Is there anything more important for an executive than to stay on schedule and manage time effectively? I doubt it. That’s why the role of a secretary or executive assistant is one of the most important members within an organization. Each and every appointment, meeting, phone call, or other calendared items are only to be scheduled by you. If meeting has to be cancelled or rescheduled, you make the changes. Your boss may want to add a task — make sure it goes through you. The less hands touching the executive calendar the better. Too many people adding and editing a schedule can cause the calendar to become cluttered, confusing. This can lead to conflicts like double-booking or dropping something important.

In short, you are the gatekeeper of your executive’s calendar.