Personal assistants: how to get what you need from a non-communicative executive

When it comes to communicating effectively, the saying ‘treat people how you would like to be treated’ doesn’t always ring true. We all respond differently to different ways of communicating, so as a personal or executive assistant, to get the best out of your manager you should understand this difference and change how you interact accordingly.

This is your emotional intelligence (EQ): the intangible social skills needed to communicate effectively and one of the top traits of a personal assistant. It is more than just a management buzzword and in today’s business environment it is arguably more important than IQ – research has shown that people with average IQs outperform those with the highest IQs 70% of the time¹.

Those in executive assistant jobs and personal assistant jobs tend to have high EQs as they need to be comfortable with seamlessly modifying their emotions, accommodating egos and being flexible with the individual they are supporting. This will help you to establish an effective partnership, which is ultimately better for the company and your job satisfaction.

EQ is particularly useful when dealing with a difficult executive. In these situations, you will be required to call on all the skills of a PA to get the right information out of them. Learning how to tolerate a lack of communication and being able to get to the bottom of unclear directions will ensure you have a productive working relationship and could even secure you influence. Here are some important points to consider:

Understand what matters to your Principal

As the eyes and ears of senior management, it is a PA or EA’s job to understand what motivates them. An executive’s job is to protect the primary objectives of the business – i.e. its financial position or its public reputation. So when communicating up, always make it clear how what you are saying relates back to the key areas of the business (and what could happen if it is not actioned) to get the best results.

Ask the right questions

When asking for information, always be specific so there is no risk of ambiguity and be assertive to convey a sense of urgency. Whether you are communicating in writing, on the phone or in person, asking the right questions will get you the right answers. Use your one-to-one time effectively by preparing well and leading with the most important points you need decisions to be made upon. You can ease the decision-making process further by anticipating the options available to the executive, leaving them with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decisions to make.

Leave the detail for in-person meetings

Long emails rarely get read by time-short executives, so keep the detail for when you have your next meeting with them, instead of attempting to get answers in writing. Always follow up decisions made during conversations with an email, so you are both clear on the next action points.

Be self-aware

Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. You could inadvertently be contributing to a breakdown in communication by not understanding the areas you could improve upon. It is useful to regularly undertake a self-assessment, not just in preparation for your appraisal, so that you can identify the areas you might need to dedicate more time to. This can help you to address areas of concern with training before it affects your working relationships.

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If you’re an aspiring personal assistant, read more about what a PA does in their day-to-day job, and for more expert advice on the role, read our guide to becoming a PA. When you feel ready to explore new employment opportunities, register with us today or apply for jobs directly on the website.

¹Research from Emotional Intelligence, Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (1995), by Daniel Goleman

Author Tiger Contributor Tiger Recruitment Team