The Whole Assistant Podcast

By Annie CronerBusiness Education Self-Improvement How To Careers

The Whole Assistant Podcast episodes

July 03, 2025 7 Years of Growth
This week marks the 7 year anniversary of Whole Assistant. Listen in as Annie shares the origin story, key highlights of the journey, and where we’re going next.

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
20 min
June 26, 20255 Habits of Exceptionally Efficient Executive Assistants
Are you always busy as an assistant but still feel like you’re not getting ahead? Do you wish you could be more efficient and less stressed in your role?

In this episode of the Whole Assistant Podcast, I share the five essential habits that make executive assistants exceptionally efficient. You’ll get practical tips to streamline your day, manage your time better, communicate clearly, and set yourself up as a true strategic partner to your executive.

In this episode, you will learn:
How to create systems that boost your productivity
Ways to ruthlessly prioritize what really matters
How to communicate clearly and showcase your value proposition
Smart time management habits—and when to ask for help

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
19 min
June 19, 2025Why "Nice" Isn't Always Kind
Do you ever keep quiet at work just to avoid an uncomfortable conversation, even when you know something needs to be said?

In this episode of the Whole Assistant Podcast, I dive into the nuanced difference between simply being “nice” and genuinely being “kind” in our roles as executive support professionals. I encourage you to explore the impact your choices can have for both your executive and yourself, and consider what it really means to show up with integrity and compassion in your daily work.

In this episode, you will discover:
Why "nice" and "kind" are not the same, and how confusing the two can undermine your impact as an assistant.
How to handle uncomfortable but necessary conversations (including practical tips for speaking up with empathy and clarity).
The vital role honest feedback and boundary-setting play in building lasting professional trust.
Ways to discern when to lean into kindness (even if it’s awkward) and when being nice is the right move for the situation.

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
13 min
June 12, 2025Letting Go of Overthinking with Savanna Symons
Do you ever catch yourself overthinking?

In this episode, I sit down with life and leadership coach Savannah Simons to tackle the real impact overthinking has on high-achieving professionals. We break down why it happens, the hidden costs that go beyond productivity, and how you can finally let go of those exhausting mental spirals.

Together, we share practical tools and personal experiences to help you find real calm, even in the most demanding roles.

In this episode, you will discover:
Why overthinking is so common for executive assistants, and how it quietly undermines your energy, productivity, and well-being
The physical and emotional consequences of chronic rumination
How to interrupt the overthinking cycle
Grounding and somatic techniques to get out of your head and back into your body, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence

If you’re ready to stop negotiating with your anxious thoughts and start feeling more calm and in control, you won’t want to miss this one!

Check out Savanna Symons' website HERE
Follow Savanna Symons on Linkedin HERE
Follow Savanna Symons on Instagram HERE

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
35 min
June 05, 2025The Power of Being The Odd Person Out
If you ever find yourself sitting in a room full of decision-makers and thinking, “Is my voice needed here?” you’re not alone.
In this episode, I discuss the reality of being "the odd person out" in the room—especially as an executive assistant—and why that’s actually your greatest superpower. Together, we explore the value of your unique perspective, and how to find your voice even when it’s uncomfortable. From real-life stories to practical mindset shifts, this is an empowering pep talk for any assistant who’s ready to have an influential presence.
In this episode, you will discover:
How your different viewpoint makes you invaluable in meetings and to your executive.
Why owning your presence and speaking up—even when it feels uncomfortable—can change the game for you and your team.
Tangible strategies to ground yourself, embrace visibility, and cultivate executive presence.

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
17 min
May 29, 20254 Personal Development Books You Simply Must Read
Are you looking for a great book to read?

In this episode of The Whole Assistant Podcast, I step away from tactical strategies and share the four personal development books that I just can’t stop recommending. These books have the power to transform your habits, confidence, negotiation skills, and your ability to handle tough relationships at work.

I share exactly why each one has made a real impact for me and my clients, and how you can use them to become more empowered and effective.

In this episode, you will discover:
Why “Atomic Habits” by James Clear is a must-read for anyone serious about making meaningful changes through small, powerful shifts.
How “The Confidence Code” unlocks the science behind confidence and gives you practical tools to overcome self-doubt and societal biases, especially as a woman in the workplace.
The way “Ask for It” can help you master the art (and science!) of negotiation, empowering you to ask for—and get—what you want.
How “Getting Along” by Amy Gallo gives you actionable advice to handle all those tricky people at work, breaking things down by archetype for real-world clarity.
Plus, a bonus book you can hand to your executive to help make the case for why they need to start letting go!
Ready to load up your reading list and supercharge your growth? Let’s dive in!

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
11 min
May 22, 2025Why Executive Presence Matters (Especially as an EA)
🎯 Executive presence isn’t reserved for those in the corner office. 🤯

In this episode of the Whole Assistant Podcast, I break down what executive presence really means, why it’s crucial for success, and how you can develop it, even if you’re more comfortable in the background. I get real about confidence, clarity, emotional intelligence, and influence—sharing practical ways to cultivate these skills so you can strengthen trust, elevate your credibility, and make a powerful impact every single day.

In this episode, you will discover:
What executive presence actually is—and why it matters for executive assistants (not just executives!)
How confidence, clarity, emotional intelligence, and influence form the foundation of true executive presence
Practical strategies to show up with authority and composure, even if you’re an introvert or “behind the scenes” type
Tips to reflect on and practice executive presence, from communication style to wardrobe choices

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
14 min
May 15, 2025When Life Gets Messy
In this honest and vulnerable episode, I pull back the curtain on my own life to share what it’s been like navigating a major life transition, and the raw, messy emotions that come with them. I reflect on why authenticity sometimes matters more than consistency, what it means to truly go through difficult seasons instead of around them, and how embracing discomfort can help you harness the greatest growth. I share the key lessons I’m learning along the way, in hopes they’ll help you handle your own messy seasons with more self-compassion and purpose.
In this episode, you will discover:
How to go through life’s hard moments (instead of avoiding them) to maximize learning and growth
Strategies for sitting with discomfort, processing difficult emotions, and letting yourself truly grieve and heal
The importance of self-awareness and allowing both yourself and others to navigate their own realities
----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
11 min
April 18, 2025 An Invitation...
Please join us! Enrollment for Leveled-Up is currently open but closes this Friday, April 25 at 11:59 pm MDT.
You shouldn't have to settle for less in your executive assistant role. Leveled-up is for you if you want a roadmap to take your career to the next level.
Here's the link to learn more.
Here's the link to a template requesting employer sponsorship.
3 min
April 03, 2025Ask Annie Anything: Raises & Resentment
In this episode, Annie answers a listener's question about the common struggle of balancing unexpected duties with your primary role and whether or not you should ask for a pay increase.

You will discover:
How to talk to your leader about adjusting your scope of work
Why it's important to know if your job expectations are aligned with your own goals and if it might be time for a change
The potential pitfalls of asking for a pay raise without addressing the core issues causing job dissatisfaction

----------------------------------------------

CLICK HERE to register for my free masterclass 👉🏽 "Unlock Your Executive Assistant Badassery: Three Steps to Developing Your Strategic Partnership."

----------------------------------------------

Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Are you ready to show up more strategically in your role, and gain clarity on your executive's priorities? Grab my FREE Strategic Planning Session guide and learn how to hold consistent strategic planning sessions with your executive.

This will help you:
- Prepare and execute your strategic planning session
- Enhance trust with your executive & gain clarity around their goals
- Form a more strategic partnership & increase your fulfillment

Grab your free guide here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Book your free coaching discovery call.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send Me an Email: [email protected]
11 min

About The Whole Assistant Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Whole Assistant Podcast! I’m your host Annie Croner. I’m a former assistant who is passionate about the profession, and a certified coach who is invested in your success. You’ve come to…