The executive assistant role is a challenging one, and asking your executive to invest in you can feel like the hardest part of it. When it’s your job to cater to every detail behind the scenes so your executive can tackle their strategic goals, it can be easy to neglect your own needs when it comes to professional development.
However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Executive assistants (EAs) are a pivotal part of any business. Executives and employees would not be able to do their job effectively without an EA. (At Base, we believe every knowledge worker should have access to an assistant!) Don’t discredit yourself or allow accolades, appreciation, and development to fade into the background. You are deserving of it all!
We know this job requires you to be confident and take charge of any situation to get the job done. We encourage you to take this same approach when advocating for yourself, whether for a raise, recognition, or a monthly budget for tools or professional development.
The bottom line: employers need to take care of the EA’s overall needs. This can be by paying for the tools that make your work possible, enrolling in a project management webinar, or attending a conference.
Convincing Your Executive to Invest In You
How you approach your executive about these costs is important and requires some work on your part. Learn the steps to take below:
1. Do Your Research
When it comes to any tool you want your company to pay for, there are a few things to consider to ensure this is a wise investment for both you and your executive. You’ll want to be familiar with all the different features, the full cost (including taxes or recurring fees), and how it will improve your overall work—since these are likely questions your executive will ask.
For conferences or professional development, make sure you study the agenda or curriculum to get a clear view of what’s offered. You’ll also want to tally up all associated costs so your executive can get a good idea of what the investment will cost them (don’t forget about associated expenses like travel, food, and supplies.) It’s a good idea to come prepared with an outline that highlights how this investment will specifically benefit you and your work.
Come to your executive with all the information upfront. When you already have all the answers to all their possible questions, it makes it a lot harder for them to say no. Supportive executives will see that you know your stuff and won’t hesitate to invest in you if they are able. Here are some broader questions to consider before chatting with your executive:
- How many hours will the investment take?
- What happens while you’re away?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- What are your goals related to this tool or event?
2. Look at It From Your Executive’s Perspective
While you can’t read your executive’s mind, you can start to think of things from their perspective. It’s important to remember that many executives are physically unable to spend the extra time, money, or resources right now. Even if your executive can’t support you in the way you want at this time, you can still make your needs known.
If you can think of any reason your executive might say no to investing in you, these are good to consider when planning to approach the conversation. We’ve listed some questions for you to think about below:
- Are there budget constraints at the moment?
- Will they be worried about how much time off you’ll need?
- How does spending this money benefit their work and the company in general?
- What tangible benefits will they see?
- Is there a sharp learning curve?
3. Know Your Worth
When you know your worth, confidence follows. Make sure you enter the conversation with a positive attitude and assume that your executive has the best intentions. At this point, you know that there are many reasons an executive may say no, and most of them have nothing to do with your worth or performance.
You are a professional and a valued part of the executive team; your job satisfaction is of utmost importance. If a better set of tools or a new skill means you are happier in your role, it’s certainly important enough to warrant a real discussion with your executive.
4. Schedule Time to Discuss The Plan With Your Executive
Take time to practice how you’ll pitch this plan to your executive, then schedule a meeting to discuss the fine details. While sending this type of request via email may sound less intimidating, it may make it easier for your executive to put off a decision or dismiss it altogether as just another task they need to address.
Talking about your needs face-to-face is the most effective way to get your executive to focus on you. This way, they can hear the passion in your voice when you talk about your goals and needs, which may make them more inclined to support you.
Make the case with evidence
The strongest version of this conversation is the one backed by data about your executive’s time. If you can show how their day, week, or year divides between meetings, travel and value-add activities, you can point directly at where more support would pay off. Use that to shape the goals you set for yourself and the case for why you are worth investing in. That’s something any smart executive will be able to get behind.
Taking care of yourself as an EA ensures you have plenty of energy, motivation, and drive to continue to take care of others. It may sound intimidating to ask your executive for a favor at first, but we’re here to promise you’ll never regret investing in yourself.
Base has spent more than a decade placing and supporting executive assistants, and we help assistants build careers worth staying in. Looking for more on how to advance your career as an EA? These resources can help.
