As an executive assistant, your ability to shift gears depending on who you're supporting is critical. Personality plays a major role in how different executives work, and understanding these tendencies gives you a leg up in building strong, productive partnerships.
Let's use colour theory as a framework for recognizing broad communication preferences. Remember, it's a starting point – most executives will display a blend of these characteristics!
The Red Executive
Characteristics:
Decisive, driven by results, and likely to come across as demanding or impatient. They prioritize action and are often seen as 'take-charge' personalities.
Best Approach:
Be direct and concise: Get to the point quickly, focus on outcomes, avoid rambling.
Focus on solutions: Present options and recommendations, demonstrating you've thought ahead.
Embrace the pace: Be prepared for quick decisions and rapid changes of direction.
Respect their authority: Don't take it personally if they seem brusque or demanding.
The Yellow Executive
Characteristics:
Optimistic, enthusiastic, and naturally persuasive. They are the big idea generators, sometimes at the expense of follow-through and attention to detail.
Best Approach:
Share their enthusiasm: Respond positively to their ideas, even if further refinement is needed.
Harness that energy: Help channel their focus by breaking large goals into manageable steps.
Paint the big picture: Don't get bogged down in minutiae, connect tasks to overall vision.
Make time for connection: Allow for some socializing and brainstorming before diving into work.
The Green Executive
Characteristics:
Analytical, methodical, and valuing structure. These executives are likely detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and may come across as inflexible.
Best Approach:
Respect their process: Provide data to support decisions, explain your reasoning clearly.
Anticipate questions: Be prepared to justify your choices and have backup information at hand.
Follow established routines: Avoid surprises or last-minute changes whenever possible.
Offer written summaries: Supplement verbal communication with clear meeting notes or recaps.
The Blue Executive
Characteristics:
Empathetic, focused on team harmony, and can be sensitive to conflict. They value personal connections and may appear indecisive when weighing decisions that impact people.
Best Approach:
Emphasize the human element: Connect decisions to how they impact the team or stakeholders.
Build trust: Demonstrate loyalty and discretion, show a genuine interest in them as a person.
Give them thinking time: Don't rush decisions, provide information in advance of meetings.
Diplomacy is key: When delivering potentially negative feedback, do so with tact and kindness.
The Challenges and Your Growth
Every EA faces those 'tricky' executives. Here's a survival guide for common types:
The Domineering Executive: Proactive updates build trust. Show competence, offer solutions instead of just questions.
The Absent-Minded Executive: Be the keeper of order. Gently remind them of priorities, implement systems.
The Emotionally Volatile Executive: Don't personalize outbursts, relentlessly focus on solutions, stay calm.
Your Adaptive Advantage
The ultimate goal is for you and your executive to become a seamless unit. Recognizing their tendencies is just the start – your adaptability is the key to success. Take a moment to analyze your own primary "colour" – it will help you identify areas where your own communication style might need flexing.
Conclusion
Understanding executive personalities is a bit like picking up a new language. At first, it feels foreign, but with practice, you achieve fluency. Colour theory provides an initial vocabulary, but true mastery comes from active observation and tailoring your communication style accordingly.
Remember, adaptability doesn't mean losing your own personality. It means recognizing that the most effective communication is rarely one-size-fits-all. By identifying the needs and preferences of your executive, you empower both yourself and them to succeed.
Resources
Colour theory is a fun introduction, but for deeper exploration, consider personality assessments like:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
DISC Assessment
Enneagram of Personality
Free Online Resources
16Personalities: A popular website offering a free personality assessment based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Provides insights into strengths, weaknesses, and potential career paths. (https://www.16personalities.com/)
Truity Psychometrics: Offers a wealth of information on various personality frameworks, including MBTI, DISC, and Enneagram. Provides free introductory tests and in-depth articles. (https://www.truity.com/)
The Crystal Personality Test: A free color-based personality test. While simpler than other assessments, it can be a fun conversation starter for the color theory concept. (https://www.crystalknows.com/)
Books
"Please Understand Me II" by David Keirsey: A classic guide to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and temperament theory.
"The Art of SpeedReading People" by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger: Provides insights into recognizing personality types and tailoring communication for effective interactions.
"Surrounded by Idiots" by Thomas Erikson: Uses a simple color-coding system to explain personality differences in a humorous, easy-to-understand manner.
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