No More Late Nights: Hire a Virtual Assistant
Laura Renner & Jenny Boyles • Jul 27, 2020
It is easy to feel overwhelmed at this time. Some find working remotely is easier while others find that they have a hard time separating from their work. It is always there and they cannot get away. If you are exhausted, overwhelmed and becoming burned out, you may want to consider adding a virtual assistant to your business.
By delegating certain tasks from your business, you will have more time for your business’ mission. You can grow the business without being slowed down. Your workday can end at 5 rather than 10 pm because you will have handed off the administrative tasks that are a hindrance. If you know this is what you need but not sure what you can delegate, go through these steps below:
By delegating certain tasks from your business, you will have more time for your business’ mission. You can grow the business without being slowed down. Your workday can end at 5 rather than 10 pm because you will have handed off the administrative tasks that are a hindrance. If you know this is what you need but not sure what you can delegate, go through these steps below:
First, brain dump all the tasks that are involved in running your business. Another way to consider all of your tasks is starting with our
task audit
. It will help you go through the administrative tasks to determine whether you should be, want to be or do not want to be doing them.
Then ask yourself the following questions for each one:
- Is it something the leader of my company should be doing?
I once heard the CEO of a background check company explain that even though she had an accounting background, she was the CEO of her company and not the CFO. As much as she wanted to handle the books, it was not the best use of her energy and time.
- Do I enjoy it?
Some tasks, even if they are not the best use of energy and time for a CEO, are just enjoyable. If you have the time, keep doing it!
More importantly for the purpose of this exercise, if you do not enjoy it, that is a strong indication you should outsource it. If it continues to sit on your to-do list and hangs over your head each night, most likely it needs to go to someone else.
- Am I afraid to let it go?
No need to rush if you are not ready to let it go. Running payments for our Freedom Makers was one of the last things I let go, even though it is something people often recommend delegating early on. Because small businesses live or die by cash flow, I was too afraid to have someone else do it. Over time as we grew, I simply got too busy.
You know what? That happens. And when it does, it simply means you are ready to let it go.
- Can it be handled by someone working remotely?
Most workflows and tasks can be handled online now but not all. In order to outsource, your tasks should be doable online.
- Do I have a workflow for it (even if it’s just in my head)?
You run the risk of the “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” paradigm when outsourcing. When someone is working alongside you, you can say, “oh yeah, please take care of this.” When they are not there, you must provide context when tasking on the fly like that, which can be a hindrance.Having a workflow in place allows the other person to simply take care of the task without any repeated guidance or immediate context from you.
Some examples of tasks that can be outsourced:
- Client intake/welcome
- Follow ups
- Scheduling
- Data entry
- File management
- Project tracking/coordination
If you still are not sure, schedule a
call
with us and we can go over your list with you! If your to-do list carries over day to day and keeps you up at night, add a virtual assistant to your team. So many of our clients were hesitant, unsure how this would benefit their business. But after just a few months their feedback is always that they aren’t sure how they ever lived without a Freedom Maker.
Working remotely in today’s world does not mean you have more time to take on every aspect of your business. Hand over the tasks that slow you down!
Working remotely in today’s world does not mean you have more time to take on every aspect of your business. Hand over the tasks that slow you down!
Freedom Makers Blog
Learn the key to effective delegation so you can make the most out of your relationship with your virtual assistant. Unlock efficiency and focus on what matters most by identifying tasks ripe for outsourcing, creating standardized procedures, automating workflows, and fostering great communication for a productive working relationship.
Know the value of your time! If you strategically outsource non-core tasks to a virtual assistant, you can reinvest your energy and time into meaningful activities that foster business growth and align with your goals and priorities.
Crafting a solid strategy is essential when it comes to finding the right virtual assistant. Start by making a detailed game plan around tasks and budget. Explore the benefits of using an agency for support and guidance and get prepared to interview qualified candidates. A virtual assistant who is technically skilled, communicative, responsive, ready to learn, and aligned with your personality and needs will bring value to your business.
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