Automation and AI as an EA - Threat or Tool?
How to Get in Front of the Technology and Own it for the Benefit of Your Career
If you are in the Administrative Professionals profession, you've likely encountered alarming stories and statistics about AI and automation, predicting that these technologies will replace the EA/Admin role.
While it's true that automation will impact some positions, it won't affect all. Those who will thrive in this profession are those who can get ahead of these changes, manage them, and use them to enhance, rather than end, their careers.
Industry Forecast
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)1, the administrative profession is expected to decline by 10% by 2032. However, there are still over 300,000 job postings annually for administrative professional roles.
A recent study2 estimates that 37.5% of office and administrative support jobs are at high risk for automation. These numbers may seem bleak, but they highlight a critical need for current and future administrative professionals to increase their value.
Adapting to Change
In 1988, a New York Times article3 discussed the evolving role of secretaries, noting that only 42% of them worked on computers at that time. The key takeaway then, as it is now, was the necessity to continually update and enhance your skill set as new technologies emerge.
I often encounter three types of people in the profession:
Those who are scared of being left behind.
Those unaware that they might be left behind.
Those in denial about being left behind.
We can assist those in the first two groups. However, those in the third group are at a real risk of unemployment or underemployment if they maintain the attitude that their current knowledge is sufficient.
No one knows everything about this role—it is constantly evolving. To climb the career ladder, you must learn more, automate more, and lead more.
Ensuring Your Future
So, how can you ensure that you won't be left behind or automated out of a job?
Own the Automation
Be the one who sees the value in automation, brings it into the company, and takes on higher-performing projects instead of routine tasks.
While many tasks can be automated, some, such as managing the calendar for C-suite executives, require a nuanced understanding of company priorities that an automated system cannot provide. For more consistent tasks, like scheduling for large teams, tools like Calendly can be highly effective.
Project Management
EAs are increasingly expected to own projects rather than just participate in them. Training in project management is crucial to handle this new aspect of the role successfully.
Data Analysis
Another vital skill for administrative professionals is data analysis. To become a true partner for your executive, you must understand and interpret data, understand its impact on your company and industry, and be able to question it.
The administrative profession will become leaner and more profitable for those who embrace growth and adaptation.
Will you take on the challenge?
Sources:
2.https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf
3. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/27/business/a-changing-world-for-secretaries.html
