The blog archive

More practical guidance for executive support.

Page 5 of 26. Role definitions, operating systems, and the decisions that make support useful.

Executive support planning notes and hiring materials
Board liaison vs executive assistant: define the right scope article illustration

Board support hiring

Board liaison vs executive assistant: define the right scope

Separate board liaison and executive assistant responsibilities by governance workflow, confidentiality, authority, and meeting-cycle evidence.

Can one executive assistant support multiple executives? article illustration

Executive support design

Can one executive assistant support multiple executives?

Decide whether one assistant can support multiple executives by measuring demand, complexity, priority authority, coverage, and service tradeoffs.

Executive assistant access onboarding checklist article illustration

Executive assistant onboarding

Executive assistant access onboarding checklist

Provision executive assistant access by workflow, least privilege, approval, verification, review, backup, and revocation instead of title.

Executive assistant finalist comparison without scorecard drift article illustration

Executive assistant selection

Executive assistant finalist comparison without scorecard drift

Compare executive assistant finalists using consistent job evidence, calibrated ratings, documented tradeoffs, and a defensible decision record.

Executive assistant hiring timeline from scope to accepted offer article illustration

Executive assistant hiring

Executive assistant hiring timeline from scope to accepted offer

Plan an executive assistant search with explicit gates for scope, sourcing, structured assessment, references, offer, notice, and onboarding.

Executive assistant vs chief of staff: which role should you hire? article illustration

Executive team hiring

Executive assistant vs chief of staff: which role should you hire?

Compare executive assistant and chief of staff work by outcomes, decision rights, operating cadence, and evidence before choosing a title.

Executive assistant work sample test: a practical design guide article illustration

Executive assistant selection

Executive assistant work sample test: a practical design guide

Design a bounded executive assistant work sample that tests real skills fairly without requesting free work or exposing sensitive information.

Executive support ROI calculator: measure value without invented savings article illustration

Executive support planning

Executive support ROI calculator: measure value without invented savings

Build an executive support ROI model from baseline time, accepted outcomes, total cost, quality, risk, and clearly labeled assumptions.

Fractional chief of staff cost comparison: build a complete budget article illustration

Chief of staff hiring

Fractional chief of staff cost comparison: build a complete budget

Compare fractional, full-time, and project chief of staff options using total cost, management load, scope, continuity, and decision needs.

How to evaluate an outsourced executive support provider article illustration

Executive support buying

How to evaluate an outsourced executive support provider

Evaluate outsourced executive support using scope, staffing, management, security, continuity, service evidence, pricing, and exit readiness.

How to hire an executive project coordinator article illustration

Executive project hiring

How to hire an executive project coordinator

Hire an executive project coordinator by defining portfolio visibility, dependency follow-through, acceptance, and escalation before interviews begin.

Remote executive assistant interview questions with scoring guidance article illustration

Executive assistant hiring

Remote executive assistant interview questions with scoring guidance

Use structured remote executive assistant interview questions to assess prioritization, communication, discretion, handoffs, and recovery.

Board meeting calendar: a backward planning method article illustration

Board liaison support

Board meeting calendar: a backward planning method

Build a board calendar backward from the meeting through decisions, packet review, source deadlines, logistics, and follow-through.

Chief of staff first 90 days: an operating plan article illustration

Chief of staff support

Chief of staff first 90 days: an operating plan

Build a chief of staff first-90-days plan around decision flow, leadership cadence, portfolio visibility, and transferred ownership.

Executive assistant calendar audit checklist article illustration

Calendar operations

Executive assistant calendar audit checklist

Audit an executive calendar for purpose, preparation, decision value, buffers, access, and ownership before changing the schedule.

Executive assistant job description for a growing startup article illustration

Executive assistant hiring

Executive assistant job description for a growing startup

Write a startup executive assistant job description around outcomes, decision rights, operating pace, and realistic support demands.

Executive assistant onboarding: a 30-60-90 day plan article illustration

Executive assistant onboarding

Executive assistant onboarding: a 30-60-90 day plan

Sequence executive assistant onboarding from safe access and observation to accepted ownership and tested backup coverage.

Executive inbox delegation levels and approval rules article illustration

Inbox operations

Executive inbox delegation levels and approval rules

Choose inbox delegation levels using message risk, send authority, privacy, escalation, and auditable operating rules.

Executive project status report template for decisions article illustration

Executive project coordination

Executive project status report template for decisions

Create an executive project status report that makes outcomes, evidence, decisions, dependencies, and owner commitments visible.

Executive travel risk assessment checklist article illustration

Executive travel operations

Executive travel risk assessment checklist

Assess executive travel through purpose, traveler needs, entry rules, safety, data exposure, disruption, and decision ownership.

Founder support role scope checklist article illustration

Founder operations support

Founder support role scope checklist

Choose founder support scope by separating time protection, administration, project coordination, and organizational operating needs.

Leadership offsite planning checklist for decision-ready sessions article illustration

Leadership team administration

Leadership offsite planning checklist for decision-ready sessions

Plan a leadership offsite around explicit decisions, prepared evidence, inclusive logistics, facilitation, and owned follow-through.

Leadership team action item tracker that drives follow-through article illustration

Leadership team administration

Leadership team action item tracker that drives follow-through

Run a leadership action tracker with clear acceptance, owners, due dates, dependencies, evidence, and escalation.

Remote executive assistant communication plan article illustration

Remote executive support

Remote executive assistant communication plan

Design remote executive communication around channels, service windows, priority signals, decisions, handoffs, and secure records.