Now’s the Time

By Bonnie Low-Kramen

Here we go again – only different. As the Covid-19 crisis took hold in the last few weeks, it started feeling like deja vu. I’ve been here before. The memories flooded. 911. 2008.

But just like the terrible events of 911 in 2001 and the financial crash of 2008, the workplace is once again being thrown up in the air like a deck of cards. And it will be the executive assistants of the world who will be going above and beyond to help clean up the mess and put the deck back together. They will be behind the scenes and the world may not see them, but they will be there working tirelessly to bring order to the fresh chaos.

They will do all this with grace, humor, intelligence, high EQ, clairvoyance, passion, determination, loyalty, dedication, and love. Yes, love of this work.

Executive Assistants do all this extremely well. They moved into action after 911 and 2008 and they are doing it NOW. They are working from home, they are organizing calls at all hours of the day and night, and they are providing rock-solid support for their executives and their teams. They say “yes.” After 911 and 2008, EAs the world over felt grateful to have jobs which is a natural response. Many also felt victimized by the situation which is also a natural response.

That said, as a profession, I want us to do it better this time though. I want the leaders of the world to see this role for what it really is.

Here’s what I mean. In 2001 and 2008, there was a frenzy of downsizing and layoffs as businesses responded to the reality. For the executive assistants who remained, they found themselves being asked (or volun-told) to take on much additional responsibilities, many of them management responsibilities. And they rose to the occasion because that’s what assistants do. They are the ultimate team players and their first instinct is to say yes, put their heads down, and get it done. The terms “backbone of the company” and the “right arms to executives” are spot on.

However, most assistants accepted these new responsibilities without a change of title or revised job description in writing, or any change of compensation. I don’t want to see that happen again.

So, now’s the time for thinking and planning for that.

There are going to be many changes in the coming days, weeks, and months. I urge every assistant to thoughtfully evaluate your role under a bright light and if appropriate, propose a revised plan when the time is right.

I am in no way advocating being greedy or taking unfair advantage at this deadly serious time. I am, however, advocating taking a detailed review of the EA role and submitting a fair revision if one is called for. After all, who knows better that the assistants about the time and the skills it will require to fulfill any given set of responsibilities?

This is also the time for…

1.  Be proactive. If you have ideas, write them down and present them. You are the eyes and ears. Speak up. Now’s the time.

2. Supporting one another generously and without keeping score. Now’s the time.

3. Studying up in areas that you need improvement. Pursue certifications or a degree. Now’s the time.

3.  Exercise and eat healthy to be as physically and mentally strong as possible. Now’s the time.

4. Be kind and put the judgments away. Everyone deals with stress in their own way. Now’s the time.

And finally, do this.

1.   Write down the age you are right now.

2.   Write down the age you want to work until.

3.   Subtract the first number from the second number to see how many more years you are going to work. Your career plan needs to be realistic and reasonable for that number of years.

Times of crisis are times of change. Change is upon us now and happening fast. As a profession, let’s respond to these changes better this time. 2020 is not a time for band-aids and quick fixes. Rather, this is a time to build a system that is sustainable for the new normal in a future that is already here.

I am Bonnie Low-Kramen, TEDx speaker, author of “Be the Ultimate Assistant” and trainer of Executive Assistants all over the world. In May, 2019, I was featured in a Forbes online cover story. As part of the research for my second book about the workplace to be published in 2022, I have had over 1,000 conversations with assistants, leaders, HR professionals, recruiters, and business school professors. I have worked in 14 countries and 38 states and would love to work with you towards building your ultimate workplace. Click here to set up a time to speak with me about your training needs which can be delivered virtually or in person.