The Art of Anticipating: How to Solve Problems Before They Land on Your Desk

One of the best feelings as an Executive Assistant is solving a problem… before it actually happens. Anticipating at work isn’t magic—it’s a mix of observation, experience, and, above all, attention to detail.

In our role, waiting for a problem to land on your desk usually means it’s already too late, and now you have to rush to fix it. Anticipating, on the other hand, allows you to handle situations calmly and prevent bigger issues.

(real example): Once, while reviewing my boss’s calendar for the following week, I noticed an important meeting scheduled right after an international flight. I knew that flight was often delayed, so I moved the meeting to the afternoon. Sure enough, the flight arrived two hours late, and he still had time to get there, rest, and prepare.

Anticipating at work involves three main things:

1. Spotting patterns: knowing that a certain supplier often delivers late, that a client prefers afternoon meetings, or that traffic is worse at certain times of the year.

2. Asking the right questions: “What could go wrong with this?” and “What should I have ready just in case?”.

3. Staying informed: the more you know about your company, your industry, and your team, the easier it is to foresee problems.

   
   

Proactivity isn’t always visible, but it’s always felt. Many times, no one will know you prevented a disaster because, well, it never happened. But over time, your boss and your team will learn that if something goes through you, it’s under control.

Anticipating doesn’t mean living in constant fear that things will go wrong—it means having a plan B (and sometimes a plan C) ready. It’s the difference between working to put out fires and working to keep the flames far from the office.