Typical mistakes managers of EAs make

The head of a virtual assistant agency has spoken out about the most common mistakes that executives make when interacting with their EAs. Failing to delegate properly is the number one error, with managers getting too caught up in admin tasks, such as scheduling meetings or processing invoices, which should more properly be left to a personal assistant.

Not communicating enough is another bugbear, according to Bryan Miles, who runs US-based eaHELP. A boss needs to provide all the essential information required about his/her own workload and even, on occasion, details of his private life in order to help the assistant perform the role to the best of their ability. Putting a task in context and supplying all the background info is also vital so that a PA properly understands what needs to be done and what is expected of them.

Refusing to let a management assistant have complete access to emails and calendars is problematic, as it leads to impaired productivity on the part of the executive, claims Miles. Not opening up enough can be detrimental too, as it makes it more difficult for the EA to identify how and where he or she can be of help.

Failing to give good feedback is another aspect of interacting with their PAs where managers often go wrong. Bosses need to bear in mind that offering constructive comments and helpful pointers on how a project is handled can greatly benefit the PA’s input.

Lastly, expecting your assistant to be available 24/7 is unrealistic and something that managers need to guard against. Overloading a PA with work can result in them ultimately becoming less efficient in the long run, cautions Miles.

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