The 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...

It'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...

🎙 Navigating the Labyrinth of Boss Personalities🎙 In this enlightening episode, dive deep into the complexities of workplace dynamics as we explore how to effectively manage up by understanding and adapting to different boss personalities. From the reflective introverts and the communicative extroverts to the goal-driven advancers, the team-focused harmonizers, and the detail-oriented micromanagers, we unveil strategies for building stronger and more productive relationships with your boss. ...

Overview: 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...

Embracing 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...

In 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...

You 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...

Doriette 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...

Doriette 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...

A 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 [email protected] to tell her which one is your spirit animal:) ...

Welcome 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...

A 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

In 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...

Robyn 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...

A 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.  

Amy Crumley learned the intricacies and nuances of the Executive Support profession from her mother and grandmother, who rendered their support to high-level executives in Atlanta, Georgia, and Denver, Colorado in the United States. Amy's own career path has followed a diversified route, traversing the foundation of owning a cabinet company, owning a staffing company, traveling around Europe, and teaching English as a second language. Returning to the United States, Amy pursued a remote...

Amy Crumley learned the intricacies and nuances of the Executive Support profession from her mother and grandmother, who rendered their support to high-level executives in Atlanta, Georgia, and Denver, Colorado in the United States. Amy's own career path has followed a diversified route, traversing the foundation of owning a cabinet company, owning a staffing company, traveling around Europe, and teaching English as a second language. Returning to the United States, Amy pursued a remote...

Join your host Liz Van Vliet as she gives you an overview of what will be covered in her upcoming webinar designed to help you build your strength in the area of strategic thinking! We discuss the 4 areas that Liz will be outlining that all contribute to you being able to show up as a more strategic assistant. The four focus areas are: Know Think Speak Act If you like the sound of Liz's strategic thinking 'workout', register for the webinar to be held on July 12, 2023 12:30 PM AEST. The...

Nikki-Lee Prismall is an extremely busy woman. She is EA to the Enterprise COO for KPMG Australia and also National Manager Business Support at KPMG Australia.  In Part Two of this episode pair, your host Liz Van Vliet explores Nikki's EA role supporting the Enterprise Chief Operating Officer for KPMG Australia and how an invitation to contribute to a project team exploring ways of more efficiently leveraging the Administrative Support Function across the enterprise opened up a new and...

Nikki-Lee Prismall is an extremely busy woman. She is EA to the Enterprise COO for KPMG Australia and also National Manager Business Support at KPMG Australia.  In this two part series, Liz Van Vliet uncovers Nikki's early career experiences and the transferable skills she developed and brought across into her EA role with KPMG.  We discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and self insight, self belief and confidence.  Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn here ...

In this weeks solo episode your host Liz Van Vliet shares five tips that Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants and Administrative Assistants can implement that will ensure they are seen as more than transactional and reactive and instead be perceived as strategic, big-picture thinkers. The new and updated website for The Linchpin Assistant Connect with Liz on Instagram or LinkedIn

Description: In this solo episode, we explore how AI and ChatGPT are changing the administrative profession and whether they pose an opportunity or threat for you as an administrative professional. We discuss a recent experiment conducted by the New York Times and share insights on how AI can help you in your daily tasks while also emphasizing the importance of adaptability and staying ahead of the curve. Show Notes: Introduction Discussion about the recent New York Times article on...

Liz is sharing some big news in this weeks podcast episode relating to her business. Listen to this episode to hear the what, when and the why! Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn and make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter to be the first to hear when my exciting new program launches.

In this episode of Assist With Impact, Liz’s guest is Dr. Kirstin Ferguson AM an author, columnist and company director. Liz talks with Kirstin about her experience navigating the career ‘climbing frame’ and her latest book, Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership. Kirstin shares some pivotal moments in her career, including when she was debating whether to become a journalist or join the military after leaving school. She ultimately chose the military, but her love for writing and...