Assistants are the Secret Force Driving Company Culture

Executives and managers are often credited with shaping a company's culture. But much of what holds it together happens behind the scenes. Who’s taking on this task? You guessed it: Executive Assistants. 

It’s a common misconception that Executive Assistants mostly manage calendar and emails. But that’s not all they do. When you delegate your email to an assistant, they interpret your tone and reflect your priorities in every exchange. These choices influence how the rest of the company speaks and reacts. 

You create company culture in small, everyday moments. Assistants impact how leaders stay connected with their teams. Over time, this often invisible influence shapes how the company perceives itself and communicates its message. 

5 Ways Assistants Influence and Sustain Company Culture 

Company culture doesn’t grow from mission statements or quarterly meetings. It takes shape through daily choices, many made by assistants. Their impact connects leadership’s vision with the team’s everyday experience, turning shared values into lived workplace habits. 

Here are some ways in which these secret heroes establish corporate culture. 

1. Gatekeeping and Tone Setting 

Every company has its own rhythm, and assistants often set the tempo. They decide who reaches the leader, when conversations occur, and how those exchanges are conducted. That control sets expectations for the entire organization. It determines who gets access and what tone defines professional interaction.2024 Gallup survey

Executive assistants can be compared to lighthouse keepers. They filter information before it reaches the leader’s desk. They keep distractions at bay, allowing leadership to focus on strategy and what truly matters, saving precious time.

2. Managing Internal Communications and Information Flow

Communication drives culture, and assistants keep that system running. They rewrite, route, and time messages from leaders so every announcement, update, and decision lands correctly.

Many executives admit they were never taught how to communicate clearly or often enough. Poor communication can lead to low employee engagement, an issue highlighted by the 2024 Gallup survey. Right now, only 31% of U.S. employees feel genuinely engaged, which is a ten-year low.

A 2024 report by Grammarly suggests communication is central to the modern workplace. Employees now spend an astonishing 88% of their time on communication. Effective assistants are key. They maintain clear lines, a bridge between leaders and everyone else. 

The best assistants know timing matters as much as content. A message sent on Friday afternoon can be perceived as a burden. The same one received Monday morning can set a positive tone for the week. 

Executive assistants are relatively sheltered from office politics – they can be above it, secure in their protected space. Some use this authority gracefully to counteract tension before it spreads. Their neutrality and discretion is an opportunity to preserve trust.

3. Cultivating Rituals and Social Glue 

It’s common to associate company rituals with annual retreats and holiday parties. But they are also unnoticed repetitive acts. 

Assistants often become the social glue that maintain connections through their support for others. At Lambent Services, this is evident by how clients describe their assistants.

One finance executive said his assistant “takes initiative, is gracious, and, happily, is an excellent problem solver.” This shows how kindness and initiative can be a part of the workplace culture when assistants lead by example. 

Another client, a consulting firm owner, called her assistant “organized, efficient, thoughtful, and smart,” suggesting how considered touches, such as selecting small gifts or personalized stationery, reinforces an overall sense of care for the team.

These actions ultimately shape the larger culture. When an assistant remembers birthdays and celebrates project milestones everyday operations become shared practices. 

As one client said, Lambent assistants “don’t just fill the role, they try to improve your life.” They exhibit the traits of top assistants such as problem-solving, communication, flexibility, attention to detail, and emotional intelligence.

Thoughtful and consistent behavior from an Executive Assistant establishes a company’s norms and improves employees’ lives. 

4. Balancing Morale, Emotional Tone, and Conflict Triage 

Assistants often serve as stabilizers, sensing tension before it reaches the executive level. Their proximity to both leaders and staff alerts them to subtle cues, such as a shift in tone during a meeting or a growing sense of fatigue. They can intervene before problems escalate. Forbes article

Assistants work behind the scenes to keep communication open and maintain workplace balance. Sometimes that can be as simple as recognizing when the team needs a pause and taking the initiative to clarify confusion or meet a need.

When conflicts develop between individuals or teams, assistants often act as discreet mediators. They listen, reframe, or sometimes just listen.

Their insight into both leadership priorities and team dynamics allows them to route sensitive matters with tact. They know when to involve the executive and when to manage the situation independently, preserving relationships and trust.

According to a recent Forbes article on differences between AI and human assistants, companies can’t let go of people because computers cannot make sense of the the thousands of tiny cues that comprise human behavior. And behavior is what drives companies.

In many ways, the Executive Assistant operates as an ambassador for leadership. They interpret and transmit the executive’s tone and vision in everyday interactions. Because they are associated with your power, assistants become your partners in setting company culture. Over time, the rest of the team will begin to adopt their habits. If they do something as simple as greeting everyone cheerfully every morning, others are likely to do the same.

The CEO of the most prominent national racial justice organization was sensitive to this aspect of the Executive Assistant’s job. “I spend a lot of time and energy cultivating positive relationships with my staff. I want my assistant to treat everyone they meet really, really well. I don’t want her to undo what I’ve worked so hard to build. Being the boss does not mean I’m above it. I work for everyone here and she does too. She has to bring my sense of kindness to every interaction. Sometimes I don’t have the time.”

5. Modeling Procedures and Standards 

Company culture shows up in how things get done. A simple example is a calendar invitation that comes with a clear agenda. It shows teams that the company values discipline and respect for time. In an article in MIT Sloan Magazine Spencer Harrison, a professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD, says “Organizational culture is the set of shared values that guide how work gets done.” Effective systems and processes are more important for company culture than lengthy speeches.” 

For a leader whose time is at a premium, this means your assistant becomes one of the most important culture carriers. When you decide to train your assistant in your communication style, you entrust a key employee with understanding your preferences and beliefs around best practices.

Lambent Can Find You the Right Assistant Who Will Enhance Your Company Culture

The right Executive Assistant helps shape your company’s tone, systems, and morale. Lambent connects leaders with exceptional assistants who elevate culture through organization, professionalism and kindness.

Ready to find your perfect match? Request an assistant from Lambent and discover how the right partnership can transform your workplace.