THE 6 ATTRIBUTES OF A SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Behind every successful executive, there's usually an unsung hero – the Personal Assistant (PA). On the outside, you see impressive CEOs with a wealth of experience and an ability to manage their workload impeccably. While these professionals are highly competent and talented, it would be impossible to achieve all they do without support, and their biggest support tends to come from their assistants.

These executive professionals are more concerned about nailing that presentation, not scheduling the meeting. They’re more concerned about winning over that client, not planning the flights, accommodation and itinerary. This is where a PA comes in, and quite frankly, makes their lives a lot easier.

Whilst formal education can be beneficial to give you theoretical knowledge, a good PA knows that the job requires specific mindsets and soft skills because it’s not just about juggling appointments and sending emails; it's about fostering an environment where their executive can perform at their peak.

So, what makes a PA truly successful? Here are 6 qualities of a successful Personal Assistant.

ORGANISED

This is a no-brainer. As a PA, it’s not just the importance of juggling your own operational tasks, it’s about juggling someone else’s. And in reality, it’s not just about juggling their basic work tasks, it’s about juggling their life. From scheduling trips to sorting dry cleaning, you have to be organised because your executive will suffer for it if you don’t. This also means being:

• Detail orientated

• Capable of multitasking

• Foreseeing needs

So whilst organisation may seem like a fairly simple attribute to have, it requires meticulous attention if you truly want to be seen as trustworthy.

GREAT COMMUNICATOR

Communicating is 90% of your job. Whether it’s:

• Sending emails

• Scheduling meetings

• Conveying messages to clients and other executives

Not only is it important to get your point across, but it’s also important to get your executive’s point across. Whilst you may be directly talking to different people, sometimes you’re speaking on behalf of your executive which means you need to ensure their voice is accurately reflected.

And it doesn’t stop there, what will keep a smooth sailing relationship between you and your executive is your clear, timely communication to them as well. Ensure they know where they need to be at what time, whilst listening to them, their schedule and what works best for them.

CONFIDENTIAL

As a PA, you’ll be entrusted with confidential information, both professionally and personally. Whilst you are an assistant, PAs who go above and beyond to build and sustain trust can truly become confidants to their executives, not just because of their good work, but their approach to confidentiality and trust.

If you want to truly see the fruit of a PA role where you can see that your work has value, start with trust. It’ll determine your entire relationship with your executive.

ADAPTABLE

No two days are the same for a PA… because no two days are the same for an executive.

There will be a constant change in priorities, challenges will come alone and schedules will have to be changed last minute. But how with you react?

The corporate world is everchanging, and with different industries, markets and economies, those changes can drastically short and long-term outlooks. But as a PA, your job is to be the calm in the storm. The likelihood is, that everyone else is feeling the stress and will do what they can on their end to make it a smooth transition, which means you need to also.

Executives want their PAs to adapt with optimism and be of top support through it all, not adding stress on top of stress. Your ability to pivot seamlessly in the face of unpredictability is what will set you apart.

POSITIVE

From an executive’s perspective, a PA is the person you see first thing in the morning with a coffee. They’re the person you go to when you need accommodation for a conference. They’re the person who you need to get in touch with a shareholder to arrange a meeting. To make this experience positive, the PA has to be positive.

You want your executive to genuinely enjoy working with you. You want to show that you’re happy to be there and you’ll do all within your power to ensure things are running smoothly. Because as a PA, you're not just managing tasks; you're curating an experience. A positive, personable outlook ensures not only efficient operations but also a harmonious working relationship with the executive and everyone you interact with.

COMMITTED

It’s no secret that the job of PA is a tasking one. It’s busy and filled with ups and downs. But the one thing that will set you apart from others is whether you’re committed.

Your work ethic, mindset, and approach towards every day and every task will be a key determiner if you are willing to be a vital component to the success of, not just the executive, but of the organisation.

Let’s say you’re the Personal Assistant to the CEO. That’s a big job. Their job impacts so many other people’s jobs, decisions, and plans, which means how you support them will have an impact on all of that too. This is why commitment is such an important attribute.

- Written by Jack Lloyd

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