Leaders set the conditions for how work gets done. Your preferences shape how decisions move, what gets delegated, and where teams stall. Most executives never document those preferences in a way others can use. That is the problem this quiz is designed to solve.
At Base, we built a structured way to understand an executive’s operating style so we could match, onboard, and enable support that works. This framework comes from over a decade of studying executive–EA relationships and focuses on how leaders delegate and communicate with their assistants.
Meet the executive archetype quiz
This short assessment centers on two practical questions:
- How do you lead?
- How do you like to be supported?
Your results draw on Base’s long-running work mapping executive behavior to delegation and communication patterns with EAs. The quiz focuses on the executive–EA relationship because it is one of the highest-leverage levers in an executive’s week, and the insights translate to direct reports and cross-functional partners.
Why this works
The framework removes ambiguity in five areas that consistently create friction:
- Decision cadence and altitude
- Communication channels and formats
- Delegation boundaries
- Feedback patterns
- Operating norms
By naming these elements, you give your EA and team a shared language. That shared language shortens onboarding, reduces back-and-forth, and increases leverage. The example report shows detailed sections that make these areas actionable, including “What you need from an EA,” a recommended 1:1 approach, communication best practices, and scenario-based examples.
What you receive
Your archetype report translates your profile into clear guidance:
- What you need from an EA and where they can create immediate leverage
- A recommended 1:1 structure to align time, priorities, and next steps
- Communication best practices and phrases that land for your style
- Practical scenarios that show how support should look in real life (budget analysis, travel planning, performance metrics)
- How to optimize the partnership, including benefits, common challenges, and collaboration tips with your ideal EA match
You don’t need an EA to benefit. If you rely on any form of support, these recommendations make that support more effective.
How to put it to work
- Take the quiz. Ten minutes now saves hours of course-correcting later.
- Share the report with your EA or a direct report. Align on two or three operating norms to adopt immediately.
- Operationalize one delegation change this week. Choose a recurring task you should not own, define the standard, and hand it off fully.
Get the full report
The full, in-depth report includes:
- Your archetype overview with strengths and challenges
- “What you need from an EA” and a recommended 1:1 approach
- Communication best practices and real-world examples
- Ideal EA match guidance and collaboration tactics
- Partnership optimization tips, including benefits and common pitfalls
These are the sections illustrated in the example report for one archetype, and the same structure applies to all five.
Make it a team practice
Have your leadership team or direct reports take the quiz and compare results. Map where styles align and where they diverge. Convert those insights into explicit norms for updates, decisions, and handoffs. The framework includes primary and secondary types to capture nuance across styles.
Bottom line
You don’t need to change who you are. You do need to make your operating model visible so others can support you effectively. The quiz gives you a concise profile, a common language, and practical next steps. The full report gives you the depth to operationalize it across your team.
Ready to see your archetype?
