We’re in the middle of setting up our new office in Noida, and if you’ve ever built out a space from scratch, you know the decisions never stop coming. The space covers 37,000 square feet on a single floor, and every corner of it needed a choice, from wood stains and lighting to flooring and which walls would be gray and which would be wood. (I even asked for every wall on the floor to be uniquely numbered, which tells you just how detailed this process got.)
Rency traveled with me for the buildout, and I honestly don’t know how I would have managed it without her. I lovingly call her my chief reminding officer, and on this trip she earned the title many times over. She kept every one of my decisions organized, knew what needed to go where, and made sure the right details reached the right people, so I could focus on the bigger picture instead of trying to hold hundreds of small choices in my head.
She also stepped into her usual role as my gatekeeper. Whenever I’m in India, everyone has something important to share, and I genuinely want to hear all of it, so it’s very easy to get carried away. Rency makes sure I meet everyone’s priorities while still protecting my time and my mental energy. (I’d like to say I always appreciate this in the moment, but I’ll admit I appreciate it most on the flight home.)
My dear friend John Maxwell talks about his assistant, Linda, as a true business partner rather than someone who simply manages his calendar. She sits right in the middle of his communication, knows everything he needs to know, and walks out of every meeting with the follow-ups so he can walk out with his focus. When I heard him describe that partnership, I immediately thought of Rency, because that’s exactly what a great team member does for a leader.
It all comes back to having the right Who’s, the people who can own a problem so you don’t have to. I’m lucky to have great leaders across ITBD, and most decisions now get made by the right people without ever reaching me. Things still find their way to my desk, though, and that’s where Rency shines, because she knows exactly where each one should go. Sometimes that’s a leader in the company, and sometimes it’s one of my boys at home who needs something from Mom. (I’m still not sure which of those requires more diplomacy, but she handles both beautifully.)
Having someone quarterback for you is key. Without it, every question, approval, and small fire lands at your door, and before long you’re spending your day on problems someone else could solve just as well (or, let’s be honest, better). With the right person directing traffic, every issue reaches the right hands, and you get to focus on the decisions that truly need you.
That focus matters more than most leaders realize, because your best thinking needs space. Having Rency beside me during the Noida buildout meant I could make thoughtful decisions about a space our team will work in for years, instead of rushing through them while juggling everything else.
Not every leader has an executive assistant, and that’s OK. The role can be filled by a chief of staff, a trusted second in command, or any team member who understands where you’re headed and helps carry the details. What matters is having someone you trust enough to hold the pieces so you can hold the vision.
If you already have a team member like this, take a moment this week to tell them what a difference they make, and if you don’t, start looking for the person who can stand beside you as a true partner, because the right person in that seat will make every part of your job lighter.
