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EAs tackle difficult bosses and how to change your working relationship

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Sometimes workplace friction is unavoidable, nobody works harmoniously with everyone all the time. However, when the tension builds between you and your executive, itโ€™s normally up to you to make the peace and preserve a pleasant working relationship. Looking to maximise your happiness and stability in a long term career, PA Life editor Molly Dyson sat down with a panel of Executive Assistants at the office* show to discuss how to strengthen your relationship with your boss and work more effectively.

When taking a job with such high expectations, tensions are expected, according to the panel, who believe that dealing with a CEO or senior figurehead can be a particularly tough role as a boss can be more abrasive than other workers. One particular issue comes from dealing with a boss surrounded by โ€˜yes men,โ€™ who never openly disagree with their senior.

โ€œWhen things do get out of hand, it is quite a difficult position,โ€ said Amy Marsden, EA to the CEO of WorldRemit. โ€œParameters change, deadlines change, and you could be dealing with someone who is never confronted.โ€

A major concern for one EA was how to deal with a boss who is rarely in the office, or not โ€˜working to a timezoneโ€™. Constant international travel can make working with a CEO tougher, as they arenโ€™t around to see how much an EA consistently delivers, and can be demanding at unsociable hours. Highlighting to the audience that the keyword is โ€˜workingโ€™ relationship, boundaries must be set, but you sometimes have to go the extra mile to be noticed.

โ€œYouโ€™re essentially micromanaging your bossโ€™ expectations,โ€ said EA to CEO of American Express Global Business Travel, Abigail Jones. โ€œYou need to be proactive. Any email that says โ€˜good jobโ€™, keep them in a โ€˜praise folder.โ€™โ€

All at the discussion emphasised the importance of communication, especially in a job so directly linked to a bossโ€™ life as an Executive or Personal Assistant. And while you have to make personal boundaries to establish your working hours and make a firm stance when youโ€™re off the clock, that doesnโ€™t mean you should be closed off from your employer.

โ€œGet to know that person inside-out,โ€ said Christine Hampson, EA to CEO of the British Security Industry Association. โ€œThe relationship you start off with is the one you want to continue, so mutual respect is paramount.โ€

The personal happiness and wellbeing of the worker must come before anything else, they all agreed. If thereโ€™s a problem, the panel suggested adding it to the timetable, treat it as any other meeting and lay out the problems you have.

โ€œThe role we play is so critical that you canโ€™t carry it out if you arenโ€™t happy,โ€ continued Amy Marsden, reminding the audience that if there are problems you canโ€™t address directly or arenโ€™t comfortable bringing up, โ€œyou do have a HR department.โ€