Executive Virtual Assistant Services
You’ve brought on a virtual executive assistant to help you, but you’re still involved in all the tasks you’ve delegated to your EA. Nothing is done without your involvement, whether that means answering the same questions about tasks, double-checking work, or checking in on things that should already be completed. If these things are happening, you’re still managing the process, essentially doing 50% of the work instead of your EA fully owning the tasks.
Whether you’re thinking about hiring a virtual executive assistant for your business or you’re already working with one, keep in mind that support runs deeper than just the tasks. If you think managing your calendar, inbox, travel, etc., is all that your EA will handle for you, think again. Strong support from a virtual executive assistant requires much more than simply completing tasks.
Technology tool or an executive assistant? If you’ve ever found yourself in this position, which did you choose? I’ve encountered many people who believe that automation and technology tools can replace the need for an executive assistant. However, there are a few things to consider before making that decision.
AI is a hot topic across all industries; it has everyone’s attention. At conferences, sessions on AI are overflowing with attendees. I’m often asked how it’s impacting our industry, and I’ve even been asked if it will shut down my company. People are still learning about AI and its impact. Many believe it will save them money by eliminating the need to hire an executive assistant, some are even referring to AI as their VEA (virtual executive assistant).
“I know that I need help, but I don’t know what to delegate.” I hear this phrase often in my conversations with leaders. They’re feeling the pressure of having too much on their plate and know they need support, but they don’t know where to start. They’re already overwhelmed, and the thought of figuring out how support should work for them adds another layer.
I speak with leaders all the time who are overwhelmed in their businesses and finally do what they believe is the right thing by hiring a virtual executive assistant. They’ve heard over and over again that they need to take themselves out of the day-to-day administrative work so they can focus on other areas of their business and create more freedom. However, bringing on an executive assistant doesn’t always bring about those changes.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I just need to be more productive?”
This is often the thought that surfaces when you feel the weight of having more on your plate than you can handle. You may have tried learning a new application that promises to improve your workflow, time blocking to get more done, or taking a course on productivity. You may have even started listening to podcasts about becoming more efficient.
But productivity can’t replace the proactive support of an executive assistant.
As a business owner, the buck usually starts and ends with you. There’s a lot that happens in your business each day. Naturally, it can become a habit to have a hand in everything.
You start your day in your email inbox and end it there, without completing a single task you planned. Your calendar is full because you’ve overbooked yourself. You’re putting out fires with team members. And the list goes on.
At some point, you realize the issue isn’t doing more. It’s releasing more from your plate. As I shared in The Hidden Cost of Waiting, staying in the center of everything for too long quietly slows growth.
So what changes when you’re no longer the bottleneck?
You’ve done the right thing—or what you thought was the right thing—and hired an executive assistant. Your intention in hiring an EA was to create more time and support the growth of your business. Yet nothing has changed. You’re still feeling overwhelmed and don’t have the capacity you expected.
Enter underutilization, a common issue among leaders who hire executive assistants.
Underutilization can be difficult to recognize because it’s largely invisible. Your EA is present, responsive, and doing the work assigned, even if they’re remote. From the outside, everything appears to be working. But underutilization of an executive assistant is not an assistant performance issue; it’s a leadership issue.
One of the most expensive decisions leaders make isn’t investing in support; it’s waiting.
On the surface, waiting can feel responsible. You see the cost of administrative support clearly, and you hesitate. You tell yourself you’ll revisit the decision once there’s more margin, more clarity, or more time. But while the financial cost is visible, the real cost of waiting often goes unnoticed, and that cost compounds quietly.