Hypothetical

[Atlanta Z3]

As a senior executive admin (over 15 years c-level) would you take a position supporting a C-level executive but also support the CEO's executive assistant who has a Director of Administration title? It was made very clear that this would be an assistant assistant position.  The CEO assistant was very upfront and said she would not take this position that she would consider it a step back in a career.  75/25 split with 75 to C-level executive.
My response at the time was I would consider us a team, but I'm second guessing my response.
Thoughts, comments please.

[claudiamag]

I think ideally everytime you work with someone else, its as a team.  However, in all teams there is always a team leader.

I have a situation similar to what you describe.  I am the higher level assistant and have three other assistants who I work with.  We are a team - but I am the team leader and the final decision is mine.  When a tough question or situation presents itself, they look to me for guidance and follow my lead.  This may sound kind like I'm giving out orders and telling them what to do, and its mostly true , but I am also the person ultimately responsible when when things go wrong.  I have the most experience and knowledge of the four of us, I am the one that the boss comes to and expects answers.  Yes, I am the one that gets the talking to first whenever we drop the ball on something   

The other assistants knew that this is how this team works before they accepted the job and were more than happy to have someone else be the leader.  We used to have two other assistants before who where not so happy with the set-up and it really created a lot of problems for the rest of us.  In the end, they decided to either leave the company or change positions and worked out well for all.

[Katie G]

"...the CEO's executive assistant who has a Director of Administration title..."

There are executive assistants and executive assistants.  During my teaching days, in my district, what everyone else calls a Vice Principal had the title Executive Assistant.  In many respects, he worked almost completely independently of the Principal, checking in with the big picture stuff, but not bothering with minutiae.  He was much more an executive than an assistant.

If that's the case here, where the EA is more an executive than an assistant, then I don't know that I'd call it a step back, but I'd make darn sure that 75/25 split was truly feasible.  If the EA turns out to need a lot more support than 25% of the admin's time, they he/she should probably have his/her own person.  That would be my concern rather than who's who in the pecking order.  I've been caught in the "shared" position more than once and it's always been a problem.

IF, however, this is not the case, and the EA is more of an admin support role, then yes, I might hesitate to take that position.  (Unless, of course, I'm facing redundancy or really need the job.)

[peaches2160]

No.   I do not think I would consider it.