Tips for Assistants

In case you missed it, check out this 37 second video and share with the hashtag #assistantslead to let the world know we do more than just make copies and get coffee. #leaderassistant Jeremy Burrows

Shoutout to the work besties who let us keep it profesh... always. 😇 You know, YOUR PEOPLE. The ones you don't find in every job. But when you do... *everything* is just better. You speak the same language, even when it's completely unspoken. And you're on the same page, even when it's just a look. 👀 "Co-workers who understand what you're saying with just a look and zero facial expressions are the best kind. You're literally roasting Debra from HR and nobody else knows." ... apologies to all the [good] Debra's from HR. 👀😇 __ 👇 Tag a work bestie - mine is in the comments. __ ♻️ Share if you can relate! 👋 Follow me Maggie Olson for normally much more serious chief of staff-y content :)

Happy CEOs everywhere have one thing in common. Do you know the answer? They are experiencing the JOY and TIME-SAVINGS of having rock star EAs and Chiefs of Staff! Nova founder, Maggie Olson’s newest article published on Founder Freeway, is a reminder to all CEOs who aren’t yet experiencing the impact of having a Chief of Staff that it’s time to buy back your time. “Ten out of twelve of the founders I spent three days with had never heard of the Chief of Staff role. But after our first night at dinner, where I spent a few minutes introducing myself, describing the role, and then sharing exactly how a Chief of Staff could help each one of them free up their time to focus on the future, vision, strategy, and growth of their companies... every single founder was nodding their head saying, “I need a Chief of Staff.” And I'm here to tell each of you that, yes, you do.”- Maggie Olson CEOs without a Chief of Staff—what’s holding you back? Thank you, UPLVL Agency and Freeway! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gHV_v2je #CEO #founder #chiefofstaff #buybackyourtime #forcemultiplier

The path to a strategic leadership role is clear: Chief of Staff is the answer. For driven, accomplished, expert generalists who LOVE aligning teams, tackling big challenges, and solving complex problems... Chief of Staff is the role for you. EIGHT clear archetypes have emerged describing the path to Chief of Staff (and the path to Nova's CoS training): 1️⃣ Your boss wants you to move from EA to CoS. 2️⃣ Chief of Staff feels like the next right step. 3️⃣ You're a current CoS looking for proven frameworks. 4️⃣ You're considering if Chief of Staff is right for you. 5️⃣ You're a future entrepreneur with eyes on the C-suite. 6️⃣ You're transitioning into a Chief of Staff role. 7️⃣ You're a lifelong learner but not interested in CoS. 8️⃣ You've just been promoted to Chief of Staff! 🚀 ✨ Which archetype resonates with you? ✨ Last month we had 90 students enroll in Nova's online course. And this month may rival that. But hurry... Nova's course price increases by $400 in January. So if you're considering enrolling, NOW is the time. (you can start after the Holidays - all students have *lifetime* access to our course). With nearly 800 students in Nova's CoS Certification course across 23 countries, Nova's acclaimed certification course has rave reviews and all-star testimonials - super easy to find on our website. A few fun things ahead for Nova's course? - AI components are being added to every assignment - A community channel launching in H1 for all students - Office hours to find peer engagement & Nova support Curious to learn more but not quite sure yet? Understandable! We're always happy to chat with prospective students, and we can also connect you with a course graduate to help you determine if Nova is right for you. Just DM or comment below. So... which archetype is you?! 💫 Can't wait to meet you in the course, Maggie Peep the syllabus here: https://lnkd.in/ekBc2Q5R #chiefofstaff ♻ Share to help spread Chief of Staff awareness. 👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily CoS insights.

Looking for expert support in your Chief of Staff journey? 🔎 Nova's FREE resource library on our website can help. We get hundreds of visitors every week from people looking for resources for current and aspiring Chiefs of Staff like: ✅ PowerPoint templates ✅ CoS Frameworks ✅ EA to CoS transitional tools And more! If you've never stopped by for a visit, there's no time like the present! Visit Nova’s free resources here: https://lnkd.in/gJSzGQy5 Shine brightly in your career with Nova. 🌟 #chiefofstaff #freeresources #executiveassistant #ea #professionaldevelopment

So you thought "Chief of Staff" meant HR? You're not alone. Chief of Staff is OFTEN confused with other C-Suite roles. The non-descript title doesn't help, nor does the fact that *many* are doing Chief of Staff work under completely different titles (like biz ops, biz planning, exec. biz partner, & many more). So let's make it easy. Here are four definitions - including Chief of Staff - for the roles most commonly confused with CoS: Chief of Staff: A business leader’s right-hand and strategic thought partner focused on executing, organizing, and prioritizing the leader’s business initiatives, and driving transparency and alignment across the leadership team. Executive Assistant: A highly-skilled problem solver, a strategic doer, and the logistical mastermind behind their executive's calendar, travel & expenses, while acting as the go-to support lead for tactical items across the executive's leadership team. *commonly confused with CoS. Remember: EA = tactical partner, CoS = strategic partner Chief Operating Officer: A COO focuses on the health of the overall business, overseeing processes, systems, and teams to ensure smooth operations, scalability, and alignment with company goals. They own a distinct scorecard and deliverables tied to the company's performance. *often confused with CoS. Remember: COO = supports business, CoS = supports leader HR Executive: A senior leader managing HR strategies, including hiring, employee relations, performance, training, compliance, and workplace culture. They align HR policies with company goals to ensure a motivated and productive workforce. *sometimes confused with CoS. Remember: HR = company's people, CoS = business leader's initiatives You're not alone if you confuse Chief of Staff with other C-suite roles. But as the popularity of the CoS role grows, it will be helpful to understand the Chief of Staff's purpose deeply: to support the *business leader* as their strategic, execution-focused partner. In the comments: what other roles do you see confused with Chief of Staff? Anything you would add? __ 📖 Download this cheat sheet and a dozen more resources in Nova's Free Resource Library. ♻ Share to help spread awareness of the Chief of Staff role. 👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily CoS & leadership insights. #chiefofstaff

Maybe you’ve been told from your workplace that: ➡️there is no budget for professional development for your role. ➡️we don’t use Chief of Staff titles here. ➡️admins don’t contribute to the bottom line. ( ⬅️ heard this recently from a Nova student about her company!🤯 ) Don’t wait for someone else to define your path – take ownership of your professional growth! Our advice: if your workplace doesn’t provide a plan for your professional development, create your own. Set goals, find someone who champions your value, invest in building your skills, and keep pushing forward! Your future is too important to leave in someone else’s hands; especially when they don’t recognize the impact and value you bring to your organization. Use these “no’s” as fuel to start building your roadmap today. 🔥 Not sure where to start? Nova is here to help you shine!🌟 #chiefofstaff #professionaldevelopment #DefineYourOwnPath

"Dang, I really miss the 9-5" (said no one ever) We hear a lot about the perfect "work-life balance." But what's more realistic? Work-life integration. Work-life balance is out. But work-life presence is in. The goal? Be *incredibly present* no matter what you're doing. And set up your day to allow for it. As a LEADER, I don't tell my team when to work and I don't tell my team when not to work. They're adults! We talk about work expectations, not time expectations. As a BUSINESS OWNER, I prefer a few hours of weekend work at a coffee shop over five back-to-back 9-5s away from my two-year-old. Some things that have worked for me/my team: - expectations around work not time - mtg days are only Tuesdays & Thursdays - Appt? Just go, we don't need to know - slack check-ins & check-outs since we're virtual - no expectation to open/reply to weekend emails - the understanding that urgent things *will* come up The fact is, we've got to get the work in... But the reality is, we're better at work when we have some creativity & control around how we set it up. Find a rhythm that allows you to thrive, both at work AND at home. __ Now, how to get your C-suite leader on board? Let's share some creative ideas in the comments. 👇 __ ♻ Share to help spread the concept of work-integration! 👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily leadership insights. (Thank you BetterUp for the image inspo.)

20 implicit qualities that define a great Chief of Staff (even if you take them for granted) Your intelligence, fit, & readiness for a role far exceeds degrees, titles, & specific experience qualifications. 20 Implicit Traits that define great Chiefs of Staff: 1. Grit 2. Empathy 3. Judgement 4. Tenacity 5. Humility 6. Eagerness 7. Influence 8. Curiosity 9. Diplomacy 10. Resilience 11. Initiative 12. Discretion 13. Adaptability 14. Resourcefulness 15. Self-Awareness 16. Easy to Work With 17. Critical Thinking 18. Attention to Detail 19. Emotional Intelligence 20. People-Oriented You already have what it takes. When you understand your value, you become unstoppable. In the comments: what would you add to this list? 👇 __ ♻ Share to help spread awareness of the Chief of Staff role. 👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily CoS & leadership insights. ps... Nova's Chief of Staff course increases by $400 in January. Take advantage now and with lifetime access, you can start after the holidays. 🎅 __ #chiefofstaff

Best career advice I've ever received? If you're driven, curious, and excited about learning ALL the things... It's simple: 👉 Find a seat *right in the middle* of the action. My post yesterday was shared nearly 30 times and has over 500 likes in less than 24 hours. And it was all about changing the landscape of the C-Suite through EXPOSURE. EXPOSURE to high-level decision-making. EXPOSURE to prioritization & delegation. EXPOSURE to company leadership. So, how do we achieve exposure as an employee? 👉 by making small and big decisions every day to position ourselves for the largest, widest, and most varied learning experience possible: - ask to sit in on meetings to observe and learn - pull your chair up to the table w/ everyone else - ask your boss a few Qs after each new meeting - understand the core of your & adjacent business - take on projects that place you more centrally - present findings & strategic recommendations - seek mentorship & network beyond your team And critically important: 👉 CHOOSE JOBS that place you *right in the middle* of the action. - startup generalist roles - chief of staff style roles - business operations roles Anything - really - that can offer: 👉 wide scope, deep learning, & broad exposure for you. So, best career hack? Pull up a chair. Ask to be in that meeting. And find a seat *right in the middle* of the action. Your opportunities will soar, and your world will expand. 🌍 __ ♻ Share to help spread awareness. 👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily leadership insights. #chiefofstaff