Hello from Texas - Back into the E.A. role

[murphy]

Once upon a time I was an Executive Assistant for a very large and renowned company in Germany. I remained an EA for approximately 10 years and then moved into management and from management left the company to work in other managerial positions. After several years of traveling and realizing I was tired of managing but rather manage someone else, I decided to start working in an EXTREMELY tiny office for the owner, president, CFO and CEO of our company (he's all in one). LOL
So now I've been here a month. My days are spent practically doing nothing and I cannot seem to get a grasp on my boss. I've tried to get him to give me something, with no avail and he's not the best communicator. I often find him leaving important things out or just being extremely vague and then he's wondering why I didn't think like him. It's an adjustment period. My biggest issue is trying to figure him out. Trying to make his life easier but I don't know what he likes or doesn't and I've tried to have the conversation but I feel like I'm learning it all the hard way. NOT TO MENTION he comes out of an EXTREMELY wealthy family and for some reason, I guess he feels that his life is everyone's life. Like when he and his buddies went on his buddies plane, he wanted directions to another person's ranch in a small town and I had looked at the airport and reviewed it and then made the directions but I had no clue that they landed in a totally different part of the airport which meant the directions were totally off because they didn't fly in like the others. I should have guessed and thought about it, but I didn't because none of my past bosses ever had their own planes.
He also get's these phone calls and I'm still not sure who these people are. I have been wondering who the top 20 people are on his list of people he wants me to put through his phone line, but I'm not sure and he still hasn't taken the time to sit with me. HE just keeps saying, I'm sure you know how this works. I also made the mistake that last Friday mail came in for an event that I didn't think he would be remotely interested in. Another huge honcho wanted to meet up with him and my boss made it into such an ordeal of flying through fire for this guy that I declined the charity. I was baffled that he told me that he would have cancelled to attend this meeting that was some luncheon for an event because he was buddies with the guy. Learned my lesson, but then the other event that I sent him an email on from a renowned company, he practically bit my head off that he doesn't have time to respond to me about those invitations. I don't know, feeling like I'm not doing rocket science for this to be so difficult. How can I rectify and what are some tips that everyone has on figuring out their priorities. In a nutshell, feeling like maybe management would be the best thing to get back into. I want to give this a chance because I enjoy it, but he's not making it easy and it's starting to make me doubt what I thought were great skills. 

One month in and starting to feel regrets -

Texas

[sanpet]

I can SO relate!  If nothing else, I can say you are not alone.  I have been with this company..... just under 3 years.  Everything has been good, the CEO came to me and asked if I would like to move up and work with him.  I know the personality and thought.. if i say no, then he is going to look at me as.. I don't like the company or him (take it personally) so I felt I HAD to say yes.  In the weeks since, I have thought.. ok I know what I am getting into, the personality quirks, etc. I am a good work   Ok two days into the new job and i KNOW I should have followed my gut instincts and stayed where I was at.  I went from being the person who steps in and being appreciated and helps all within two days I feel I am the unorganized, can't do anything right admin (I DO things right...)  I am already regretting accepting this position.  We clicked before, but since starting.. things just aren't going smooth.  I can't get the time to figure out how i can help, I can't get answers, I know we are supposed to read minds, but you know.. there is some guidance you need first!  It is actually making me doubt my abilities, which I havent done since I was young.   It has to get better, within two days, I am not wanting to go to work and just dread the next day.

[claudiamag]

Once upon a time, earlier in my career, I worked for someone like this and I understand how incredibly frustrating it can be.

I honestly think its just a learning period.  You've only been there for a month, give it some time.  You are still learning his style.  However, you have to remember he is learning as much as you are, probably more since it sounds like he's never had an assistant before and was used to doing everything himself.  He probably doesn't realize he's not sharing as much information with you as you need.  You are basically going to have to guide him through the process of having and using an assistant and communicating with that person.  Believe me, its not easy but it can definitely be done.   

Its going to take a lot of patience on your part, but I would continue trying to open up the channels of communication with him.  Sooner or later he will catch on and realize how much easier his life is going to be if he actually utilizes your skill and reliquishes some of his workload to you.  It will probably happen very slowly, but it will eventually happen.  I'm sure after a while, you'll get a better footing in your new position.  You know that person I mentioned that I worked for at the in the past?  We got to be totally in synch with each other and I ended up working for him for about 6 years!  Actually we are still good friends and talk to each other at least once a month (we are both in different countries now).  Good luck!

[peaches2160]

Seven years ago, I too was asked to work for an executive, the head of our dept.  after giving it some thought I interviewed and accepted the role.  During the first 3 mos I was challenged....to say the least.  For the life of me, nothing would go right. The harder I tried, the worse it got.  He sensed my frustration and called me into his office.  We had a talk.  He realized there was a lot I was trying to grasp, and that his previous asst had actually set me up to fail.  He also realized we needed to communicate and that day was the turning point.  7 yrs later, I am still his asst and we have become a very good team.  Give it time, schedule weekly "catch up" meetings.  Have a list of items that are hot.  A project timetable of the hot items will keep you both in sync.  It takes time to learn habits, likes and dislikes, contacts, etc. 

[murphy]

I wanted to thank everyone for their feedback. While we are still adjusting; I do try to be more patient. He's just a different animal and the job itself is a lot different then I previously had. Not difficult; but he is more difficult to read. I just keep reminding him that I can't read his mind and that I am making all the mental notes and writing down all of his preferences.