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(U) The Life of an Exec (repost)
FROM:
Former Interim Civilian Executive Assistant/SIGINT Director
Run Date: 11/26/2004
Here's an article from the SIDtoday archives... (U)
(U//FOUO) "Life, as we know it, will cease to exist if I don't see MG Quirk immediately." As MG
Quirk's executive assistant, this is one of the many dramatic opening lines that I've heard. An
exec is a senior leader's front door, traffic cop, information manager, and most importantly,
conscience. Like triage in an emergency room, an exec's main task is prioritization. Which of the
hundreds of incoming daily e-mails and documents are truly important? Out of the dozens of
requests, whom should they meet with today? What do they have to sign now so the Earth does
not spin off its axis? An exec must make hundreds of decisions every day to optimize the
senior's time. The worst decision is no decision. Without an effective filter, the senior is doomed
to drown in information overload and unending meetings.
(U//FOUO) What is a "typical" day in the life of an exec? Opening the office before the craziness
begins is critical as the exec must skim new incoming information and tee up the hot issues of
the day. Then the daily roller coaster ride begins. The exec will attend many of the back-toback-to-back meetings-- look for the slightly haggard individual sitting in the back row
documenting actions or going through volumes of paperwork. The exec must be prepared to
steal quality time with the senior between meetings or in transit to provide updates or
background on upcoming events. The churn of activity usually continues through the late
afternoon or early evening. The end of the day is often the only available time to work off
actions and complete paperwork.
(U//FOUO) Keeping pace with a frenetic schedule is only skimming the surface of being an exec.
An exec is a confidant who works significant and sensitive issues behind the scenes. They are
the senior's staunchest ally to the outside world but privately their toughest critic providing
candid assessments of decisions, meetings, and briefings. The exec represents the senior at all
times and must build positive relationships across the organization, particularly with the staffs of
other senior leaders. An exec makes sure promises are kept and questions are answered. An
exec is the voice inside the senior's head reminding them of their priorities and obligations.
(U//FOUO) So the hours are long and the pace is relentless-- why would anyone want to do
this? Immersion into this job provides one of the purest training experiences. An exec has a
front row seat to the good, the bad, and the ugly of the senior leadership lifestyle. Most execs
serve for a limited duration (12 to 24 months is typical)-- long enough to learn the job and be
effective, but short enough to maintain sanity. Whether they aspire to be a senior or just more
effective at their current level, executive assistants return to the workforce with a muchimproved understanding of the implications of their work as part of the big picture.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108
