Why Most Executives Fail at Hiring the Right Assistant (and How to Succeed)

The Ryan Hanley Show

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In this eye-opening episode, Ryan Hanley sits down with Monique Hellstrom, the powerhouse executive assistant who spent over a decade as Simon Sinek's right-hand partner.

Monique shares transformative insights on how leaders can unlock up to 50% more productivity by building and nurturing a dynamic relationship with their executive assistant.

From the art of self-awareness and communication to hiring the right assistant, Monique dives deep into why most executives fail in this key partnership—and how to fix it.

Whether you're a leader looking to optimize your workflow or an assistant aiming to elevate your role, this episode is packed with actionable strategies for thriving in any professional dynamic.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why focusing solely on tasks is the #1 mistake executives make when hiring an assistant.
• How effective communication and self-awareness transform the leader-assistant relationship.
• The crucial difference between tactical support and strategic partnership—and why it matters.
• The role of empathy, trust, and transparency in creating unstoppable workplace teams.
• How to leverage AI without losing the human element in the assistant-executive dynamic.

Key Quotes:

• “Self-awareness and communication are the two most important skills we’re never taught—and the most crucial to success in any relationship.” – Monique Hellstrom
• “Most executives are using their assistants like solitaire on a $3,000 MacBook—they’re missing the full potential.” – Monique Hellstrom
• “A great executive-assistant partnership can elevate productivity by 20-50%. That’s the difference between a good team and an unstoppable one.” – Monique Hellstrom

Sponsors:

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