Let’s be honest. If you’re a busy executive, founder, or generally responsible-for-everything person, your day is probably a blur of meetings, emails, and decisions. And yet, you might still be the one adjusting your own calendar, following up on overdue documents, wrangling meeting agendas, coordinating team updates, and keeping track of three different flight confirmations. Sound familiar?
This isn’t about guilt. It’s just what happens when you’re highly capable and used to getting things done. But if you’re trying to do it all, there’s a good chance your time is being spent on things that aren’t actually the best use of your brain.
Here’s the quiet truth that doesn’t get said enough: one of the most strategic decisions you could make this year is hiring an Executive Assistant. Even if you’re not ready to hire one today, there’s still a lot to learn from how the best EAs work and what they can take off your plate.
So, what exactly does a modern EA do?
The job title “Executive Assistant” still carries some outdated baggage. People picture someone ordering lunch or printing slide decks, but the role has evolved. A great EA is more like a mix of project manager, air traffic controller, and calendar bodyguard. They’re the person who makes sure the right things happen at the right time without you needing to think about every detail.
Some EAs are hired full time. Others work in more flexible setups through subscription-based support models. Either way, what matters most is that they’re there to reduce friction and free you up for higher-value work. Not in theory. In practice.
The real value of a great EA
A skilled EA does more than save you time. They create space for you to lead. They might help you prioritize your week based on strategic goals instead of whatever just landed in your inbox. They can catch missed communications before they turn into actual problems. They often manage internal operations, hiring logistics, and even project timelines that would otherwise sit on your desk for another three weeks.
At their best, EAs become trusted partners who understand your thinking, protect your calendar, and quietly help you move faster. The end result isn’t just fewer to-dos. It’s more momentum in the right direction.
Not ready to hire? Start with these three moves
Even if bringing on an EA isn’t in your immediate plans, there are steps you can take to create the same kind of clarity and efficiency in your day. Here are three places to start.
- Track your time like an anthropologist
Spend one week noticing what you actually do all day. No fancy software required. Just keep a running note or voice memo. Highlight the tasks that make you think, “Someone else could definitely do this.” Chances are, those tasks include calendar logistics, follow-up emails, and internal coordination. Once you see the patterns, it’s hard to unsee them. - Get honest about the kind of help you’d actually use
Not everyone needs 40 hours of support a week. Maybe you need someone to check your inbox every morning and prep you for meetings three days a week. Or someone who handles hiring coordination during your busy season. Understanding your own working style and where you feel the most friction makes it much easier to figure out what kind of support to look for when the time is right. - Pretend you already have an EA and act accordingly
This one sounds strange but it works. Start thinking like someone with an EA. If you had one, what would they say no to? What would they prep in advance so you didn’t have to scramble? What types of tasks would they gently take off your plate? You might be surprised how much this shift changes your own behavior. Sometimes we just need permission to protect our time. Pretending someone else is doing it for us can help us start sooner.
The bigger picture
Whether you hire an EA tomorrow, next year, or never, the bigger shift is learning to stop treating every task as equally yours. The most effective leaders know that their focus is a finite resource. They protect it by surrounding themselves with the right support and by delegating with intention.
Hiring an EA is not about being fancy or important. It’s about making better use of your time, energy, and mental space. If you do decide to bring one on, make sure it’s someone who can grow with you and who understands the way you work. And if you need a little help finding that person, well, Base can help. But even if you don’t go that route, you still deserve a day that runs a little smoother and a little more on your terms.
That’s not a luxury. That’s leadership.
