Welcome to Beacon Insights Vol 2
We've had an extremely productive few months featuring Beacon Lectures, Roundtable Discussions, Making of a Winner Interviews, MBA for the EA Sessions and even a Pop Up Topic (unplanned) that resulted in outstanding survey results across the board from our members. We also saw lively discussions in the Beacon Community platform. All of the sessions summarized below are available on demand in Beacon.
Beacon also recently made an exciting announcement, an exclusive partnership with Admired Leadership, Founded by Randall Stutman who is ranked the #1 Executive Coach & Advisor to Wall Street as rated by Goldman Sachs. Dr. Stutman will be presenting two Beacon Lectures (scroll down to learn more) one for Administrators only and one that also includes their Leaders. Additionally, this partnership includes a significant discount exclusively for Beacon Members who want to understand how the world's most admired leaders operate through their online course curriculum. Having personally gone through this program, I can tell you, you and your Leader will find it transformative, simple and insanely powerful.
We hope you're inspired to join us for our next Prospective Beacon Member Webinar on Feb. 13 at 1:30 CST. Register here.
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The Administrative Capacity Survey
An important mission of Beacon is to amplify the voice of our community of progressive Administrative Professionals in a way that is impactful and inspires positive change. To this end, we've noticed a concerning trend that we intend to address: Administrative Professionals are being assigned more and more executives, creating an unrealistic EA to Executive support ratio that often overlooks the impacts on mental health, stress, and the capacity for strategic effectiveness.
In response, we're initiating a survey to establish the ideal ratio of Administrative support to Executives, with the goal of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of your roles in corporate settings. We'll then share those findings publicly, with Executives and HR Leaders with the goal of making capacity conversations easier for Administrative Professionals.
Our aim is to share not only the survey results, but perspectives and insights gathered from the survey participants. Thank you in advance for participating. The survey is short and focused.
Take the Administrative Capacity Survey Here.
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Is the Chief of Staff Role Elevating or Complicating the Career Path for EAs?
(Dec. 5, Pop Up Topic, available on demand)
An eye opening discussion with Lynn Walder, Executive Operations Scaling Consultant, and Jennifer Star, Administrative Recruiter on the COS job title and position and what it means to EA career pathing. A nuanced issue with different perspectives. The COS position is a career goal for some, while not for others. Complicating the issue is the wide variety of job descriptions for the Chief of Staff (COS) role which is heightened by its varied nature across different industries and organizations. This variance has significant implications to skill requirements. During this discussion Jen Star highlights the potential difficulties EAs may encounter if they transition to a COS role and later wish to return to their EA function. In response to these complexities, Lynn Walder advocates for the elimination of the COS position from the administrative career path, proposing its replacement with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role.
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The Colleen Barrett Way, How Servant Leadership Catapulted a Career and Created an Industry Icon
(Dec. 8, Beacon Lecture Series, available on demand)
Monica Van Slate, a leader of Culture and Communications at Southwest Airlines, shares her unique and profound journey alongside Colleen Barrett, the iconic Executive Assistant who rose to President & COO of Southwest. Monica's relationship with Colleen in and out of the office offers unparalleled insight into Colleen Barrett's character, her strategic leadership, and the transformative principles that fueled her extraordinary ascent within SWA. In this engaging dialogue, we uncover powerful lessons and fascinating narratives that promise to leave an indelible mark on our Beacon community and at times, will move you to tears and rolling with laughter. Through Monica's experiences, we explore the essence of mentorship, the power of authentic communication, and the visionary leadership that shaped Southwest Airlines' unique success story including:
- How a simple plan that involved stories in a building and $4 in her pocket would be the genesis of Colleen’s legacy.
- How her unique and humble background didn't hinder her but contributed to her success, highlighting her work ethic, authenticity and genuine care for others.
- How three small but mighty words when put together, 'Let me try', were the key to building her confidence and enabled her rise to President & COO.
- Her leadership style, which combined firmness with compassion, prioritization of strengths while minimizing obstacles to an individual's success created a powerful combination that brought out peak performance in others while also increasing their loyalty and respect.
- The Mind the Gap initiative, her legendary memos, that time Herb threw her in front of a TV camera and what she learned that day, and so much more.
"If Herb told me I could do something, I just believed it"
Colleen Barrett
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Negotiating Compensation with Ike Saunders, Executive & Personal Assistant to Chris Kennedy & Winner of the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence at the Admin Awards, Chicago & Midwest Region
(Jan 12, Making of a Winner Interview Series, available on demand)
This Making of a Winner Interview and discussion with Ike Saunders highlights the critical aspects of navigating the Administrative Profession, focusing on the undervalued appreciation and the pivotal role of transparency and advocacy in compensation negotiations. Ike shares insightful experiences on effectively negotiating for salary increases and bonuses by leveraging data and understanding the financial nuances of benefits, such as retirement plans. He emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries, demonstrating the capacity for additional responsibilities, and the necessity of articulating expectations to foster career progression. The conversation highlights the challenges of achieving job satisfaction within the industry, emphasizing the significance of community support and networking, as illustrated by Ike's founding of the REACH network in Chicago. This honest conversation is a testament to the need for Administrative Professionals to assert their value, advocate for fair compensation, and explore avenues for growth and recognition in their careers.
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Woman Don't Ask, by Marsha Clark
(Jan 19, Beacon Lecture Series, available on demand)
Marsha Clark began her career as a secretary at EDS, and she didn't just climb the ladder during her 21-year career there; she redefined it as the first female Corporate Director in the company's history. Marsha's Beacon Lecture is a treasure trove of insights and lessons from this internationally renowned women's leadership expert, helping attendees pave a clear path to authentic and bold leadership as well as personal success. Among the points driven home to attendees includes the need for authentic leadership, advocating for ourselves and setting boundaries, as well as the importance of continuous learning, adaptability and a point she drove home about how we set self-limiting boundaries through an experiment involving fleas which illustrates how individuals can limit themselves based on past experiences and constraints, even when those constraints no longer exist. It serves as a powerful metaphor for challenging and overcoming self-imposed limits, encouraging a mindset of growth and the potential to achieve more when we question and move beyond our perceived limitations.
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From Fear of Public Speaking to Mastery, by Deidre Dixon
(Jan 31, MBA for the EA Crash Course, available on demand)
Deidre Dixon, Career Executive Assistant, takes us on an inspiring journey, from fear of public speaking to mastery of it, as a regional champion of Toastmasters International. Deidre's session is a blueprint on how to conquer public speaking anxieties with wisdom that includes everything from building confidence, to learning practical strategies for overcoming fear, and the importance of preparation and practice. This session is rich with personal narrative and practical advice, emphasizing the significance of a supportive community, offering a roadmap for Administrative Professionals and others to not only improve their public speaking abilities but to thrive in any speaking engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your skills, this session promises to inspire, equip, and propel you towards becoming a more confident and effective speaker, just like Deidre!
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Are You OK? A Roundtable Discussion on Mental Health
(Feb 1, Beacon Roundtable, available on demand)
Beacon started the vital conversation about the Administrative Profession and mental health with Are You Okay, a Roundtable Discussion on Mental Health which unfolds as a profoundly engaging and enlightening session that brings together a diverse panel of speakers, including Dr. Luana Marques, a distinguished cognitive behavioral therapist and Professor of Psychology from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Luana enriched the conversation with her expert insights into the psychology of stress and resilience, emphasizing the necessity of addressing mental health systemically within organizations.
Lead by Moderator and former EA, Tiffany Dow, who is pursuing her Master's in clinical mental health counseling, the dialogue revolves around the critical theme of mental health, particularly focusing on the unique pressures faced within the Administrative and Executive Assistant roles. Attendees are treated to a rich tapestry of narratives that underscore the importance of acknowledging mental health issues, seeking appropriate support, and fostering a workplace environment conducive to open conversations about mental well-being. Highlights of the session include powerful testimonials from Administrative Professionals who navigated challenging dynamics with leaders, leveraging their experiences to advocate for mental health awareness and the implementation of supportive practices in their workplaces.
A poignant moment in the discussion highlighted the dilemma many face about disclosing mental health issues to employers, balanced with the fear of potential repercussions versus the hope for understanding and accommodation. This session served as a powerful call to action for both individuals and organizations to prioritize mental health equally alongside physical health, advocating for a cultural shift towards greater empathy, support, and inclusivity in the workplace.
Attendees will finish the roundtable discussion with not only a deeper understanding of the complexities of mental health in their professional lives but also armed with the knowledge and tools to advocate for change, both for themselves and their colleagues.
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Join Beacon now or join us for a Prospective Member Webinar.
What's Coming Up in Beacon:
Feb 13: Pop Up Topic. The Admin Title Recalibration Project, with Lynn Walder.
Feb 29: Beacon Lecture. Pursuing Elite - The 5 Gifts of Elite Achievers, with Retired Navy Seal, Clint Bruce.
Mar 20: Beacon Lecture. Admired Leadership, with Randall Stutman, ranked as the #1 Advisor & Executive Coach to Wall Street by Goldman Sachs.
Why Join Beacon
Beacon is a platform focused on uniting and empowering progressive Administrative Professionals through elevated learning, peer collaboration and community so they can solve complex problems, share ideas and amplify their strategic value to their organizations. If this sounds like you, we invite you to join Beacon to get the education, inspiration and supportive community you need to help you get to the next level.