Dear Janet, I’m a first-time EA to a CEO, new company, blank slate energy. Everything feels improvable, and I’m resisting the urge to fix everything at once. How do you decide what actually matters most early on? And how do I know if I’m overstepping?
ohi!
ok, love the question, and here are my thoughts.
do not try to implement change in your first three months. heck, first six months. no one wants to hear the new EA coming in hot with all these ideas on how to change processes and structures that have been in place. you may absolutely be right in noticing what needs to be fixed. but now is not the time, my friend.
flip the table for some perspective. if you’ve been at a company for a few years, and a new person comes in during their first week telling you why something is broken and how they used to do things or what worked at their old company and why things need to be changed or fixed, you’d be like “umm thanks, but who are you?” right?
the first few months you’re at a company is a time when you need to be studying and observing and learning. you don’t know anyone. you don’t know who your allies are. you don’t know who to trust. you don’t know who’s good at their job. you don’t know how things operate here. you don’t know what the priorities of your executive are. and you don’t know the culture of the company.
take this time to do the tasks that are given to you, and be observant. watch the way people talk to each other in person and on slack. what are qualities they seem to value? what’s the internal company tone? what does your executive’s calendar look like? who and what do they seem to prioritize?
if you take the time to observe and learn, then over time, you will understand what can be fixed, what needs your involvement, and what you don’t need to prioritize. and maybe what you thought needed fixing actually doesn’t need fixing because this company does things differently than your last.
ultimately, no one wants to hear about changes from someone they don’t trust or someone who hasn’t built a good track record for themselves.
so take your time.
now go get shit done,
<3 janet
p.s. i’m starting a new AMA / Dear Janet series. send me your questions if you so choose :) janet@thatexecasstlife.com
p.p.s. thank you for pushing me, j. i hope one day i will be forced to owe you that shirt.