Kathleen Saxton

Emotional intelligence, especially in the sector we lead in has to be the number one attribute I am looking for from everyone who works for me.

Is your PA a confidante and sounding board for you?

Without a doubt. I will quite often ask my assistant’s view on something that I feel particularly strong about. I’m acutely aware that the things that might upset or worry me, might not bother 99% of others, so it’s always worth having a ‘second opinion’. What’s vital in this situation is that you can be absolutely honest with your boss – if you just give a reassuring yes for the sake of it, then that’s no use to your boss or the situation. In my organisation, my EAs are privy to the most sensitive personal information that our clients and candidates share with us, so being a trusted confidante is not only essential to me, but to those that we work for or represent.

Do you think the importance of emotional intelligence in a PA is sometimes overlooked for a strong skill set?

Emotional intelligence, especially in the sector we lead in has to be the number one attribute I am looking for from everyone who works for me. We deal with the top leaders in the media industry and their assistants and so your antennae for what is being said and more importantly not being said is critical to our success as a business and our relationships across the board.  When it comes to my own EA’s they thankfully are full to the brim of EQ and so can be one step ahead of my every need.  I think it is a huge blessing to find this in a partnership and they are always one step ahead of me, my workload, my stress, my emotions and sometimes even my culinary choices!  Their nurture means a lot and helps support my ridiculous schedule.

Is your PA an ambassador for you and your office?

My assistants are absolutely an extension of my brand, both personally and professionally. Ultimately. If you want to be a great PA, you have to care about your work – and that means caring about the person that you work for. They can speak for me at times, guess which decision I would make and represent with elegance our brand to everyone they come into contact with. You don’t have to be best friends, you don’t even have to agree on everything, but you must be able to empathetically extend their work through yours. If you can’t do this, then maybe you’re working for the wrong person!