In Practice
In Practice
Example Engagement
Structuring Executive Support in a Growing Company
Structuring Executive Support in a Growing Company
An anonymized example of how structure changes day-to-day execution
Helping founders & new Executive
Assistants build the systems and trust needed to work efficiently from
day one.
Helping founders & new Executive Assistants build the systems and trust needed to work efficiently from day one.
Context
This engagement took place inside a growing consumer-facing company where executive support existed, but lacked the structure needed to scale alongside the
business.
Support wasn’t broken, it just wasn’t designed yet.
This engagement took place inside a growing consumer-facing company where executive support existed, but lacked the structure needed to scale
alongside the business.
Support wasn’t broken, it just wasn’t designed yet.
This engagement took place inside a growing consumer-facing company where executive support existed, but lacked the structure
needed to scale alongside the business.
Support wasn’t broken, it just wasn’t designed yet.
The Challenge
Executive support relied on individual effort rather than shared systems.
Executive support relied on individual effort rather than shared systems.
Executive support relied on individual effort rather than shared
systems.
The Executive Assistant role was underdefined
The Executive Assistant role was
underdefined
The Executive Assistant role was underdefined
Expectations lived in conversation, not documentation
Expectations lived in conversation,
not documentation
Expectations lived in conversation, not documentation
Delegation relied on assumption instead of clarity
Delegation relied on assumption instead
of clarity
Delegation relied on assumption instead of clarity
There was no consistent operating rhythm between leadership and support
There was no consistent operating rhythm
between leadership and support
There was no consistent operating rhythm between leadership and support
Work was reactive by default, and execution depended on memory and momentum.
Executive support relied on individual effort
rather than shared systems.
Executive support relied on individual effort rather than shared
systems.
The Approach
Rather than introducing rigid processes, the focus was on designing structure around how the Founder actually worked.
This included:
Rather than introducing rigid processes,
the focus was on designing structure that around how the Founder actually worked.
This included:
Rather than introducing rigid processes, the focus was on designing
structure around how the Founder actually worked.
This included:
Clarifying ownership and responsibilities within the Executive Assistant role
Clarifying ownership and responsibilities within the Executive Assistant role
Clarifying ownership and responsibilities within the
Executive Assistant role
Establishing communication and meeting rhythms to support decision-making
Establishing communication and meeting rhythms to support decision-making
Establishing communication and meeting rhythms to support
decision-making
Creating lightweight documentation to reduce guesswork over time
Creating lightweight documentation to reduce guesswork over time
Creating lightweight documentation to reduce guesswork
over time
Designing delegation standards that supported autonomy and trust
Designing delegation standards that supported autonomy and trust
Designing delegation standards that supported autonomy
and trust
The work developed through an ongoing partnership, allowing systems to develop
naturally alongside the business.
The work developed through an ongoing partnership, allowing systems to develop
naturally alongside the business.
The work developed through an ongoing partnership, allowing systems
to develop naturally alongside the business.
The Outcome
With clear systems in place, executive support became structured enough to scale.
With clear systems in place, executive
support became structured enough to scale.
With clear systems in place, executive support became structured
enough to scale.
Leadership time was used more intentionally
Leadership time was used more
intentionally
Leadership time was used more intentionally
Fewer decisions bottlenecked at the founder level
Fewer decisions bottlenecked at the
founder level
Fewer decisions bottlenecked at the founder level
Execution accelerated as ownership became clearer
Execution accelerated as ownership
became clearer
Execution accelerated as ownership became clearer
The Executive Assistant gained confidence and autonomy
The Executive Assistant gained confidence and autonomy
The Executive Assistant gained confidence and autonomy
Structure replaced guesswork, allowing leadership and support to operate in sync as
the company continued to grow.
Structure replaced guesswork, allowing leadership and support to operate in sync as the company continued to grow.
Structure replaced guesswork, allowing leadership and support to
operate in sync as the company continued to grow.
Why it Matters
This is how I approach all engagements.
Effective executive support isn’t about adding tools or enforcing process. It’s about creating systems both Founders and Executive Assistants can rely on.
This is how I approach all engagements.
Effective executive support isn’t about adding tools or enforcing process. It’s about creating systems both Founders and Executive
Assistants can rely on.
This is how I approach all engagements.
Effective executive support isn’t about adding tools or enforcing process. It’s about creating systems both Founders and Executive Assistants can rely on.
