Summer is hot and so is burnout. By this time of the year, the heat, and the mood, in the office, and outside, feels like it would melt gold which, fun fact, has a melting point of 1,948°F.
Executive assistants have been in the cubicle crucibles for the last seven months firing on all cylinders to keep up with you and the team. Much of this, ironically, includes prepping you for some downtime to cool off somewhere (anywhere but the office) to unplug with friends and families. As you’re flying out the door take a minute to glance in your rearview mirror. Do you see your EA standing there with reassuring eyes, waving you on, mouthing, “I got this. Go have a great time. Turn off your phone. I know how to get you”?
When was the last time your EA caught their breath? More importantly: When’s the last time they caught a break?
Burnout isn’t reserved for the titled senior leadership team and the C-Suite. Technically, your executive assistant is in the leadership team bracket running at the same breakneck speed. Their end-product, and contributions, just have a different appearance but are no less valuable.
You know the plate spinning circus act. Now, picture that with peas rolling around on the plates. Spinning plates with peas. THAT’S what your EA is doing. There’s juggling multiple calendars, scheduling–and the dreaded re-scheduling–meetings with a laundry list of attendees in different time zones, ensuring that your kiddo’s dance recital is on your radar plus family birthdays, teacher conferences and so on. Let’s add travel coordination, expense management (please…while we’re on the subject, dig out your receipts!) Calendars are cooking and your EA is meticulously managing it. Oh…why don’t we add a layer of Board prep, minutes, meeting notes and follow up. EAs are master generalists. On the surface, these responsibilities appear to be super mundane that “anyone” can do. But, if you’re a great leader, you’re observing the tempo of their days and listening to them artfully manage conversations and conflicts.
Trust me, there are days they wonder how they do it all. Let’s also not ignore the reality that, while they’re taking care of you, and the team, they have obligations at their home, too.
EAs are a super-dedicated bunch. They will often not tell you they need a brain break. But, there will be signs. Maybe they seem to be off their game. Maybe they’re a little forgetful or unexpected errors/typos are popping up. They could be a little sluggish, arriving to the office late or a little zoned out. EAs are excruciatingly hard on themselves.
Their anxiety gets plussed when you bake in the fear of getting replaced just for being human and having human experiences. It’s so sad, honestly. Any rational person knows that no one is immune to making mistakes. We all know that. It’s a weird phenomenon in the admin community that a mistake is perceived as weakness. EAs need permission to feel overwhelmed, or burned out, and not worry that their job is in jeopardy or that they will be viewed as incompetent or inadequate. They need grace.
So, the next time the senior leadership team ducks out of the office, give your admin the greenlight to grab some time (not from their PTO) to recharge and find their mojo. You hold the power and should be their advocate. It’s one perk that will have a huge ROI. It’s an acknowledgement of their value to you and that they are seen. Everyone wants to matter.
So, as we wind down summer, pump the brakes on your EA. Sprinkle in some early days or late starts or days off. Recognize them, and their diligence, up to this point.
Joelle Paban is a former executive assistant. She stepped out on her own and created Joelle Paban & Associates, a niche recruiting firm, in 2014. Joelle Paban & Associates offers immediate, permanent placement of well-qualified, highly coveted, executive/administrative candidates. You can reach Paban at joelle@joellepaban.
