Gone are the days when Personal and Executive Assistants worked solely behind the scenes. Today, assistants are seen as strategic partners who help drive business goals, streamline operations, and shape how organizations move forward.
One of the most impactful ways to grow in your role is by understanding and contributing to strategic planning.
What Is Strategic Planning?
Strategic planning is the process of defining an organization’s direction and making decisions on allocating resources to pursue that direction. It involves setting goals, identifying actions, anticipating risks, and measuring success.
It typically answers the questions:
- Where are we now?
- Where do we want to go?
- How will we get there?
- How will we know we’re successful?
While executives usually lead strategic planning, assistants play a critical supporting role—and sometimes even help shape the direction behind the scenes.
Why Strategic Planning Matters for PAs and EAs
As a trusted assistant, you are uniquely positioned to contribute to your organization’s strategy in meaningful ways. Here’s how:
- Bringing Structure to Vision
Executives often think big, but need help translating vision into actionable plans. Your planning, organizing, and coordination skills can:
- Break down strategic goals into tasks
- Build timelines and workflows
- Keep track of progress
- Connecting the Dots
You interact with multiple departments, projects, and people. This gives you insight into how things actually work. Strategic planning needs:
- Grounded, operational input
- Real-world awareness of bottlenecks and resources
- Awareness of internal strengths and challenges
- Supporting Execution
Strategy without execution is just a dream. Assistants help ensure plans don’t sit on a shelf by:
- Monitoring milestones
- Following up on deadlines
- Keeping leadership informed
- Driving Personal Growth
When you understand the strategic “why” behind your tasks, your role shifts from task-based to purpose-driven—making your contributions more visible and valuable.
How Assistants Can Contribute to Strategic Planning
Even if you’re not leading strategy sessions, you can still have a meaningful impact:
- Prepare Pre-Meeting Research
Summarize data, trends, and performance reports that support informed decisions. - Create Planning Documents
Help build timelines, Gantt charts, and project plans aligned with strategic goals. - Schedule Strategic Reviews
Assist with creating regular check-in points for leadership to revisit and refine plans. - Keep the Team Focused
During meetings, help track discussion topics, note action items, and follow up. - Document Key Decisions
Ensure all strategic decisions are recorded and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
Strategic Planning in Action
Here’s a simple 5-step framework you can support or even help facilitate:
- Assess – What’s working? What’s not?
- Set Goals – What are the top priorities for the next 6–12 months?
- Identify Actions – What steps are needed to achieve each goal?
- Assign Owners – Who is responsible for what?
- Track & Adjust – Monitor progress and adapt as needed
How to Build Strategic Planning Skills
- Ask Questions
Understand the “why” behind tasks. Why is this project important? How does it align with the company’s goals? - Study Strategy Basics
There are many free resources online that explain strategic models like SWOT, SMART goals, OKRs, and more. - Get Involved
Ask to sit in on strategy meetings and offer support—note-taking, timekeeping, or even contributing ideas. - Reflect and Align
Look at your current responsibilities and ask: which of these supports strategic goals? Where could I take more initiative?
In Summary
Strategic planning isn’t just for executives in corner offices. When assistants understand and support strategy, they become invaluable team members—trusted, respected, and essential to success.
By building your strategic awareness and skills, you grow into a more proactive, thoughtful, and future-focused version of your professional self.
