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Your World-Class Assistant: Hiring, Training, and Leveraging an Executive Assistant
“Your World-Class Hiring, Training, and Leveraging an Executive Assistant� is a physical resource teaching the systematic blueprint for getting the help your busy life deserves. Inside, you’ll discover how to find an Executive Assistant if you don’t have one, how to train your assistant the right way, and ways you can use your assistant to save you time, money, and energy.
Unknown Binding
Published October 1, 2019
18 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 9, 2020
If you have never read a Michael Hyatt book or you are just looking for ways to onboard your assistant this is a great little book to guide you. If you have read other Michael Hyatt books this most likely we disappoint you. 3/4 of the book are the same stories and same content from his book Free to Focus and some of Best Year Ever. This book can be read in about 2 hours maybe 3 and is the same price as other books much larger but all the same content. I feel like he wrote it on a weekend or had his staff pull together all his favorite content and put into a book together with his blog post and previous bonus material on how to have an Assistant. I am a big MH fan and follow him a ton. His goal setting course has helped me tremendously. I have an EA and needed to find ways to improve the way we work together. In fact I hired an EA after watching his Bonus program on EA’s nearly 3 years ago. But this book could have been two blog posts if you filtered out all of the Free to Focus content. Disappointed MH, I think you can create great content; but don’t take your fans for granted.
August 30, 2022
An easy, well-thought out and organized read in just a couple hours. Nothing mind-blowing for me... but then again, I am wired to be and believe in the immense value of a good support person (namely in this book, an Executive Assistant). With the help of other executives and EAs, Hyatt gives frameworks, philosophies, practical tips, applicable examples, and guiding questions that would help any executive recognize the help they need and how to get it.
What’s funny to me is that this is written to the executive, rather than the countless EAs who were delegated the task of reading it and reporting back. So now that I’m done, step two is communicating my value and my supervisor’s to him.
Thankful for this resource - a 5-star and highly recommended read to any executive. Just mildly helpful for me.
What’s funny to me is that this is written to the executive, rather than the countless EAs who were delegated the task of reading it and reporting back. So now that I’m done, step two is communicating my value and my supervisor’s to him.
Thankful for this resource - a 5-star and highly recommended read to any executive. Just mildly helpful for me.
August 13, 2022
I have a new EA position, not my first. My new boss asked me to read this. We are going to work together to set up the best relationship possible. All I can say is if my previous boss has been open to these types of systems, I wouldn’t have this new, better, position now!
November 20, 2022
As someone new to the EA world, I found this to be a helpful primer from the perspective of an Executive. I'd like to find something similar from the perspective of an EA.
Lots of useful resources I anticipate returning to.
Lots of useful resources I anticipate returning to.
November 14, 2019
This is a good book. It has quite a bit of good material about delegation, something that is hard for a lot of leaders. I’ve been working on becoming better at delegating for a long time and this book will help. It has some good information that, if properly implemented, will more than pay for the cost of the book.
One example is to have multiple email addresses. I have started doing this with my own company. Instead of having customers email me directly as before, I now have a company email address that I use that my assistant can check on a regular basis and answer basic inquiries on my behalf. We are also going to start using email templates as Michael suggested.
As he states in the book, if I can teach somebody else to do it, I probably shouldn’t be doing it.
However, I think this book is missing some things.
All of the examples listed (that I could find) are from Michael Hyatt & Company. Not that this is bad. This is what Michael knows. However, not every company is like his. It would have been helpful to have seen other examples from a variety of industries, not just a media / publishing company like Michael has. For example, I rarely travel on business and when I do, I enjoy making my own arrangements. My assistant would never need to order coffee for me (I actually make her coffee sometimes), but she does have to answer calls and schedule jobs for our technicians on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. She has to coordinate with our customers and technicians and suppliers via text, email, phone, and voicemail, and she has to do it very quickly, all while juggling payroll and data entry.
The book advocates turning over sensitive information to your assistant. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be dangerous. Over the years, I have read about numerous incidents where an assistant, office manager, CFO, or other trusted leader abused their trust and embezzled thousands, sometimes millions of dollars. This can occur in any kind of business, but smaller, fast growing companies without a lot of financial controls are especially vulnerable. There is a whole magazine dedicated to the topic: Fraud Magazine.
The book does recommend doing a thorough background check, but this is not always enough. A business needs to have systems in place to prevent fraud, and if it does occur, detect it as soon as possible. For example, the person making purchases and writing checks should not be the same person who is balancing the checkbook. As Ronald Reagan famously said, “Trust, but verify.�
The book is good, but I wish it were more comprehensive, and I think it glosses over some of the pitfalls. I did appreciate the emphasis on effectively communicating with one’s assistant. This is something I plan to improve upon as a result of reading this book.
One example is to have multiple email addresses. I have started doing this with my own company. Instead of having customers email me directly as before, I now have a company email address that I use that my assistant can check on a regular basis and answer basic inquiries on my behalf. We are also going to start using email templates as Michael suggested.
As he states in the book, if I can teach somebody else to do it, I probably shouldn’t be doing it.
However, I think this book is missing some things.
All of the examples listed (that I could find) are from Michael Hyatt & Company. Not that this is bad. This is what Michael knows. However, not every company is like his. It would have been helpful to have seen other examples from a variety of industries, not just a media / publishing company like Michael has. For example, I rarely travel on business and when I do, I enjoy making my own arrangements. My assistant would never need to order coffee for me (I actually make her coffee sometimes), but she does have to answer calls and schedule jobs for our technicians on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. She has to coordinate with our customers and technicians and suppliers via text, email, phone, and voicemail, and she has to do it very quickly, all while juggling payroll and data entry.
The book advocates turning over sensitive information to your assistant. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be dangerous. Over the years, I have read about numerous incidents where an assistant, office manager, CFO, or other trusted leader abused their trust and embezzled thousands, sometimes millions of dollars. This can occur in any kind of business, but smaller, fast growing companies without a lot of financial controls are especially vulnerable. There is a whole magazine dedicated to the topic: Fraud Magazine.
The book does recommend doing a thorough background check, but this is not always enough. A business needs to have systems in place to prevent fraud, and if it does occur, detect it as soon as possible. For example, the person making purchases and writing checks should not be the same person who is balancing the checkbook. As Ronald Reagan famously said, “Trust, but verify.�
The book is good, but I wish it were more comprehensive, and I think it glosses over some of the pitfalls. I did appreciate the emphasis on effectively communicating with one’s assistant. This is something I plan to improve upon as a result of reading this book.
April 25, 2024
I have learned a LOT from your books! They truly changed the course of my business for the best, especially your book about personal assistants. After reading Your World-Class Assistant, I immediately started my journey by hiring my 16yo son to grade papers for me and two of my (even younger) nieces to clean and cook for me. Your solid advice (and the fact that I took you seriously and actually followed it) freed up a lot of brain space for me, enabling me to feel creative again and use my time to produce better classes, presentations, workshops, and activities. I have since grown to have several more employees, and they're all adults, lol.
As far as your writing style goes, your pacing was perfect, resulting in a very quick, very enjoyable read. Instead of bloating your book with far too many personal stories, you presented actionable steps in a reasonable and practical manner. Of course, some stories were necessary, and you wrote in a conversational tone, but it was just enough to be endearing and readable. When I finished, I was inspired instead of overwhelmed and was able to implement several of your fantastic ideas on that very same day. I can't thank you enough! My husband and son have now joined the family business (online tutoring), and we are finally able to travel together and go to the gym together...in the middle of every single day (if we want)!
As far as your writing style goes, your pacing was perfect, resulting in a very quick, very enjoyable read. Instead of bloating your book with far too many personal stories, you presented actionable steps in a reasonable and practical manner. Of course, some stories were necessary, and you wrote in a conversational tone, but it was just enough to be endearing and readable. When I finished, I was inspired instead of overwhelmed and was able to implement several of your fantastic ideas on that very same day. I can't thank you enough! My husband and son have now joined the family business (online tutoring), and we are finally able to travel together and go to the gym together...in the middle of every single day (if we want)!
December 4, 2019
Where was Michael Hyatt when I was a newish manager and thought it was a sign of competence that I refused the help of an executive assistant? I soon learned that I could be much more productive to have the help of a true pro who could handle many tasks for me. Throughout my career, people asked me how I could take on so much. I always tell them because my EA is my secret weapon.
Hyatt offers practical reasons for why you probably need an EA, finding the right person and how to work with them so that they are of help to you and your business.
I read this book for two reasons, (1) I’m a big fan of everything that Hyatt writes, and (2) I sought the content to help me with a consulting project that I’m working on. I’m glad I did. I wished I could have read it at the beginning of my career.
Memorable Quote:
“Executive assistants employer us to leverage our two most valuable resources: time and focus.�
Hyatt offers practical reasons for why you probably need an EA, finding the right person and how to work with them so that they are of help to you and your business.
I read this book for two reasons, (1) I’m a big fan of everything that Hyatt writes, and (2) I sought the content to help me with a consulting project that I’m working on. I’m glad I did. I wished I could have read it at the beginning of my career.
Memorable Quote:
“Executive assistants employer us to leverage our two most valuable resources: time and focus.�
April 11, 2020
Not one of Hyatt's best or most applicable books. However it is an excellent "how to" guide for leaders who find themselves needing an assistant.
My mother served as office manager for a medical practice in Nashville while I was growing up. She ran the practice so well that the doctor recruited her away to run his new practice as a different hospital. He realized that he could not run his medical practice and keep up his speaking, travel and consulting schedule without her help. He even offered to finish paying my college tuition as an incentive.
Is this book for everyone? No, that is why it is published by Hyatt's personal label rather than Thomas Nelson books. However, if you are like me and find yourself needing someone to help you manage your world so that you can focus on what matters most, then this is the book for you.
My mother served as office manager for a medical practice in Nashville while I was growing up. She ran the practice so well that the doctor recruited her away to run his new practice as a different hospital. He realized that he could not run his medical practice and keep up his speaking, travel and consulting schedule without her help. He even offered to finish paying my college tuition as an incentive.
Is this book for everyone? No, that is why it is published by Hyatt's personal label rather than Thomas Nelson books. However, if you are like me and find yourself needing someone to help you manage your world so that you can focus on what matters most, then this is the book for you.
April 3, 2021
[Ali Abdaal on moving to LA, dealing with hater comments and hiring team - YouTube]()
Your World-Class Assistant | Michael Hyatt
Michael S. Hyatt - Wikipedia
Michael S. Hyatt is an American author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and the CEO and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company. He has written several books about leadership, productivity, and goal setting.
Personal life:
He and his wife Gail live in Nashville, Tennessee. They have five daughters. He is an ordained deacon in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Your World-Class Assistant | Michael Hyatt
Michael S. Hyatt - Wikipedia
Michael S. Hyatt is an American author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and the CEO and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company. He has written several books about leadership, productivity, and goal setting.
Personal life:
He and his wife Gail live in Nashville, Tennessee. They have five daughters. He is an ordained deacon in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
September 26, 2021
Please never buy garbage like this... so horrible. He must have had a junior high C-student write this in detention.
Here is an actual paragraph "I made the decision that I needed professional help. But I had some hurdles to overcome before I could implement it. I bet you can relate."
I I I I I I I I I I... 42 times in the first couple pages.
Never a point. Never clarity. Never even average writing. Just throwing something out into the market place in an attempt to gain name recognition and further a personal brand.
I am so insulted. I am angry. I can't believe I bought this crap.
This entire "company" should be ashamed of themselves.
Here is an actual paragraph "I made the decision that I needed professional help. But I had some hurdles to overcome before I could implement it. I bet you can relate."
I I I I I I I I I I... 42 times in the first couple pages.
Never a point. Never clarity. Never even average writing. Just throwing something out into the market place in an attempt to gain name recognition and further a personal brand.
I am so insulted. I am angry. I can't believe I bought this crap.
This entire "company" should be ashamed of themselves.
October 29, 2020
This is the book I wish my bosses had read before they hired me as their business & personal assistant. Great key points about working with your EA. Leaders set up their EA's to be successes or failures at supporting them. Michael Hyatt shares simple things leaders can do to get the best out of their EA's without completely frustrating their EA's. This book is a quick, great read for both bosses/executives and assistants. If I had read it before my bosses hired me, I would have known just how to manage up to get what I needed from them to serve them in my best capacity.
November 9, 2019
This is a much less in-depth book than I expected, but it is effective. Now I want an Executive Assistant! I have had some crap experiences with EAs in the past, but can now see that a) they were the wrong prior, and b) I was a crap leader for them.
I suspect I'll be re-reading this a bunch of times before taking any action. But now I can see the possibility afforded by an amazing EA, whereas before I couldn't.
Highly recommended for anyone in a leadership or creative arts profession.
I suspect I'll be re-reading this a bunch of times before taking any action. But now I can see the possibility afforded by an amazing EA, whereas before I couldn't.
Highly recommended for anyone in a leadership or creative arts profession.
March 22, 2022
It's a short and pretty practical book. I would not suggest it to everyone, but only to those who are
- considering hiring a personal assistant (more beneficial as there's a chapter on how to hire one)
- already working with a personal assistant
The tips described in the book can work for both in-person assistants as well as virtual assistants.
It can still be useful for those who simply manage other people. But in this case, only some chapters would fit.
- considering hiring a personal assistant (more beneficial as there's a chapter on how to hire one)
- already working with a personal assistant
The tips described in the book can work for both in-person assistants as well as virtual assistants.
It can still be useful for those who simply manage other people. But in this case, only some chapters would fit.
December 16, 2019
I love Michael Hyatt’s simplicity and candor. He understands business, knows how to equip leaders for business, and he really seems to care to free up the leader to focus on what they are best at.
I recently hired an Executive Assistant and this books really helps me understand how to best leverage this position.
I recently hired an Executive Assistant and this books really helps me understand how to best leverage this position.
June 30, 2020
To preface, I haven't read any of Michael's other books. I loved this book for it's tactical examples and ideas. I would highly recommend this for anyone:
1- Who is an EA
2- Who is thinking about getting an EA
3- Already has an EA
Even if you already have one like me, it will give you enough ideas to justify it's price tag. Also the PDF resources are awesome.
1- Who is an EA
2- Who is thinking about getting an EA
3- Already has an EA
Even if you already have one like me, it will give you enough ideas to justify it's price tag. Also the PDF resources are awesome.
May 15, 2021
“Are you stuck doing work you should hand off?�. A great reminder to leverage your assistant. I especially liked Chapter 6 on working together: communications and delegations. While the information was not new, it was the perfect focus and reset that I need as I plan for our next school year. I have the best “world-class assistant!�
July 1, 2021
This is a helpful book if the idea of an executive assistant is totally new to you, or maybe if you're terrible managing that relationship and need better results. If that's the case, this is a great, quick starter to get your head on straight. No frills, straight to the point. I read it in less than two hours.
However, nothing really surprised me or stood out to me as a profound insight.
However, nothing really surprised me or stood out to me as a profound insight.
November 18, 2019
It’s a very quick read. Much of the material is already in his podcast or hinted at in other books, but it’s well presented and does here. I read it in about an hour taking a few notes - it’s worth coming back to for the checklists and tools.
March 15, 2020
As an executive assistant this is a must read for anyone who is thinking of hiring an assistant or currently working with an assistant. I believe this is also a very helpful tool for all assistants.
November 10, 2019
Great overview
November 14, 2019
Perfect timing as i begin interviewing potential EAs tomorrow! So many useful resources & tips to make this most-important relationship a success from Day 1.
December 9, 2019
Good reminder of why delegating is important. I always learn things from MH!
February 20, 2020
Practical and applicable. What’s not to like?
March 21, 2020
Uber practical step by step guide on how to best utilize an executive assistant. Plan on taking our team through it!
May 27, 2020
The book is way overpriced. The book just provides surface level information that is common sense. Look elsewhere if you want detailed help in training and leveraging an EA.
Read
May 29, 2020Concise and practical.
June 19, 2020
I’m an executive assistant and it was helpful to thing of questions and new ideas for work. Nothing that I haven’t heard before though! Easy to read and understand
August 22, 2020
Disappointing book that was completely summarized in a 30 min podcast.
October 2, 2020
Informative and with good resources but a little old-school.
February 27, 2021
Most of the information in the book was available in other formats and as downloads from his site.
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