Coaching Club: Strategic Thinking & Planning for PAs and EAs
As the year draws to a close, businesses of all sizes are gearing up to write their strategies for the year ahead. It's a time for reflection on the past year and a crucial moment to plan for the future, setting targets and defining what we want to achieve. Strategic thinking and planning are essential skills in the world of recruitment, especially for PAs and EAs working in London’s fast-paced administration sector.
Strategic thinking isn’t just for the top executives; it’s a skill everyone can develop. For some, it comes naturally, but for others, it might be a bit of a challenge. If you feel like you need a refresh or want to sharpen your strategic thinking skills, try Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats exercise. This exercise can help you start thinking and planning strategically, which is vital for success in recruitment and administration roles.
What’s the Problem?
Start by identifying a challenge or habit that’s currently holding you back. Write down the following on a piece of paper:
In three words, describe how this challenge or habit makes you feel.
What actions have you taken so far to face this problem?
Six Thinking Hats
When it comes to problem-solving or decision-making, there are several approaches we can take. Edward de Bono, often called the Father of Lateral Thinking, dedicated his career to helping people become more creative thinkers. In his 1985 book, Six Thinking Hats, he introduced a method to guide different types of thinking—an invaluable tool for those in recruitment, EA, and PA roles, particularly in the competitive London recruitment scene.
White Hat: The Detective Hat
This hat focuses purely on the facts. Strip the situation of emotions and ask yourself:
What do you know to be true?
What are the actual facts informing you about the situation?
Write down your answers objectively, focusing only on the truths you know, not on perceptions or assumptions. This method is particularly useful in administrative roles where clarity and accuracy are paramount.
Yellow Hat: The Optimistic Hat
This hat looks for the positives in a situation. If the positives aren’t immediately clear, consider what they could be.
List three optimistic or hopeful outcomes from working on this challenge.
For EAs and PAs, maintaining a positive outlook is crucial, especially in high-pressure environments like London recruitment.
Black Hat: The Judgment Hat
Now, consider the obstacles:
What could go wrong?
What dangers or difficulties might you face?
Identify potential issues and figure out what needs to be done to overcome them. This kind of critical thinking is essential in recruitment and administration roles, where anticipating challenges can make a significant difference.
Red Hat: The Feelings Hat
This hat addresses emotions:
What do you feel about the challenge you’re facing?
Are you angry, frustrated, or excited?
Writing down your emotions helps clarify your true thoughts about the situation, allowing you to address any underlying feelings that could affect your performance—an important skill for PAs and EAs managing high-stakes tasks.
Green Hat: The Creative Hat
Time to think outside the box:
What other meanings could you give to this challenge?
Could it be an opportunity instead of a difficulty?
Get creative with your thinking and explore new possibilities. This approach is particularly valuable in the recruitment and administration sectors, where innovative solutions are often needed.
Blue Hat: The Recognition Hat
Finally, recognise your situation:
What are you in control of right now?
What actions can you take immediately?
Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. This proactive approach is vital for PAs and EAs in London’s competitive recruitment industry, where quick thinking and decisive action are often required.
Reflect and Grow
After completing this exercise, compare where you’re at with your situation to how you felt before. By exploring different ways of thinking, you open up new possibilities, meanings, and alternatives for dealing with your problems. This exercise can be particularly beneficial for those in recruitment, EA, and PA roles, helping you to break habits, challenge your thinking, and ultimately, succeed in the dynamic world of London administration.
Breaking habits and challenging your thinking is tough, but it’s a courageous step towards growth. Recognise and congratulate yourself—most people won’t take this step, but you did.
Join the Coaching Club
Did you enjoy this exercise? It’s just one example of the personal development exercises we do each week at Coaching Club. If you’d like to join us, we’d love to see you there. Sign up for Coaching Club on our website and get a free one-month trial. Learn new strategies, enhance your skills in recruitment, EA, and PA roles, and become part of an amazing group of supportive, uplifting women in London’s recruitment and administration community.
To reach out to us for:
EA/PA, HR and Business Support recruitment –philippa@candcsearch.co.uk
Or for our keynotes, training, workshops, and group coaching –lucy@candcsearch.co.uk
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