I was recently asked what I thought was the most important aspect of being an executive assistant, having scoured my brain for a smart answer I simply said ‘maintaining a good relationship with your manager’. I’m still not 100% sure if it is the most important part of being an EA but having thought about it keeping and maintaining a good relationship with your manager makes the life of an EA a lot easier.  

As PAs /EAs we spend a vast amount of time with our managers, if the relationship turns sour it is almost impossible for us to do our jobs effectively and can have a devastating effect on the work that we do. So how do we ensure this does not happen? Here are some tips on maintaining a good working relationship with your boss.

Respect and trust

As with any relationship, the one you have with your manager should be built on respect and trust. This is a two-way street but for an assistant it is vital and necessary for your manager to trust you explicitly. So to guarantee their confidence meet deadlines, deliver work when you say you are going to, keep confidential matters  top secret and don’t be seen as the office gossip.

They are human too

Talking to your manager about the things you do outside of the office may seem a bit daunting or even a complete waste of time but  I think it helps maintain good rapport. Always ask them how their evening / weekend was and look genuinely interested when they answer, you may find that you have things in common and even if they do not reciprocate the question you have gained at least a small insight into how their mood will be that day. In addition if you focus on the positive traits in your manager it will help you understand what motivates them to succeed.

Communicate

Regularly and face to face! Again this is a two-way thing and should be consistent throughout the time you work with your manager. Obviously set up regular meetings to discuss both workloads and diaries but also be there for them when they look like they need to talk about something. Check in with them throughout the day, even if it is just to say where you are going. If you communicate with them effectively you won’t be blindsided with unexpected problems. 

Have a sense of humor

One of the most effective ways I have found to manage my relationships is to not take them too seriously. This may sound controversial but let me explain. I’m not talking about the work itself, this is obviously important and should be treated as such but the relationship itself can be handled with a lighter touch. If you appear to be happy and can have a good time at work it enhances the relationships you have with colleagues, including your manager. Let them in on the joke once and in a while and include them in the conversation.

So there my top tips on maintaining a good relationship with the boss, what are yours? Also it would interesting to find out what you think are other essential requirements for being an effective assistant.

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