Cathy Harris, author of The Executive Support Guide to Creating an Internal Assistant Network, shows us how to power up and become a change agent champion
Much has been written about our profession and the current state of change. We find ourselves having not only to adapt quickly to change, but also to become the masters of it.
The shift away from traditional, transactional skillsets now requires a mindset of transformation and creativity. It is no longer enough to have a mindset of simply reacting to change; we now need to actively adapt and embrace the tide of evolution.
As Assistants, we must recognize that change is not a disruption but rather a constant. Whether it’s adapting to new technologies, supporting leadership through restructuring or managing hybrid work environments, we are often the first to feel the ripple effects and, of course, the first expected to respond with positivity. It’s not always that easy. We often must ask ourselves many questions about the best way to navigate this season of change.
Taking a Step Back
Our profession has already undergone a profound transformation over past decades. What was once seen as a primarily supportive and transactional role, where we focused on scheduling, filing, and gatekeeping, has evolved into a dynamic strategic function that is integral to the success of our leadership and our organizations. We are expected to be tech-savvy, agile, and forward-thinking individuals, almost robotic but with a human face and a heart of servant leadership.
Proactive Engagement
Being a change navigator involves proactive engagement with all our stakeholders, our executives, teams, and peers. It’s all about anticipating others’ needs, staying informed, remaining open to learning, AND adapting. It is also increasingly about being open-minded to new and exciting technological applications that could potentially erode our relevance as administrative professionals, and then being ready to pivot and react quickly. It also means becoming a trusted professional, someone who can offer clarity when our peers or managers feel uncertain, and who can translate chaos into coordinated action and focus. This is, after all, one of our best strengths!
Stepping into Leadership
Our roles call for courage, curiosity, and commitment to our continuous personal growth and stepping into leadership in our own right, not necessarily through our title or who we support, but through our courage and influence, our insight and our initiative. When we, as administrative professionals, embrace this identity, we not only elevate our own careers but also become invaluable assets in driving our organization’s success.
AI and Automation
The rise of digital tools, automation, and AI has shifted the focus from routine tasks to higher-value contributions like project management and project coordination (a learning discipline which I encourage our Assistants to take on as a qualification).
Many executives are happy to spend literally two minutes doing their own travel arrangements. And yes, I am aware that when the arrangements don’t go according to plan, we need to step in! But that is okay as long as we are also engaged in technology. This evolutionary change has given our roles new demands and challenges – not only new technical skill requirements, but also a deeper understanding of business operations and strategic priorities.
Critical Thinkers
We must be more critical in our thinking, ask more questions, and be truly strategic. This is one reason we need to up our game, future-proof our profession, and step out and be bolder in confronting the real strategic skills we need. I am not talking about how to better navigate a diary entry. It is so much more than that! The shift to remote and hybrid work models has redefined how we engage with our teams and leaders. Virtual collaboration and digital communication platforms have become the norm, requiring a new level of adaptability and digital fluency. It’s the change that must take place to ensure we are equipped for the future.
Team Cohesion
Our roles have created new skills and opportunities for us where we are becoming culture carriers and real-time change agents. This means we play a key role in maintaining team cohesion, supporting employee well-being, and ensuring smooth transitions during periods of organizational change, whether technological or structural.
We find ourselves not just doing more, but doing things differently. It’s about stepping into our roles and allowing it to blend in and align with operational excellence, but with that strategic insightthat I mentioned earlier.
Packaging Your Personality
A huge part of the evolution of change is the use of AI. I love that AI is there to help me with certain tasks, but I can assure you, when there is a task, or an article, or an intervention that requires me to be truly authentic, I will err away from AI to create communications that still express my personality, my character, and my voice. AI-generated responses are always a starting point, not an end point, so always read through them and personalise them; if you don’t, it is a dead giveaway that can affect your authenticity and engagement.
Power Up and Become a Change Agent Champion
1. Remain adaptable
Technology is evolving, and when you put your mind to embracing new tools and resources with a positive mindset, IT will keep you ahead of the game.
2. Be a learner for life
Whatever it is you want to master, whether the use of AI or project management, your commitment to learning ensures long-term success and shows your consistency as a strategic Assistant.
3. Team up and collaborate
It is always easier to work alongside those who can help and direct you, where there is a network of other professional Assistants who can share their experiences and provide sound advice and knowledge-sharing.
4. The balancing act
We must realize that not every new resource or AI application is necessary. Evaluate carefully what will work best for your work environment and whether it is fit for purpose and is recommended by your organization, especially for a security point of view. Balance in this regard is important to keep us grounded with a realistic mindset.
5. Be authentic
I cannot express it enough, but if you use AI in your communications with your name as the author, it is imperative that it is your work, your creativity, your character, and your personality. The moment you just blindly use AI to meet an end is when you are exposed, and people will not want to read your “fake” article.
And finally, change is meant to help us be more productive and more efficient, without ever forgetting that with change, we need to show humility, kindness, and a spirit of continuous learning.
