Top-performing EAs know that success isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about connection. Building social capital means cultivating relationships, trust, and influence that extend far beyond your immediate team. It’s one of the most valuable skills an EA can develop, and it can transform both your impact and your executive’s success.
What is “Social Capital”?
Social capital is the ability to build networks, relationships, and trust that help you achieve meaningful results. For EAs, it’s about creating bridges within your organization and beyond that expand your influence and make collaboration easier.
1. Effectiveness
Developing networks and relationships of trust allows an EA to accomplish far more than those who stand on the sidelines, or worse, work in a silo. If you need to collaborate or ask for help/guidance, EAs who have built social capital are ahead of those who haven’t. Giving guidance is better received when EAs have put the work into developing the relationships and trust of others.
2. Outside connections
Any EA that works with booking outside meetings, fundraising, travel, etc., knows that networking with EAs in other companies and locales can be a lifesaver when it comes to travel. Finding the perfect venue, restaurant, hotel, or R&R for your teams will help to ensure a successful trip, especially for Board meetings or fundraising road shows.
Additionally, if you’ve built relationships with EAs in other companies, when they are looking for a new hire, you potentially already have an “in”. In this scenario, the likelihood of standing out is increased exponentially!
Where Do You Start?
Unfortunately, many assistants overlook this skill or aren’t sure where to start when it comes to networking. To build momentum, focus on small, consistent actions that foster trust and connection.
Regular 1:1s
Start with 1 every week for 30 minutes, ideally in person. Engage, build relationships, and go to coffee. Walking 1:1s are great for really having frank conversations.
Do these on a regular cadence, both with your executives’ direct reports and your peers.
Be a Sounding Board
Be the person others know they can turn to for help. When you offer support, you build goodwill — and people are far more likely to return the favor when you need it. Just remember to set clear boundaries. Helping doesn’t mean taking on extra work; it can simply mean offering guidance or showing others how to handle a task on their own.
Gain Trust
Offer proactive guidance to those in your organization on how to work effectively with you, your executive, and other teams to achieve shared goals. If you notice gaps or missteps (for example, a presentation that’s missing key details your CEO expects), speak up early. Clarify what your executive is looking for and how they prefer information to be presented. Providing that insight not only prevents frustration later but also builds trust and positions you as a reliable advisor.
Increase Success
Make social capital a core part of how you work — not an afterthought. The more relationships you build, the smoother your collaborations become and the faster work gets done. Connection is efficiency, and every new contact strengthens your ability to deliver results.
