Support governance

Executive support confidentiality boundaries

A plain-language guide to deciding what support may access, summarize, share, or escalate.

Hiring guide desk with scorecards, interview notes, and executive support planning materials
In this guide
  1. Define the executive support outcome
  2. Match role scope to leadership cadence
  3. Use a structured selection process

Define the role

List the information categories the role may handle and the ones that require direct executive review. Avoid broad access as a substitute for a clear operating rule.

Set the operating model

Define where summaries may be stored, who may receive them, and what happens when a request comes from an unapproved channel. The boundary should be easy to apply under pressure.

Choose with care

Revisit the rules when responsibilities change. Access that was appropriate for one project may be wrong after the project ends.

Related resources

FAQ

Should one assistant support the whole executive team?

Sometimes. It works when priorities are clear and executives share one operating rhythm.

What should happen before a consult?

List the meetings, inbox rules, recurring reports, and decisions that need support.

Discuss executive support