Multiply Your EA's Productivity Through Strategic Shadowing

As an executive, your time is precious, and your assistant plays a crucial role in maximizing your productivity. Shouldn't you make sure you're investing in their growth?

After all, the more your EA grows in skills, knowledge and confidence, the better they'll be able to support you.

One powerful technique to level up your EA's productivity is through strategic shadowing. By providing your assistant with a behind-the-scenes view of your day-to-day activities, you give them access to a wealth of insights and opportunities for growth.

What is Strategic Shadowing?

Strategic shadowing is the practice of having your executive assistant accompany you throughout the workday, observing your decision-making processes, communication styles, and time management strategies. It's an immersive experience that allows your EA a deeper understanding of your workflow, priorities, and pain points.

Once they've truly been "on the inside," they're empowered to take initiative in their role--sometimes even anticipating your needs

The Benefits of Strategic Shadowing

1. Improved Decision-Making: By witnessing firsthand how you navigate complex situations and make high-stakes decisions, your assistant can develop the judgment and critical thinking skills to handle tasks with greater autonomy.
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2. Enhanced Communication: Observing your interactions with stakeholders, both internal and external, gives your EA valuable insights into your communication preferences and techniques, enabling them to become a more effective ambassador for your brand.
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3. Time Management Mastery: Shadowing your daily routines and meeting schedules allows your assistant to identify opportunities for optimization, streamlining processes and eliminating bottlenecks to boost your overall efficiency.
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4. Stronger Collaboration: The shared experience of strategic shadowing fosters a deeper level of trust and understanding between you and your EA, leading to more seamless collaboration and a stronger working relationship.
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5. Professional Development: The insights gained through shadowing can inspire your assistant to seek out additional training, explore new areas of responsibility, and proactively suggest improvements to your workflows.

Implementing Strategic Shadowing

Ready to plan a strategic shadowing day? Follow these steps to integrate strategic shadowing into your executive assistant's routine:

1. Schedule Dedicated Shadowing Days: Set aside one full day each month (e.g., the first Tuesday) for your assistant to shadow your activities.
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2. Set Expectations: Brief your EA on confidentiality requirements and any off-limit discussions to ensure they understand the boundaries of their observation.
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3. Prepare Your Team: Inform other stakeholders, such as meeting participants or colleagues, about the upcoming shadowing session to manage expectations and eliminate potential disruptions.
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4. ‍Set the Stage: At the start of the shadowing day, provide a brief overview of what your EA can expect to observe and the specific areas you'd like them to focus on.
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5. ‍Maintain Transparency: Throughout the day, include your assistant in all activities except for those requiring strict confidentiality, encouraging them to take notes on your decision-making processes, communication styles, and time management strategies.
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6. ‍Debrief and Reflect: At the end of the day, hold a 30-minute debrief session to discuss your assistant's observations and answer any lingering questions.
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7. ‍Capture Insights: Have your EA submit a reflection within 24 hours, highlighting key learnings and identifying potential areas for improvement.
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8. ‍Implement and Iterate: Review the insights gathered from the shadowing session and incorporate relevant changes into your daily collaboration and future shadowing activities.

If you have an EA you love and are ready to take their skills to the next level, consider scheduling a day this week as a "strategic shadowing" day.

And, if you're still looking for the perfect assistant to join your team, our team is ready to talk. Schedule a call with us here.

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