How to Effectively Work With Your Executive Assistant
An Executive Assistant (EA) can be a game-changer for our business. This person can take tasks off your plate, which allows you to focus on growing your business. We want to share a few tips that will help you effectively work with your EA and make the most out of your working relationship.
Help Them Understand Your World
There’s a transition period between hiring an EA and them being comfortable with working with you. Give them the resources they need to understand how you work, your business, and your clientele as quickly as possible. For example, you can share preferences, processes, tools, and more that you currently use. It will make the transition easier on both sides to provide these to your EA upfront. Be patient with your EA as they transition, too. They are actively absorbing information about you, your business, and the industry.
Delegate Tasks
Sometimes it can be hard for business owners to delegate tasks to someone. Your business is your baby, and it feels weird to no longer be doing a certain task. Just remember that the reason you hired an EA is to spend time on things that will grow your business. Answering emails, while important, isn’t going to grow your business as quickly as meeting with potential clients. Here are some things to consider handing off to an EA:
Inbox management
Calendar management/appointment setting
Podcast management
Research
Social media management
Bookkeeping/invoicing
Travel planning
Sending gifts to clients
Understand Their Skillset
Everyone is different, and we all have different skills. Before hiring an EA, make a list of tasks that you want to hand off to them. Then, compare your list to their skill set and see what matches up. You want to take advantage of their skills. They may have a skill you didn’t think of handing off to them, such as travel planning. If that aligns with your business, you can hand that task off to them as well.
Trust Your EA
You are an expert in your field, and an EA is an expert in theirs. Trust their suggestions and recommendations to make your processes or businesses even better. Again, there will be a transition period while you two build trust. Give them the space to try new things and test ideas. It may just be the best thing to happen to your business.
Hiring an Executive Assistant will give you the time to grow your business. To effectively work with your EA, help them understand your world, delegate tasks, understand their skillset, and trust your EA. You’ll love seeing how much your business grows as you develop a relationship with your Executive Assistant.
About Elevate VA Services
The task of onboarding someone new might seem daunting, but with our expertise, the process will be seamless and efficient. Pretty soon, you'll be reaching and exceeding those goals with the assistance of your EA! Schedule a free, 20-minute consultation with Ashley, owner of Elevate, to discuss your needs and learn what solutions we can offer you to help you meet your goals!
