The CEO’s Secret Weapon: A Dynamic Partnership with an Assistant with Jan Jones

The speaker discusses the intense and consuming nature of their work, leading to career exhaustion due to constant pressure without rest. They visited a naturopath who advised them to let their body rest. The speaker reflects on their realization that a life lived authentically can positively affect others.

Introduces the speaker, Brian Miller, and his podcast 'The School for Good Living.' He believes the world will work for everyone when it works for each person individually. The podcast explores life-changing questions and features thought leaders who inspire others. It emphasizes the creative process and is aimed at individuals with a mission.

Brian Miller introduces his guest, Jan Jones, author of 'The CEO’s Secret Weapon,' which explores the effective collaboration between leaders and their executive assistants, a relationship crucial for achieving organizational goals. Jan has extensive experience and has worked with high-profile figures like Tony Robbins and Michael Gerber.

The podcast episode with Jan Jones discusses the nuances of hiring and working with an executive assistant, including when to hire, what questions to ask, and essential skills to look for. Jan shares insights from interviews with top executives' assistants, outlining characteristics of exceptional assistants and their integral role in supporting executives.

Jan Jones shares her perspective on life, agreeing with teachings that emphasize enjoying life as a gift, regardless of circumstances. Her approach involves developing awareness and self-management to stay balanced. This skill is useful in high-level support roles where emotional stability is crucial.

Jan discusses identity, highlighting her foundational 20-year experience as an executive assistant. Though she moved on from this role, it continues to shape her business acumen. Her introduction often includes past work with Tony Robbins, underlining her breadth of experience and authority in her field.

Acknowledging the overwhelming demands on leaders and entrepreneurs, Jan emphasizes the importance of knowing when to hire an executive assistant. By understanding one's work style and needs, a leader decides when to delegate tasks that do not maximize their unique value to the organization.

In a hiring context, Jan Jones stresses the importance of aligning an assistant's skills with executive needs, using clarity and self-awareness to match working styles. The process may involve interviewing numerous candidates to find the right fit, as an effective assistant acts as a seamless extension of the executive.

Jan emphasizes the importance of vetting potential executive assistants by probing their real experience in previous roles to gauge their capability. She uses examples of mismatches in expectations when executives do not thoroughly explore a candidate's past role responsibilities.

Communication, anticipation, resourcefulness, and seeing the big picture are critical skills Jan identifies for effective executive assistants. These skills enable assistants to contribute significantly to their executive’s success by preempting needs and solving issues proactively, based on a thorough understanding of organizational goals.

Jan highlights the importance of trialing assistants by testing their general knowledge, which demonstrates their global awareness and capacity to handle unexpected situations. She stresses that competencies and common sense are intangible skills that differentiate exceptional assistants from the rest.

The conversation shifts towards compensation for executive assistants. Jan advises executives to do thorough market research to determine fair compensation, emphasizing that underpaying or overpaying can have detrimental effects both on performance and the work culture.

Jan critiques the phenomenon of high compensation packages in places like Silicon Valley, which can distort market expectations among assistants. She advocates for fair compensation aligned with a candidate’s skills and contributions, recognizing that while bonuses are advisable, aligning salaries closely with experience is key.

Discusses personal insights during interviews and hiring, drawing from examples of working with notable figures such as Tony Robbins. Jan notes the dedication required in these roles, describing her own journey balancing the demanding nature of being an executive assistant.

Reflecting on demanding careers, Jan shares an anecdote about working for Tony Robbins, emphasizing the high-energy environment. She relates a personal experience with exhaustion and the necessity of listening to her body's signals, underscoring the physical demands of high-pressure roles.

Examines the working relationship between Jan and Tony Robbins, highlighting mutual respect and understanding. Jan recalls her fitting into Tony’s high-intensity world due to shared personality traits and professional synergies, which were essential for managing the demands of the role.

The session emphasizes the mutual respect and understanding vital in the assistant-executive relationship, stressing that such roles require complete devotion from the assistant. Jan discusses the importance of establishing mutual respect and highlights how this dynamic influences workplace harmony and effectiveness.

Jan recounts the significance of assistants through the story of how Marion Keisker played a crucial role in the discovery of Elvis Presley. She illustrates how an assistant’s proactive role and attentiveness can lead to substantial impacts, celebrating the assistant’s pivotal position in shaping outcomes.

Jan notes the significance of respect in financial dealings and proper valuation of roles and skills. She talks about assistants knowing their worth and says executives should appreciate that value by offering fair compensation, acknowledging that paying well supports loyalty and high performance.