How to build a relationship with your executive when you’re a new Education EA
Working at a school is completely different to working in other fields, even if you have a good deal of admin or EA experience already. It is a very close WORKING relationship between a Senior Exec and his or her EA, and it needs to be built on trust.
We are all individuals with differing personalities, so it will take some time as you both navigate the best way to work together to ultimately build a successful (and hopefully long-term) EA/Senior Executive working relationship.
Here are a couple of tips based on my experience.
Have patience: A new working relationship is not going to happen overnight or even quickly. It will take time and this is completely normal, so have reasonable expectations. Not only are you building a new working relationship, but you are also settling into a new workplace, getting to know new work colleagues, being bombarded with information overload, navigating and learning new systems, processes and perhaps even a new industry! No one is perfect, and you are doing the best you can do - so be kind to yourself.
Communicate: Touch base throughout the day regularly with your boss. They are your biggest work supporter and a great asset for knowledge. They know how to find resources-- particularly in those first few months. Ask them questions, and they will be happy to help- they want this working relationship to be successful as much as you do. If you don’t have any questions, then just touch base to see how their day is going and how they are travelling- they will appreciate this. You will find that these small but important interactions will really assist to build this new great working relationship.
Build trust: You are the confidant and listening ear for your boss, your closest working colleague. As such, you are the only one who really knows all that you do. The element of confidentiality and trust is crucial in this relationship. Like all trust is builds slowly and breaks easily! Support one another and hold onto the trust. And like any role, it’s always crucial to follow through on your commitments, be honest and transparent in your communication. This will help establish trust and build a strong foundation for your working relationship.
Be proactive: and try to anticipate your Senior Exec’s needs where possible and be proactive in meeting them. This could include researching and preparing for upcoming meetings, ensuring that their schedule is well-organised, and staying up-to-date with education news and events.
Communicate effectively: Ask if you need clarification on anything! Keep your boss informed about your work, any issues that arise, and progress on ongoing projects (before you are asked!).
Seek feedback: Ask for feedback on your work and actively seek opportunities for growth and development. This will demonstrate your commitment to your role and your willingness to improve. Here are my top tips for giving and receiving feedback at work.
And don’t forget to have a little fun-- get to know each other, laugh, tell some jokes (or in my case at the conclusion of the joke, ask for an explanation…) We spend many hours at our schools, so enjoy your daily interactions and chats. Perhaps schedule in an afternoon coffee-- you can learn a lot from each other, which is beneficial to you both and your long-term working relationship.
Remember, building a positive relationship with your boss takes time and effort, but it is well worth it in the long run. By being proactive, communicative, trustworthy, and professional, you can establish a strong working relationship with your boss that will benefit both you and the organization you work for.
If you’re feeling a bit isolated in your role, and would like to benefit from the support, advice and learnings of a group of likeminded Education Administrative Professionals working for Executive Senior Leadership Teams in schools - consider joining our community - a national network dedicated solely to supporting Education EAs!
