AdrienneAug 22, 20183 minHow to be assimilatedAs anyone who’s ever moved to a new town can tell you, being the new kid can be rough. You don’t know any of the inside jokes (you literally had to be there), don’t have a shared history with anyone (no, I *don’t* remember that time the power went out), don’t understand why things are the way they are (wait — you do WHAT in the case of an earthquake??), and don’t have the seniority to change anything. In short, you are an outsider, and interloper, and regardless of how welcom
AdrienneOct 3, 20163 minSaying Yes to Saying NoImagine, for a moment, that your exec has just asked you to do something that you do not want to do. Maybe because you don’t feel confident that you can do it well, or because your plate is already full, or simply because you don’t think it’s an appropriate ask. Whatever the reason, your entire being is screaming “NOPE.” But, if you are like most EA’s, the idea of saying no to your exec ranks right up there with eating glass and juggling angry vipers. Because, honestly, nobod
AdrienneJul 1, 20163 minThe Canvas Strategy: how helping others helps youFirst, a confession: My name is Adrienne, and I’m a podcast addict. Maybe it was all that NPR growing up, but I just luuurrrrve listening to podcasts. I can listen to them while commuting, doing chores around the house, going for a walk, or just lying in bed. In fact, if I’m having trouble sleeping, I find that storytelling podcasts are the perfect tonic to lull me into dreamland. That’s right, I’m taking back bedtime stories! They’re not just for kids anymore. But podcasts a
AdrienneJun 20, 20163 minLonely at the top: 3 ways to counter EA isolationA friend of mine was recently promoted to supporting a VIP at a prominent tech company. This is, of course, cause for celebration. But it came along with an unexpected side effect: isolation. “Nobody talks to me anymore,” she lamented, “it’s like I graduated out of their clique.” I’ve seen this before. There’s a social chasm between “admin” and “EA,” and that gap only widens as you climb the ol’ corporate ladder. And it makes sense: when you support a high-level exec, you be
AdrienneFeb 24, 20164 minThe “deep work” of assistanceIt’s 7 pm on Valentine’s Day. I’m reading an email from Bossman and although he isn’t using the words “urgent” or “emergency,” I can feel his anxiety reaching straight through the phone and yanking on my shirt. Oh wait, that’s my four year old, trying to get me to stop looking at my phone. My first instinct is to try to take care of this immediately since, knowing him as I do, I can tell he won’t be able to enjoy his evening until this is handled. But it’s bedtime for my kidd
AdrienneOct 16, 20153 minThe power of “?”“Why?” If you’ve ever spent any time around a toddler, you know the pain of having to answer this question approximately 200 times per day. But it turns out our adorably obnoxious spawn may have something to teach us on this score. They understand the almighty power of knowledge, and they haven’t yet learned to be afraid or embarrassed to ask a question when they have one. Recently, I challenged myself to ask at least one clarifying question before I take, or agree to take, a
AdrienneDec 4, 20145 minIn Defense of DirectnessThis one’s for the execs in the crowd. But EA’s, feel free to read, pass along to your exec, and give me YOUR feedback re your favorite method of receiving feedback. Bossman waves me over. He doesn’t look pleased. “This message from [an investor] was misfiled as an FYI, but it has an action item attached to it since I need to put him in touch with [our senior architect].” “Ah yes, I see that now. Sorry about that.” “It’s really critical that I see messages like this right awa
