Ep86: Getting Clear on What You’re Actually Responsible For

January often starts with good intentions. New plans, new priorities, and a quiet expectation that you’ll somehow be more organised, more productive, and more on top of everything than ever before.In this episode, Nicky Christmas kicks off the 2026 season of The EA Campus Podcast by tackling something foundational for Executive Assistants. Clarity around responsibility.This episode is about the day-to-day reality of the EA role. The tasks that quietly creep in. The decisions you’re expected to make without authority. The mental load of holding context, chasing actions, and keeping everything moving. And how all of that shapes how productive, effective, and confident you feel in your role.You’ll hear:Why responsibility often expands without anyone deliberately deciding it shouldThe three types of responsibility most EAs carry, whether they realise it or notHow unclear responsibility affects productivity, expectation setting, and your day-to-day workloadWhat an alignment conversation with your executive actually looks like, and how to structure it using real examples rather than vague feelingsA simple responsibility reset exercise you can do this week to get clearer on what you own, what’s shared, and what needs a conversationNicky also references several EA Campus resources during the episode, which you can explore here:Job description and role clarity resources: https://theeacampus.com/tag/career-development/ https://theeacampus.com/resources/job-description/EA task and competency lists: https://theeacampus.com/resources/task-list/Tools and tech masterclasses: https://theeacampus.com/masterclass/Virtual Summit taking place on 27 January: https://theeacampus.com/virtual-summit/This episode sets the tone for the year ahead. Before new tools, new systems, or new productivity frameworks, it starts with clarity. Because knowing what you’re responsible for is the foundation for how you work, how you partner with your executive, and what a good day actually looks like.If this episode resonates, share it with another EA who might need it right now, and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s coming next. The EA Campus