Craig Goodliffe, CEO & Founder of Cyberbacker.
Has anyone ever told you that you need to learn how to delegate? If so, you’re not alone. Many high-performing professionals overextend themselves, striving to achieve peak performance by controlling everything. However, the secret to productivity is knowing when to delegate.
Virtual assistants can help manage your workload and promote work-life balance while ensuring continued productivity. Outsourcing your worries provides relief and helps you perform at your best and grow your company to the next level.
Accomplish more in less time—that’s the difference.
The Problem Of Overwhelm
Surveys show that most entrepreneurs work more than their employees. According to The Alternative Board, “84% of business owners work over 40 hours per week, and 1 in every 10 feels continuously overwhelmed by their responsibilities.” Forbes senior correspondent Edward Segal reports 42% of small-business owners describe themselves as burnt out.
When business leaders are overworked, their ability to think critically and make effective decisions is compromised. According to a 2022 American Express survey, 62% of participants admitted to making mistakes when they don’t have adequate time away from the office. Eighty-five percent said being a good leader requires regular breaks.
When executives get stretched too thin, they risk sacrificing their ventures’ long-term growth.
Harmonizing Work And Life
Leaders prioritizing a healthy work-life balance tend to be more effective than those who risk burning themselves out. Their productivity thrives due to improved mental and physical health. They have the time and energy to think creatively, which is key for innovation.
According to a new study from The Conference Board, US workers are more satisfied with their jobs due to work/life balance gains.
When leaders take work-life balance seriously themselves, it sets a good example for subordinates. As an article from Harvard Business School explains, “This is because supervisors…represent the organization at large in the eyes of their teams. They have the power to encourage (or discourage) employees from using family-friendly policies through their attitudes and behaviors, which can signal (or not signal) that there will be consequences for those who prioritize or provide equal importance to family and work responsibilities.” In this way, managers at all levels play a key role in establishing a positive company culture.
Managing Your Human Capital
The pressures of the C-suite make harmonizing work and home especially challenging. Harvard Business Review also found that business leaders “who do this most effectively involve their families in work decisions and activities. They also vigilantly manage their own human capital, endeavoring to give both work and home their due—over a period of years, not weeks or days.”
Managing your human capital means respecting your time. Consider how much an hour of your attention is worth. For instance, imagine you make an annual salary of $200,000. Do the math, and you’ll find that you earn about $104 per hour for a 40-hour workweek. Every hour of overtime you put in decreases that wage and steals irreplaceable moments from your friends and family.
How Virtual Assistants Can Help
Today’s virtual assistants can take many kinds of work off your plate. While they can certainly help with admin tasks, many offer advanced services in coveted fields like marketing or accounting.
A virtual assistant could read all necessary items before a meeting and compile an executive summary, or instead of making every phone call personally, your virtual assistant could operate as your representative.
Finding The Right Virtual Assistant
When looking for a virtual assistant, you can search for companies that outsource these services or create your job posting online. If you opt for the former approach, be sure to conduct proper research on the company, its workers and its track record of success. Additionally, see if the company’s virtual assistant services tend to serve a specific industry or niche, as this may ultimately impact their ability to serve you and your needs best.
Should you choose to search for a virtual assistant on your own, make sure you know what skills and qualities you’re looking for in candidates based on your specific needs. For instance, do you want someone with more experience in your particular niche who may come at a higher rate, or are you willing to hire and train someone with less experience at a lower cost?
Asking yourself questions like that will help you determine what to look for in a virtual assistant. Be clear with your expectations up front so you find a virtual assistant who is reliable, communicative and understands your business and goals.
In-Person Or Virtual?
Another element to consider is if you should hire an in-person assistant or a virtual one. Both options come with pros and cons.
If you opt for an in-person assistant, you will likely be able to socialize with them more easily and get to know them better. This interaction can be important for employees’ job satisfaction and well-being. On the other hand, you will be limited to candidates in your immediate geographical area, meaning you might not be able to hire the best fit for your company culture and the needs of the role.
Conversely, choosing a virtual assistant opens up the talent pool, allowing you to hire the most advantageous candidate, regardless of location. Remote workers have also been shown to be more productive than their in-person colleagues, although it’s often more difficult to socialize with workers who are hundreds—if not thousands—of miles away. Differing time zones may also result in delays during work processes.
The exact demands of the role you seek to fill should drive which kind of assistant you choose. A virtual assistant may be your best bet if asynchronous work isn’t an issue but productivity and deliverables are. But an in-person one might be better if synchronous work and real-world connection are paramount.
Whichever kind of assistant you choose, their help will make you more productive. As a result, you may finally achieve that elusive balance between work and life, and no one can put a price on that kind of happiness.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Read the full article here
