Synopsis
Being Indispensable is a podcast for Executive Assistants. It's about the mindset shift required to form a true partnership with your executive. Listen to interviews with indispensable executive assistants themselves, insights from executives and business leaders who share what they value in their indispensable assistants and join Liz as she explores the skills and leadership development required to build a true partnership with your executive.
Episodes
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200. Bye For Now
30/09/2024 Duration: 27minIt's the final episode for now for the Assist With Impact podcast. Liz shares five quotes from her first episode and reflects on how well she feels she's fulfilled them throughout the life of the podcast. We finish off with two great questions from Liv Yeates and Liz's responses. It's the end of the pod as we know it, but who knows...Liz might be back.
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199. My Wish For You My Lovely Listener
30/07/2024 Duration: 24minWelcome to the second last episode of Assist With Impact. In this episode Liz shares her key messages for each of her Lovely Listeners (LLs). Liz reflects on the difficulty of recording the final episodes and her discomfort with the spotlight Liz shares her wish for the administrative profession and her listeners The Wish for Executive Assistants Liz encourages assistants to be proactive problem solvers and anticipate needs Liz wants assistants to continue building confidence and competence Liz emphasizes the importance of developing power skills and leadership abilities Liz wants assistants to focus on personal and professional effectiveness, not just time management Challenges Facing the Profession The evolution or revolution in the EA role and the need to adapt The challenge of keeping up with new technologies and automation The struggle with workload management and avoiding burnout The ongoing challenge of recognition and value for the EA profession Closing Thoughts Liz reminds
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198. My Top Ten Episodes
08/07/2024 Duration: 20minWe are counting down to the final episode of Assist With Impact. In this episode Liz shares ten of her all-time favourite episodes...and spoiler alert, there's only ONE interview in this mix! Not that she doesn't love the interviews in the back catalog, but they deserve a special shout-out (cue another episode!) So, in chronological order of episode release, here are the ten eps Liz wants you to bookmark for future listening... ONE - Episode #48: How To Interview Your Boss This ep is all about Effective Communication and Relationship Building TWO - Episode #85: POWER Skills for Indispensable Assistants: Communication Skills All about Confident Communication Mastery THREE- Episode #86: POWER Skills for Indispensable Assistants: Influencing Skills All about Influence and Personal Power FOUR - Episode #87: POWER Skills for Indispensable Assistants: Assertiveness Skills All about Assertiveness and Confidence FIVE - Episode #93: Three Ways To Show Up As Indispensable In 2020 All about Personal Effectivene
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197. The Ten Most Downloaded Episodes of Assist With Impact
24/06/2024 Duration: 24minWelcome to the next in our countdown to the final episode of the Assist With Impact podcast. Episode 197 is a wrap-up of the ten most downloaded episodes over the eight years of the podcast. Over 250K downloads and these episodes are the ones that had the most downloads. Episode #1 - The "'Why' Episode #64 - Indispensable Skills - Managing Your Manager Episode #150 - Lack of Confidence: The Biggest Challenge I Hear From Executive Assistants Episode #138 - Interview with Marco Macente, Executive Business Partner Episode #155 - Interview with Ursula Kohler: Founder & Managing Director, Capital EA Episode #147 - Being a (Successful) Giver in 2022 Episode #160 - Revolutionise Your Inbox: My Interview with Steuart Snooks Episode #149 - How To Manage Conflicting Priorities Episode #152 - How To Reset & Re-energise Your Relationship With Your Executive Visit thelinchpinassistant.com/podcasts to listen via your browser to any of these episodes or find them in your podcast app.
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196. Road Ramblings: Farewell Announcement
11/06/2024 Duration: 15minIn this special "road rambling" episode, Liz announces the conclusion of the "Assist with Impact" podcast at episode 200. Reflecting on the podcast's origins and journey, she shares her motivations and plans for the final episodes. Key Topics Discussed: Origins of the Podcast: Started in June 2016 as "Being Indispensable." Challenges Overcome: Podcasting during a difficult period post-breast cancer treatment. Community Building: Aimed to support and elevate executive assistants. Decision to End: Overcrowded podcast space; pivot to guest appearances on other podcasts. Final Episodes Plan: Most downloaded episodes. Favorite episodes. Liz's wish for the profession. Q&A session. Your Invitation: Be part of the final episode Q&A Participation: Email questions for episode 200 to Liz at liz@thelinchpinassistant.com. Links Mentioned: Pod O'Sullivan Episode: Listen to Episodes 116 & 117 to hear my interview with my executive Pod O'Sullivan Connect with Liz: Email: liz@thelinchpinassistant.com Su
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The Ten Things To Avoid Doing In Your Conversations
05/03/2024 Duration: 27minThe focus of this solo episode is your verbal communication skills and common blocks that get in the way of you being a confident and capable communicator. This episode is part of our theme for March. It’s the ‘Power Skills’ impact and insight zone. Power Skills are your supercharged soft skills and in my world, there are ten key Power Skills that I focus on in my training, coaching and speaking. In this episode I’m sharing the Top 10 Communication Blocks that can impact your relationships with your peers, your manager and other people you work with. I remind you of the practical tips and strategies I’ve shared before. Listen to the following episode for more info on this topic #55 How To Approach Difficult Conversations - Steps for Executive Assistants You can find more information on the SBI framework here: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/situation-behavior-impact-feedback.htm You can read more about Petrea King's approach here: https://www.flyingsolo.com.au/live-smarter/make-difficult-conversatio
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How To Ask Better Questions To Increase Your Insight & Impact With Your Leader
19/02/2024 Duration: 26minIt's a solo episode from Liz. All about improving how we ask questions, especially when it comes to asking questions of the person or people we support. This month, we're focusing on enhancing our skills in managing up and engaging effectively with leaders. It's what I describe as the 'Leader Insight & Impact Zone'. Why Questions Matter - Asking the right questions is crucial for understanding and growth. Many of us hesitate to ask questions due to fear of looking incompetent or being annoying, but it's essential to overcome these fears. Key Insights - Reconnect with Curiosity: Let's embrace our natural curiosity and not be afraid to ask questions. - Types of Questions: I discuss four main types: elevating, funneling, adjoining, and clarifying questions. Each serves a different purpose in helping us understand and connect better. - Practical Tips: Use open-ended questions, balance them with closed questions when needed, appreciate the power of silence, and practice active listening. Highlights - The
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Unlocking Your Potential: The Power of Personal SWOT Analysis
15/01/2024 Duration: 28minOverview: In this enlightening solo episode, your host Liz Van Vliet revisits the influential concept of Personal SWOT Analysis, a tool she first introduced in Episode 70. With her signature friendly and engaging tone, she delves into this comprehensive self-assessment method, guiding listeners through the nuances of evaluating their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This episode is a perfect blend of professional insights and personal anecdotes, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and thrive in their careers. What You'll Learn: - The Essence of Personal SWOT Analysis: Discover the power of assessing your personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to gain a clear snapshot of where you stand. - Stephen Covey’s Influence: Learn how Stephen Covey's principles of effectiveness can be integrated into your personal and professional life. - The Four Dimensions of SWOT: A detailed walkthrough of each aspect of SWOT, offering practica
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Three Ways To Set Yourself Up For Success In 2024
02/01/2024 Duration: 24minEmbracing 2024 with Reflection, Review, and Goal-Setting Welcome to the first episode of Assist With Impact for 2024! In this episode, we dive into the importance of reflection and goal-setting as we step into the new year. Join us for Episode 191 as we explore how to make the most of 2024. Key Highlights: 1. New Year Reflections and Challenges: - Your host Liz shares personal challenges during the transition into the new year. - Discussion on the blend of pride and disappointment experienced in 2023, including the ten-year cancerversary and podcast milestones. 2. The Power of Reflection: - Importance of embracing a growth mindset by reflecting on past year's experiences. - The concept of 'big kahuna' goals and the reality of not achieving them. 3. Setting Up for Success in 2024: - Introduction of 'The Liz Way' to set up for success in the new year. - Here's the link to the downloadable worksheet for you to reflect and review on 2023 via five simple questions: https://thelinchpinassistant.
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2023 Year In Review: Transformations, Triumphs & Tributes
18/12/2023 Duration: 27minIn this milestone episode (we've hit 190 guys!), Liz celebrates overcoming challenges and embracing change and opportunity. 2023 marked her Ten Year Cancerversary with Liz sharing the joys and trials of this significant personal triumph. Reflecting on the evolution from 'My EA Career' to 'The Linchpin Assistant', we also delve into the concept of 'co-opertition' - cooperating while competing, and how this approach helped me stand against imitators while proudly acknowledging my pioneering role in developing Power Skills for assistants. This episode also offers a reflective look at the word of 2023 - RENEW. How has this theme shaped the year's endeavors? We explore the exciting, albeit exhausting, aspects of going global and the achievements it brought along. Pride points of the journey include: - Persistently delivering this insightful podcast. - Establishing a distinct voice as a connector and communicator. - Guiding listeners to proactively engage with AI. - Critically assessing the Chief of Staff role and
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Interview With Maggie Olson
04/12/2023 Duration: 44minYou would have to have been under a rock in 2023 not to have seen at least ONE podcast episode, article or social media talking about the rise of the CoS role (Chief of Staff) as a potential career path for Executive Assistants. So unless you have just emerged from under your rock, you may be familiar with Maggie Olson from Nova Chief of Staff. In this episode I interview Maggie about the WHAT, the WHY and the HOW when it comes to her innovative online self-paced CoS course that has been designed from real-world experience to educate and elevate professionals looking to maximize impact. If you are an EA who is looking to upskill and build your commercial acumen, Maggie's program should be on your list of courses to consider. Her alumni are not just assistants who are aspiring to a CoS role, they're also 'lifetime' EAs who want to develop themselves...and if you know me, you will know that's what I'm all about! Connect with Maggie and find out more about her program on Friday 8th December @ 8-9pm GMT+11 Magg
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Interview with Doriette McIvor Stone (Part Two)
20/11/2023 Duration: 30minDoriette McIvor Stone is an Executive Assistant with over twenty years of experience supporting C-Suite leaders. She is also a marketer, a salesperson and a customer service person. Currently Doriette supports the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee. In Part Two of our interview we explore the importance of intuition and emotional intelligence and how Doriette uses these power skills to protect her executive's time and energy. We talk about the importance of asking the right questions and questioning as a key skill and we explore why adopting a sales mindset can be so empowering for you as an assistant. Enjoy Part Two of this refreshing and enlightening conversation with a true Linchpin Assistant. Connect with Doriette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriette-mcivor-stone Read the Admin Avenues article featuring Doriette here: https://adminavenues.com/admin-spotlight-doriette-mcivor-stone/
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Interview with Doriette McIvor Stone (Part One)
06/11/2023 Duration: 36minDoriette McIvor Stone is an Executive Assistant with over twenty years of experience supporting C-Suite leaders. She is also a marketer, a salesperson and a customer service person. Currently Doriette supports the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee. In Part One of our interview we explore how Doriette came to the role of EA from a career in Events Management and successfully running her own business and hear about the core values that drive her in her role. We discuss the complex nature of her role and the importance of being an effective stakeholder manager. Doriette shares her philosphy of treating everyone at every level and learning from everyone. Being a connector and building influence by genuinely being interested in other people. Doriette is all about elevating people and epitomises the value of building reciprocity to elevate your influence. Enjoy this refreshing and enlightening conversation with a true Linchpin Assistant. Connect with Doriette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriette
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Checking In & Savouring The Flavours of a Jam-Packed Schedule
23/10/2023 Duration: 17minA solo episode where your host, Liz Van Vliet gives an update on what has been a whirlwind of a month and shares some highlights from her recent trip to Ottawa. It's been a jam-packed schedule but Liz is enjoying meeting so many new faces and giving them a dose of Vitamin Liz. Mentioned in the episode is the following question that Liz asked of Bank of Canada training attendees...feel free to send Liz an email at liz@thelinchpinassistant.com to tell her which one is your spirit animal:) What Australian animal is your EA spirit animal? A) Koala - looks cuddly but has claws that will scratch your eyes out! B) Kangaroo - seems maternal (that lovely pouch) but if you get on the wrong side it has a mean kick! C) Wombat - slow moving but if you run into me, you're history! D) Quoll - I'm the Scarlet Pimpernel of Australian Animals. Elusive. You won't even know I've been there but I will leave my impact. E) The Great White Shark - I take no prisoners!!!! Don't forget to leave a rating and review to help more assista
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Five Ways To Make Your Invisible Work Visible
18/09/2023 Duration: 22minWelcome to Episode 185 of Assist With Impact, where we empower administrative professionals like you to make your hard work visible and impactful. In this episode, we're diving into "Five Ways to Ensure Your Invisible Work is Visible." It's an important topic because so much of what you do as an assistant is like the proverbial iceberg - hidden beneath the waterline. Listen to the episode to hear practical and tactical ways you can ensure that your executive and colleagues see the contribution you're making. Don't forget to leave a rating and review! Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant Quick LinksGet Embed PlayerShare on SocialDownload Audio File
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The One Where Liz Gets On Her Soapbox
05/09/2023 Duration: 12minA solo episode where your host, Liz Van Vliet gets her 'ranty pants' on about advice she sees being given to assistants that is flippant and unhelpful (in her opinion). Listen to the episode if you want to be reminded that you're more than just an 'admin' and deserve the same level of respect and consideration as any other professional. Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant
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Interview With Robyn Greaves (Part Two)
21/08/2023 Duration: 40minIn the second part of her interview with Liz Van Vliet, Robyn Greaves talks about the silver lining of redundancy, the value of curiosity and the skills and capabilities that allowed her to adapt and adjust as an Executive Assistant. Robyn shares how her final role as an EA gave her "permission to have a voice" beyond the one on one relationship with her executive. How it opened up a world of possibilities and enjoyment for Robyn. In short, it allowed Robyn to be the same person in the office that she was at home. We then explore the birth of Start Sort Scale, how assistants can see and leverage Artificial Intelligence as an opportunity rather than a threat and Robyn's adventurous life as a digital nomad. Enjoy Part Two! Robyn Greaves is a full-time digital nomad and start-up founder. She spends her time travelling the world and collaborating with business owners to optimise their processes and set them up to scale. She is passionate about giving people the freedom to work from anywhere and live life on the
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Interview With Robyn Greaves (Part One)
07/08/2023 Duration: 39minRobyn Greaves is an award winning business administrator with 15 years experience as an Executive Assistant. Born in the UK, Robyn has extensive experience providing high level strategic and operational support to CEOs and Directors both in the UK and Australia. She has worked across a wide range of industries including not-for-profit, media publishing and digital businesses. Robyn is passionate about supporting business owners to achieve their goals. In the first of our two-part interview we explore Robyn's origin story. How she began her career as an Administrative Professional and her talent was quickly spotted by a dynamic executive. Listen to the episode to hear about Robyn's experience navigating the career 'spider frame' and the skills and capabilities that have supported and empowered her growth as an Executive Assistant. Connect with Robyn via LinkedIn and Instagram. Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin
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Celebrating My Cancerversary
25/07/2023 Duration: 25minA special solo episode sharing the audio from a series of three videos I posted last week on LinkedIn to celebrate my ten year 'cancerversary'. An episode for new listeners who haven't heard my cancer story and old listeners who I'm fortunate to have in my life because of the serendipity of my cancer diagnosis. An episode that shares both the grim and the grateful. Because we're human beings, not human doings.