The best Executive Assistants I know don’t wait to be asked says Nicholas Barnard, Board EA & Operations at PrettyGreen.
The best EAs don’t wait to be asked – they spot opportunities, question the way things are done and look for ways to make things better. For Nicholas Barnard, Board EA & Operations at PrettyGreen, this means looking beyond traditional responsibilities, understanding the wider business and embracing technology to work smarter. Drawing on his own unconventional career journey, he shares why taking ownership, staying curious and trusting your judgement can help you become a future-proof executive assistant.
“Today, my role has evolved from supporting the board and CEO as ‘just an EA’ – to working across operations, onboarding, systems and AI. I’m helping us understand how our wider organisation works, where there is friction and how we can create a simpler, smarter, more connected and AI-enabled workplace.”
The best EAs notice. They question. They anticipate. And when they see something that could work better, they don’t simply think, “That’s not my job.” They think, “How could we improve this?” This mindset has evolved during his unconventional career journey that includes leadership experience and running his own business before becoming an EA.
Stop thinking of your job description as your ceiling
Start thinking like an owner. You don’t need a leadership title to demonstrate leadership.
If you spot a recurring problem, explore a solution. If a process is unnecessarily complicated, question it. If your executive keeps asking for the same information, find a better way of delivering it.
Taking ownership doesn’t mean stepping on toes. It means stepping up.
Become curious about the bigger picture
Future-proof EAs understand more than their executive’s diary. Being an EA is not just being good at managing a diary. The common mistake EAs and Executives make is pigeonholing an EA into mundane diary management when they potentially can have a strategic partner on their side. As an EA, we should understand how the business makes money, what the priorities are, where its challenges lie and what different teams need from one another. The more you understand the ecosystem around you, the more valuable your perspective becomes. Our guide on how to become more strategic as an Executive Assistant is a useful tool you can refer back to.
Use technology – don’t fear it
AI is changing the workplace, and assistants have a huge opportunity to lead that change.
Use technology to reduce repetitive administration, organise information, improve processes and free up time for the things that require a human: judgement, relationship building, discretion, creativity and problem-solving.
The future-proof EA isn’t competing with AI. They’re learning how to work alongside it. Leaning into it.
Let feedback sharpen you
Ask for feedback — especially when it’s uncomfortable. We all make mistakes but it’s those mistakes that build us not break us.
Positive feedback tells you what to keep doing. Constructive feedback tells you where you can grow. Neither defines you; both develop you. And perhaps most importantly, trust yourself.
Confidence doesn’t always arrive before you take action. Sometimes you take the leap, make the decision, learn from the outcome and realise you were capable all along.
What does the future EA need to do?
The future of the EA role isn’t about doing more. It’s about thinking bigger. So don’t wait for someone to give you permission to add value. Look up. Look ahead. Ask better questions. Find the opportunity — that’s the key to becoming a future-proof executive assistant.
And when you see something that could be better, be brave enough to say: “I can help with that.”
Connect with Nicholas on LinkedIn
