The Superhero Complex & Role of the EA

With 25 years of experience in this profession, I’ve learned a great deal, worked across multiple sectors, and navigated my share of mistakes. Along the way, I’ve also had the privilege of making remarkable things happen for the companies I’ve collaborated with and supported.

One thing I’ve always been vocal about is my discomfort with the frequent portrayal of EAs and Admins as superheroes.

There’s no denying that we accomplish extraordinary things within businesses and organisations. We often solve problems before anyone else even notices them. Seasoned EAs could likely fill a book as thick as the Bible with stories of how they’ve saved the day!

That said, we’re not alone in this. There are countless 'superheroes' across the workforce, especially in the realm of office operations. For instance, as I write this, EPAA’s website and emails are still down. It’s my IT support team battling tirelessly to resolve the issue, all while contending with multiple power outages caused by Storm Darragh last weekend when the problems first arose.

However, I believe the “superhero complex” has recently posed challenges for EAs and Admins, and I’d like to unpack this further. I see two key aspects of this issue that merit discussion.

Noted author Laura Berman Fortgang describes the ‘hero syndrome’ as a phenomenon affecting people who seek heroism or recognition, usually by creating a desperate situation which they can resolve and subsequently receive accolades from.

This perspective doesn’t entirely align with the role of an EA or Admin. Unlike some scenarios, we don’t typically create the situations we end up resolving—they tend to land in our laps. That said, ours is a profession that undeniably seeks recognition. We enjoy those moments when the boss acknowledges our efforts and expresses appreciation for the problems we’ve solved on any given day.

Let me be clear: this is not a criticism of anyone in this profession for seeking recognition or praise. It’s natural and understandable. However, it does seem to have become deeply tied to our professional identity and sense of validation.

I believe it’s time for us to shift our approach. There’s no better moment than now to redefine this aspect of our work and identity.

Wikipedia: In psychology, a Superman complex is an unhealthy sense of responsibility, or the belief that everyone else lacks the capacity to successfully perform one or more tasks. Such a person may feel a constant need to "save" others and, in the process, take on more work on their own.

A significant portion of this profession can undoubtedly attest to taking on increasing amounts of work—efforts that often go unrecognised formally and are rarely reflected in compensation levels for many.

I’d like to approach this from a slightly different perspective.

I frequently hear EAs and Admins say, “my boss loves me,” or, “my boss adores me.” That’s wonderful! Finding the perfect fit between an EA, the boss, and the company is the ultimate goal for anyone in this industry. It’s an ideal situation, and when it works, it’s truly rewarding.

However, this notion—alongside the superhero complex often associated with our roles—can sometimes work against us. It can make us vulnerable when things take a turn for the worse.

EAs and Admins are often caught off guard when faced with redundancy. A large part of this stems from the strong bond we form with our bosses. “My boss loves my work, so how could they ever make my position redundant?”.

But here’s the reality: when a company faces financial challenges, it’s not about how many times you’ve saved the day. It comes down to economics—profitability, the bottom line, and, in many cases, tough decisions that are beyond personal relationships.

*The Fairygod Boss

The Superman (or Superwoman) complex is the common term for a psychological state in which a person believes no harm can come to them or that they can never fail. They feel like it’s their duty to take on every problem, big or small, no matter what the cost. Those with a Superman complex feel the need to complete tasks for others constantly, believing others to be incapable of completing them themselves. Also dubbed the savior complex, this mind condition often makes people feel the need to save everyone else from failure or harm.

People who suffer from a Superman complex feel the need to “fix” everyone else’s problems in life, sometimes at the cost of their own needs. Over time, living a life as Superman/woman takes its toll. Without caring for themselves, people can’t possibly continue taking care of others.

Personally, I’ve never placed much importance on receiving praise throughout the year for great work. For me, the real value came during performance and pay reviews. That’s when I could present a comprehensive list of all the additional tasks I’d taken on and highlight where I’d gone above and beyond over the year. This approach is far more impactful than waiting for sporadic recognition along the way.

However, there’s no denying the growing levels of burnout and exhaustion among many EAs and Admins today. It raises the question: how much is the need to live up to the “superhero of the office” image contributing to this? After all, nobody is perfect, and it’s impossible to perform at 100% all the time. Striving to be a superhero sets an unattainable standard.

This also explains why, when an EA or Admin does make a mistake, the self-recrimination within this profession is often so intense. We hold ourselves to impossibly high standards.

The irony isn’t lost on me, though, when I consider the numerous bad leaders and CEOs we’ve seen in the UK in recent years—take the Post Office scandal, for instance. Do you think those leaders are beating themselves up over their mistakes? And their errors were catastrophic!

What strikes me as most urgent is this: our profession desperately needs a PR overhaul. Do we really want to keep leaning into the “EAs and Admins are superheroes” narrative? Or is it time to shift the conversation to something more sustainable, authentic, and reflective of the value we bring without the unrealistic expectations?