I get asked this question a lot: What’s the one thing you do differently than other executives?
Most people expect me to talk about strategy frameworks or data models.
Instead, I tell them about thank-you notes and calendar magicians.
Let me explain.
Signature Move #1: Honor the Executive Assistants
When I start a new engagement, before I meet a single VP or attend my first steering committee, I reach out to every executive assistant.
I send them thank-you notes before they’ve done anything for me. I host a call just for them and I tell them something they rarely hear: I see the magic you do. I understand your work is hard. And I appreciate you.
Why?
Because executive assistants are the power behind the power.
They’re the unsung heroes who make the impossible work. They get you in front of the right people, make room on impossible calendars, and quietly orchestrate the ballet of corporate decision-making.
And during Executive Assistant Day? I don’t just treat my EA. I treat all of them.
Signature Move #2: Go All the Way Down
Here’s the second thing that catches people off guard:
When I’m establishing a strategy, I dedicate the first four months to one-on-ones. Not just with executives or stakeholders. I go all the way down to analysts and junior analysts.
Senior leaders are sometimes surprised to see me booking time with entry-level team members.
“Why are you talking to analysts?” they ask.
My answer is simple: Because they’re the ones doing the work.
They understand where the inefficiencies hide.
Where systems don’t talk to each other.
Where manual workarounds eat up hours nobody sees.
They know what really happens when executive decisions hit the ground floor.
This approach creates something powerful: it bridges the gap between executive perception and grassroots reality.
The steering committees tell me what they think is happening.
The analysts tell me what’s actually happening.
And somewhere in that gap? That’s where the real transformation opportunities live.
Here’s the lesson:
The people you’re not talking to are often the ones who can help you most.
This week, reach out to someone outside your usual circle - someone who makes your work possible or someone who sees the details you might miss.
Ask them what’s working and what’s not. Then actually listen.
You might be surprised by what you learn.
Until next time,
Sol