the people and processes involved.
Not Just Another “eBook”
Books are great…we know you agree. But this guide is much more than words and concepts on a page. It’s a platform for building and creating. It’s an interactive tool designed to be used, not just read. It’s a resource and a roadmap. Here’s just a small portion of what you’ll find inside:
Comprehensive and flexible solutions
For addressing the most pressing and common challenges facing Executives and Assistants.
Timeless Solutions
Time-tested proven solutions that work in nearly any professional environment, regardless of industry or business size.
Specific “conversation points”
Designed to facilitate open communication between Executives and Assistants, helping you to create your own unique partnership with clearly defined operating procedures.
A variety of proprietary assessments
To help you better understand the nature of the partnership and your key areas for improvement.
A coaching program with Joan Burge herself!
We’ve made this tool incredibly easy to use—it’s concise, well organized, and practical. Its design is both elegant and functional. Executives and Assistants use it together collaboratively and interactively. It’s like a self-guided, self-paced coaching program with Joan Burge herself!
Special Bonus Materials
When you invest in your Assistant/Executive partnership, you’ll also receive these special bonus materials designed to support your growth and deepen your learning in key functional areas.
The Gatekeeper’s Guide
(Downloadable PDF)
This Guide offers Assistants a comprehensive set of “rules” to ensure you are properly screening calls, protecting corporate and personal information, accurately recording messages, and utilizing appropriate professional etiquette in the process.
Comprehensive Travel Planning Guide (Downloadable PDF)
This 25-page comprehensive planning document with checklists help minimize stress in the pre-travel process, allowing Assistants, Business Travelers, and Planners to better organize the many details involved.
How Does It Work?
This guide is based on a simple formula:
People + Process = Success.
These are the critical elements in any partnership.
Part One
Is focused on developing the Assistant/Executive relationship, understanding the people side of the equation and opening the channels of communication to clarify expectations and build alignment.
Part One includes chapters on:
- Understanding the Stages of Growth
- Communication: The Foundation of Trust
- Being in Agreement
- Resolving Partnership Problems
Part Two
Is devoted to processes—the day-to-day operational and tactical procedures required to get the job done. This is the hardest part of the equation and the most powerful part of this Guide. We offer step-by-step “how to” directions for implementing consistent, standardized processes that actually WORK. This isn’t just theory; it’s real-world solutions to your everyday challenges.
Part Two includes chapters on:
- Regularly Scheduled Meetings
- Calendar Management and Meeting Preparation
- E-mail Management
- Prioritization
- Project Management
- Travel
- Telephone Calls
- Follow-up Systems
Executives & Assistants Working In Partnership
This tool is designed to support the relationship between Executives and Assistants by providing a structured path for managing both the people and processes involved.
About the Authors
Joan Burge
Founder and Ceo | Course Creator
Joan Burge, the primary author of this Guide, is widely considered the pioneer of administrative training and development. Joan launched Office Dynamics in 1990, an internationally recognized training organization focused on bridging the education gap for administrative professionals and executives.
Since 1990, Joan has served this audience as CEO of Office Dynamics, providing training, coaching and mentorship to professionals in some of the world’s most respected organizations.
Her clients include Cisco, Humana, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, Nationwide Insurance, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Novant Health, Sandals Resorts International and Fifth Third Bank.
With over four decades of experience on both sides of the desk, Joan possesses a uniquely balanced point-of-view. She knows the challenges facing Executives and Assistants because she helps solve them each and every day.
She has personally coached more than 150 teams, helping them increase productivity by 25% or more. It’s not surprising that she’s noticed some recurring trends along the way.
This guide is designed to help readers address the common issues Joan sees time and time again working in the field.
Chrissy Scivicque
Founder and Ceo | Eat Your Career
In writing this Guide, Joan collaborated with fellow trainer and career coach, Chrissy Scivicque. Also a former Executive Assistant, Chrissy offers a complementary perspective and her own real world experience.
She possesses expertise in a broad range of professional development, employee effectiveness, and performance improvement strategies.
Like Joan, Chrissy has developed and delivered comprehensive training programs for top organizations including Capital One, Northrop Grumman, W.W. Grainger, Skadden, GlaxoSmithKline, and more.
She is particularly skilled at taking complex business activities and turning them into simple, actionable, step-by-step processes.
How Will You Benefit?
After working with this guide, Executive and Assistant will experience less stress, improved communication and collaboration, better time management, greater ability to focus and get things done, increased efficiency and effectiveness.
This Guide offers a specific, step-by-step tools for creating a dynamic, productive, and powerful working relationship. It helps create consistency in how things are done.
- Leverage the time and talents of your Assistant.
- Delegate more projects and responsibilities, giving you the freedom to focus on other priorities.
- Feel more comfortable providing feedback to your Assistant.
- Maximize utilization of support staff.
- Think more strategically and make better decisions on behalf of your Executive.
- Become a liaison for your Executive with direct reports, customers and stakeholders.
- Gain more independence.
- Feel confident that you’re meeting expectations and providing the highest level of support.
- Having a clear roadmap for leveraging your talents as an Assistant.
- Knowing exactly what questions to ask your Executive to better understand and support his/her needs.
- Using specific, time-tested strategies for creating that ideal working partnership—where both you and your Executive are performing at peak levels.
- Having your own customized “operations manual” that defines exactly what your Executive expects and how you deliver it.
