On Friday, 8th August, over 120 Executive and Business Assistants from around the world joined us live for a powerful masterclass on one of the most requested topics in our community: complex problem solving.
Led by Chris Coleman, Senior Manager at Baringa Partners and MBA graduate from Imperial College London, this session was designed to help assistants think more strategically, communicate with impact, and tackle workplace challenges with clarity and confidence. And wow, the response proved just how crucial this skill is.
Why This Session Mattered
At The Assistant Room, everything we do is built around what our members ask for. For 8 years and counting, we’ve held fast to an open-door policy: if our community tells us they need it, we make it happen.
This masterclass was no exception. Assistants told us they’re increasingly asked to “just figure it out” with little to no direction. They’re supporting senior leaders, juggling shifting priorities, and expected to solve problems under pressure.
So, we delivered a session with real tools, real strategy, and a real expert, opening our doors not just to our members, but to the wider community, to showcase what modern professional development should look like.
Chris brought a wealth of knowledge from his work advising global organisations on operational, digital, and cultural transformation. His core message? Problem solving isn’t just about fixing things. It’s about thinking like a consultant, prioritising with purpose, and showing your impact.
3 Key Takeaways You Can Use Now
We covered a lot in just one hour but here are three game-changing takeaways assistants walked away with:
1. Use the Right Tool for the Right Problem
From quick “Just Do It” fixes to complex A3 problem-solving methods, Chris explained how to match your approach to the scale and complexity of the challenge.
2. Prioritise What Matters Most
Learn how to use frameworks like the Impact vs. Effort matrix to decide where to focus your time and energy; and when to escalate issues outside of your control.
3. Showcase Your Impact
It’s not just about solving the problem, it’s about documenting it, measuring the outcome, and communicating your success to senior leaders. Assistants who do this are the ones who get noticed.
And that’s just the start. There’s so much more we covered; from stakeholder management, root cause analysis, and standardising repeatable tasks, to real-world tools for measuring success and justifying higher salaries.
Want More Sessions Like This?
What our attendees experienced in this masterclass is just one part of what our members receive on a regular basis. As a member of The Assistant Room, you’ll get:
- Expert-led sessions just like this, every month including a recording of every session we have ever held (including this one!)
- Full access to our PA Concierge Desk
- Invitations to hundreds of in-person networking events around the world
- Access to our private global community and on-demand resource library
If you’re serious about growing your career and showing up as a strategic, high-impact assistant, we’d love to welcome you into the community. Click here to find out more and become a member.
Want to Work With Chris?
If this session or anything in this article struck a chord, and you know there are deeper challenges or opportunities within your organisation that need solving, Chris and his team at Baringa are the people to speak to.
Whether it’s process improvement, operational transformation, or embedding a continuous improvement mindset in your team, they’ve supported some of the biggest companies in the world, and they can support you too.
Click here to connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to him directly if you think he can help you and your organisation move forward!