EAs and PAs are often described as the linchpins of an organisation, but the reality of the role is evolving faster than ever. The demands on Assistants are no longer just about diaries and meetings. You are expected to think ahead, anticipate challenges, influence outcomes, and support decision making at a strategic level. But how do you increase impact and influence in just 30 days?…
Having worked in this industry for nearly 20 years and now leading eavolve, Emily Partridge, director at eavolve talks about her experience of supporting assistants to become more confident and influential in their role:
I have seen first-hand how the EAs and PAs who really stand out are not simply those who are highly organised, but those who understand how to use their human skills intentionally. Judgement, awareness, emotional intelligence, and influence are the qualities that allow an EA/PA to make a real difference (not just complete tasks).
One thing I have learned is that even small, deliberate shifts in approach can make a tangible impact in a short space of time. I often think in terms of a 30-day window. It is long enough to embed a new behaviour but short enough to remain achievable alongside a full-time role. In practice, it can be about building confidence, applying better judgement, or refining how you influence stakeholders day-to-day.
Where AI fits in
There is a lot of talk about AI in the workplace and understandably so. Tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can be powerful, but they are only as effective as the person using them. For EAs and PAs, AI should be seen as an enabler, not the headline or โmain event.โ Used intelligently, it can help with preparation, communication, research, and prioritisation, freeing up mental space to focus on the human skills that cannot be automated.
The reality is that AI can support better decision-making, but it cannot replace the judgement, discretion, and awareness that make an EA/PA indispensable. Increasingly, the role is about combining these human skills with the right tools to add real value to your leaders and teams.
To increase impact and influence in just 30 days takes practice
In my experience, the most successful development comes when learning is practical and immediately applicable, and a few approaches I have seen work well include:
Starting with self-awareness: Understanding where you currently add value, what your strengths are, and where small improvements could create bigger impact.
Practising influence in context: Considering how tone, timing and framing can shape outcomes and stakeholder decisions.
Making contribution visible: It is not about self-promotion, but about helping leaders see the strategic value you bring.
Applying learning immediately: Small, deliberate changes over a 30-day period can create measurable differences in confidence, influence, and strategic contribution.
Some of the programmes we run at eavolve are built around these principles. They aim to give EAs and PAs structured, practical ways to increase impact and influence quickly, without adding pressure or unrealistic expectations.
In my opinion, the role of the EA and PA has never been more important or more complex. Organisations rely on you not just to keep things running but to anticipate needs, support decision making, and influence outcomes in subtle but significant ways.
Investing time in developing these human skills, alongside using AI intelligently, is what allows EAs and PAs to remain indispensable, confident, and highly effective in your roles. Ultimately, the measure of success is not how busy you are, but the impact you make, the influence you have, and the strategic value you contribute.
