Half-Baked, Are you Making This Delegation Mistake, and Time to Renew Your IDs

August 8, 2025

Raise your hand if you’ve experienced this when someone, personally or professionally, tries to schedule a meeting with you.

Person A: Let’s meet next week.

Me: Great! I’m open Monday from 2–4pm or Wednesday between 9am–12pm. My office is at 11th & Main—let me know where your office is and I'll find us a spot.

Person A: Wednesday is good.

Me (with flared nostrils): Fabulous! What time works best for you between 9am–12pm. Also—where’s your office so I can pick a convenient location?

Person A: I’m downtown.

Me (screaming silently into the void): WHAT FREAKING TIME? WHERE DOWNTOWN? PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME SEND YOU 19 EMAILS JUST TO GET A TIME AND TWO CROSS STREETS!

I don’t know about you, but I’m really tired of half-answers, half-effort, and half-baked communication.

Unfortunately, most of us aren’t psychic. So, when you’re trying to plan a meeting—or, I don’t know, exist in a functional society—the who, what, when, and where actually need to come out of your mouth. Preferably together.

If you want things to run smoothly, clarity isn’t a bonus—it’s the bare minimum.

How to Ask for More Information (Without Feeling Like a Pest)

For assistants, half-baked instructions might feel like just “part of the job,” but they don’t have to be. When we let vague requests slide, we end up spinning our wheels, wasting time, and sometimes taking the blame for things that weren’t our fault to begin with.

Asking for clarification isn’t pushy—it’s part of being effective. And the more calmly, clearly, and consistently we ask for what we need, the more likely our execs are to realize that we can’t run on scraps.

Here are six low-pressure, high-impact ways to professionally push for the info you need:

"Can you give me a little more background so I understand how this fits into the bigger picture?”
“What’s the goal or outcome you’re hoping for the event/offsite/board meeting?”
“Have we worked with this person before or is this a new client for us?”

And for those times when your exec is too busy to meet with you:

“I want to make sure I get this project right, so I’m going to hold off until you can provide me those missing details.”
“Right now, I don’t have enough information to move forward. Once we talk through the open questions, I’m ready to make this a success!”

Need help pulling the right info out of your principal? I offer coaching and communication training for admins and their leaders.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

The Delegation Mistake Costing You Time and Money

Ask any experienced assistant what consistently gets in the way of doing their job well, and you’ll hear the same answer over and over: unclear, incomplete, or just plain vague instructions.

That's right. It’s the lack of direction from the very people who depend on them most.

Here's how to communicate better with your assistant and avoid vague instructions that stall progress, damage trust, and cost you time and money.

READ THE BLOG

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PSA: Renew Your Passport and Driver’s License

Now’s a smart time to check expiration dates and get those renewals in early. With new regulations likely on the horizon and a rapid reduction of the workforce in government offices, expect longer delays ahead. Beat the backlog while you still can.

Catch me LIVE at EA Ignite in November!

I’m thrilled to be heading to EA Ignite this November—one of the premier events for high-performing executive assistants and administrative professionals.

This isn’t your average conference. EA Ignite is where strategy meets execution, where support roles are treated like the powerhouse leadership partners they are, and where YOU walk away sharper, bolder, and more equipped to lead from your seat.

I’ll be there speaking on strategic communication and high-impact partnerships, and I’d love to see some familiar faces in the room. Whether you’re there to grow your leadership, strengthen your partnership with your executive, or finally find your people—this event is it.

👉 Check out the lineup and register here.

Title: Executive Assistant and Administrative Manager
Location: Spring Valley, NY | Hybrid
Salary: $78-88k

About the Role:
If you're someone who’s already mastered the Executive Assistant fundamentals and are ready to operate at a higher level—this is your moment.

We’re looking for a powerhouse assistant to support a fast-moving entrepreneur in real estate, construction, and operational turnarounds. He’s bold, high-output, and allergic to micromanaging. He needs a right hand partner who can lead projects, manage a team, and keep his priorities on track.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in organized chaos, loves owning outcomes, and isn’t afraid to speak up or take charge. You’ll be managing a small admin team, untangling complex ops, and shaping a calendar that protects the CEO’s focus (and sanity).

If you’ve been waiting for a role where you’re trusted, challenged, and empowered—this is it.

APPLY HERE

PS. Looking for your next powerhouse assistant? Hit "reply" and let's talk!

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