The Ultimate Guide to Executive Assistants and Creating Leverage w/ Bonnie Low-Kramen

People Business w/ O'Brien McMahon

For twenty-five years, Bonnie Low-Kramen worked as the personal assistant to Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis. Now she writes, coaches, and speaks to audiences of business leaders and assistants, helping them each make the most of this powerful relationship.
Mentioned in this Episode:

• Staff Matters: People-Focused Solutions for the Ultimate New Workplace: https://www.amazon.com/Staff-Matters-People-Focused-Solutions-Workplace/dp/0976326841
• Bonnie’s Be the Ultimate Assistant In-Person Workshop: https://www.bonnielowkramen.com/workshops/ultimate-assistants/btua-live/
• Connect with Bonnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnielowkramen

Time Codes:

(2:14) - Introducing Bonnie
(3:11) - Are we talking about administrative professionals or executive assistants? Are there differences?
(5:02) - How has this type of work evolved over time?
(9:57) - How do you think of the virtual assistant in the scheme of things?
(12:35) - How do I know when it’s time to hire an assistant?
(18:26) - How do I evaluate and assistant in an interview?
(21:51) - What advice do you have for someone applying for an assistant job?
(28:04) - What do you call the person who hires the assistant?
(30:24) - What are the best practices for onboarding?
(38:24) - How often do you suggest one on ones?
(42:18) - What do you say to the people who aren’t comfortable giving up control?
(44:36) - What are the best practices for giving feedback?
(50:50) - What does development look like in this profession?
(53:58) - What advice do you have to make sure the system works when the assistant steps away?
(56:58) - What advice do you have for the single assistant?