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🧠 Why the Smartest Assistants Rewire This One Habit First

The Strategic Assistant Revolution Continues

Author

Joshua Washington
June 05, 2025

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.

Carl Jung

Hey EA-Pros Community,

If you’ve ever wondered why some assistants seem to command authority and get looped into strategic decisions, while others get trapped doing busywork, it often comes down to one hidden habit:

How they speak to themselves.

We talk a lot about communication with executives, but today I want to address something even more powerful: your inner narrative.

Because if you’re battling self-doubt, over-apologizing, or second-guessing your impact, even the best scripts and strategies won’t stick.

And here’s the good news…

This week’s insights and strategies are designed to help you identify and rewire the subtle mindset patterns that are quietly holding you back from being seen as a leader.

Let’s level up from the inside out.

All the best,

Joshua

In Today’s Edition of EA-Pros

✍️ Feature Article

The Inner Script That Sabotages Strategic Growth (And How to Rewire It)

 💬 Executive Coaching Corner

Weekly Wisdom: A simple phrase to stop self-sabotage in its tracks

✍️ Feature Article:

The 5-Word Phrase That Keeps Brilliant Assistants Playing Small

Most assistants don’t need more hours in the day.

What they need is a new script.

Not for their email… or their executive…

But for themselves.

Let me explain.

🚨 The Habit You Didn’t Know Was Hurting You

In our coaching sessions, I hear this all the time:

  • “I don’t want to overstep.”

  • “This might sound silly, but…”

  • “I just support the team.”

Each time you say it, you reinforce a belief:

“I’m here to help, but I’m not important.”

That story doesn’t just stay in your head, it leaks into every meeting, every suggestion, every interaction.

And guess what?

Executives can feel it.

🔁 Time to Rewrite the Script

If you want to be treated as a strategic partner, you need to start thinking and speaking like one.

Try these 3 simple rewrites this week:

1. Replace “I’m just…” with “I recommend…”

❌ Old:

“I’m just thinking this might help.”

✔️ New:

“I recommend this approach because it aligns with our Q2 objective.”

2. Replace “Sorry to bother you” with “Quick update to keep you ahead.”

❌ Old:

“Sorry to ping again!”

✔️ New:

“Here’s an update that keeps us ahead of schedule.”

3. Replace “It might be dumb, but…” with “Here’s an opportunity I see.”

❌ Old:

“This might be silly…”

✔️ New:

“There’s an opportunity here to improve team flow.”

🧠 Inner Shift Challenge:

For the next 5 days, write down every internal or external phrase you catch that downplays your value.

Then rewrite it using the structure above. This is small work that leads to seismic shifts.

💬 Executive Coaching Corner

Weekly Wisdom: 

“How do I stop mentally shrinking when I’m surrounded by executives?”

Answer: Rewire what your brain labels as “danger.”

Feeling out of place in strategic spaces is normal at first. But here’s the reframe:

“You’re not intruding. You’re evolving.”

Here’s how to stay centered in high-stakes rooms:

Use Future Framing

Ask: “What would the executive version of me do right now?”

Then do that.

Breathe from the Belly

When nerves hit, your breath gets shallow. Inhale into your belly (not chest) for 3 seconds before speaking.

Say This Phrase (Even Silently)

“I belong here because I add strategic value.”

Every time you choose to believe that, your posture, tone, and presence shift.

And so does how people respond to you.

📌 Closing Note

The thoughts you rehearse are the future you create.

Strategic leadership isn’t just about big presentations or perfect emails.

It’s about micro-decisions, like how you speak, when you speak, and most of all, how you speak to yourself.

You already belong in the room.

Now it’s time to believe it.

EA-Pros Team