Why Every Leader Needs a Modern Executive Assistant
Do you wonder how fellow ministry leaders find time to manage multiple communication and productivity apps that have become a necessary part of their work, all the while keeping up with their higher level responsibilities?
Secretaries, administrative assistants, and executive assistants aren’t what they used to be. Less than a decade ago, most executive assistants (EAs) worked in-person with their executive. They relied on systems and processes many now consider archaic. They had frequent touchpoints and communication with their boss, kept notes with pen and paper, and went to sleep at night without access to all of their work documents, files, and emails at their fingertips.
What Changed
With the advent of the smartphone, the landscape of work quickly changed forever. Now, organizations commonly rely on dozens of different apps and programs to accomplish their objectives and needs at individual, departmental, and organizational levels. From project management tools, communication platforms, and expense tracking apps, to CRMs, travel planning apps, social media apps, and different email management programs. And the list goes on.
How can an executive keep up with all of the latest trends in technology and lead others in a cohesive direction? Or more urgently, in this climate of rapidly changing technology, how does a leader keep his organization performing in a way that will secure successful operations in years to come?
Many organizations benefit from hiring a Director of Operations to handle the details and functioning of org-wide processes and systems. But what about the operations of the executive office and the leader’s management of his direct reports and responsibilities? Especially in medium-to-large remote organizations, how can a leader keep the organization from communication chaos and technology overload while juggling his daily responsibilities that were already difficult to juggle?
Meet the Modern Executive Assistant
This is where the Modern Executive Assistant comes in. EAs serve strategically by keeping up with the most recent and best tools, apps, and programs, handling research and implementation on behalf of the leader. Gone are the days of EAs simply managing a calendar and filing expense reports. While those tasks still need to be handled, there is a much more strategic role that EAs play by relieving this relatively new administrative burden of technological advancement, taking it off of the executive’s plate.
This rate of technological innovation is not slowing down. Even with the growth of AI, there is no replacement for the wisdom, emotional intelligence, and proactivity of a skilled executive assistant. Now more than ever, leaders need an executive assistant to help navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape and align the executive office and organization at large with the best processes, systems, and programs that match the organization’s vision, values, and goals.
Beyond keeping track of the technological landscape and assisting in implementation of apps and processes, EAs can help with the daily management of the programs and tools many leaders don’t have time for amidst the other more important tasks on his plate. An EA can leverage the leader’s time by accessing his apps, program accounts, and collaboration tools, and communicating, organizing, and keeping track of the tags, comments, and mentions by consolidating them into one place, or even communicating on his behalf.
Empowering Help
Pastors, especially, are helped by an executive assistant who discerns the best practices for communication, membership, and volunteer management, as well as personal organization. Convictional church practices and ecclesiology will forever remain an unwavering pillar in a pastor’s implementation of ministry. But keeping up with modern workplace innovations can help the church to thrive.
We are here to help. Ministry Desk offers several different packages based on our client’s needs and budget. We want to unburden leaders from the weight of administrative tasks so that they can focus on the things that only they can do.
Book a discovery call today at www.ministrydesk.co.
