Monique Helstrom

Assistants: if you want better answers, you need better questions. This is a skill, and it’s one you can build quickly.

The easier you make it for them to respond, the more likely you are to get what you need—especially when you’re dealing with someone who is short on time or attention.

One of the books I recommend over and over again to both Executives and Assistants is "Getting to Yes" by William Ury and Roger Fisher.

Because the truth is: your partnership is one long negotiation.
Not in a manipulative, “win at all costs” kind of way—in a human way.

You’re constantly negotiating:
→ priorities
→ timelines
→ communication styles
→ boundaries
→ expectations
→ feedback
→ and sometimes…whose version of “urgent” is actually urgent 😅

What I love about this book is that it completely reframes negotiation from “someone has to lose” into “how do we solve the problem together?”

A few concepts that completely changed the way I approach communication:
✅ Separate the people from the problem
✅ Focus on interests, not positions
✅ Use objective criteria instead of emotion-driven reactions
✅ Look for mutual gain instead of keeping score

Honestly, if more executive/assistant partnerships approached conflict this way, we’d avoid SO many unnecessary breakdowns in trust and communication.

This book is especially powerful if:
→ you struggle with hard conversations
→ you avoid conflict until it explodes
→ you feel misunderstood at work
→ you’re trying to build a stronger partnership dynamic
→ or you simply want to communicate with more clarity and less defensiveness

Communication is a skill. Negotiation is a skill. Partnership is a skill.
None of us are born magically knowing how to do this well.

And if you’ve ever heard me speak, you already know I believe communication is one of the biggest factors in the success or failure of our careers and relationships.

10/10 recommendation. Add this one to your summer reading list. (Bonus points if you read it together!)

April and May were an absolute whirlwind in the best possible way.

Speaking engagements. Team trainings. CliftonStrengths workshops. Communication coaching. Executive/assistant partnership work. Recruiting. Career coaching. AI workshops. A little bit of everything.

And down to my soul, I love operating this way.

I know it comes from my years as an EA. Most high-performing assistants aren’t built to stare at the same spreadsheet for 9 hours straight doing one repetitive task forever. (Barf 🤢) We like movement, problem-solving, variety, context switching, building things, fixing things, helping people, then moving to the next challenge.

So while the pace can get intense, I genuinely love the range of work I get to do now. One day I’m helping an executive stop unintentionally steamrolling their assistant, the next I’m coaching an EA through burnout or confidence issues. Then I’m on stage teaching communication or AI strategy.

No two weeks look the same around here.
And honestly, I wouldn’t want them to!

Do you prefer the constant change of pace and tasks in your work? Or are you a little more routine oriented?

You can hire:
✅ a smart assistant
✅ a proactive assistant
✅ a highly experienced assistant

…and they will STILL fail if:

→ they don’t have access
→ they don’t have context
→ they don’t have clear expectations
→ they don’t have consistent time with you

If this is your second or third assistant in a short period of time…
it might be time to stop evaluating the people and start evaluating the system.

(Need help evaluating said system? I can help with that: https://www.moniquehelstrom.com/contact)

These are just SOME of the AI tools that can help you move faster, think smarter, and stay ahead.

If it feels overwhelming, start with one, master it, then layer in more.
That’s how you go from helpful assistant to strategic partner.

If you still don't know where to start, my friend Tal Goldhamer and I built a course to help EAs get the jump on using AI.
Check the link in the comments!

But PLEASE HEAR ME:
AI tools are powerful, but they don’t replace context, judgment, or partnership.

Tools can support your work—
but your ability to communicate and think strategically is what makes that work valuable.

The best assistants I know aren’t afraid of AI, because they know it can't replace them.

They’re using it to:
✅ move faster
✅ capture more
✅ communicate better
✅ and create space for higher-level thinking

(Assistants—what tools are you using right now? Drop them below 👇 Let’s build the list.)

If you’ve been watching this CID Design Group role and thinking, “I should apply…” — this is your sign.
I’m getting close to the point where I’ll start narrowing hard and moving candidates forward.

This is an on-site EA role in Bonita Springs, FL with a values-driven team and a high-performing leader. They need someone who is:
• calm, grounded, and unflappable
• quick and clear in communication
• proactive and organized
• willing to do whatever needs doing (no ego)

If you want to be someone’s true right hand and build a long-term partnership, apply before this closes.

Must live within a reasonable commute to Bonita Springs and be comfortable working on-site Monday–Friday.

$90–99k + benefits.

Apply here: https://recruitcrm.io/jobs/OnPointJobs

Thank you so much for the kind words, Sarah! This truly means a lot, especially coming from you.

Sarah is not only an incredible Executive Assistant, but the founder of APN and someone who is constantly elevating this profession and the people in it.

Knowing that something I shared is still being put into practice two years later… that’s the goal.

Challenge + inspiration + real application.

That’s the work!

Need a speaker for your next event? I'd love to be there! Find out more about my keynotes and workshops here: https://www.moniquehelstrom.com/speaking