What does an Executive Virtual Assistant do?

Executive Virtual Assistants can save a business owner time from your workweek, but knowing which tasks to delegate can be tricky, whether you are starting or growing your business. An Executive Virtual Assistant is a highly-skilled contract worker who can do their jobs anywhere whilst still performing a range of tasks just like a Personal Assistant in the corporate world. Using their time management skills, they focus on a wide range of administrative tasks that are similar to those of an Executive Assistant.

An Executive assistant tends to be one of the most visible people in the office.  But these days, handling administrative duties, organisation skills, and making life easier for the people running the business can easily be handled virtually.

Tasks an Executive Virtual Assistant can perform and technology means that you don’t need to hire an Executive Assistant professional to sit in your office.

What does an Executive Virtual Assistant do?

Executive Virtual Assistants can save a business owner time from your workweek, but knowing which tasks to delegate can be tricky, whether you are starting or growing your business. An Executive Virtual Assistant is a highly-skilled contract worker who can do their jobs anywhere whilst still performing a range of tasks just like a Personal Assistant in the corporate world. Using their time management skills, they focus on a wide range of administrative tasks that are similar to those of an Executive Assistant. An Executive assistant tends to be one of the most visible people in the office.  But these days, handling administrative duties, organisation skills, and making life easier for the people running the business can easily be handled virtually. Tasks an Executive Virtual Assistant can perform and technology means that you don’t need to hire an Executive Assistant professional to sit in your office.

Tasks an Executive Virtual Assistant can perform

The more accurate question might be: what can’t they do? If you hire an Executive Virtual Assistant, you’ll find that they can fulfil many of the same duties as an on-site executive assistant, including:

• Administrative duties. Handling your calendar and managing your time, managing your files, liaising with clients, trimming down your email inbox, answering and directing phone calls—each of these duties no longer requires an on-site executive assistant to take handle them.
• Scheduling. Need an event planned? An appointment scheduled on your behalf? A virtual executive assistant allows you to delegate all of these tasks.
• Specialised tasks. A virtual executive assistant should be capable of handling the work that your specific company requires. For instance, there is virtual paralegal work that requires specialised certification.
• Project management. A virtual executive assistant can take on the work of a project manager, which requires experience with specific platforms and technical knowledge related to each project. They can help coordinate team members via email/messaging platforms and ensure notifications, reminders, follow-ups, are happening as necessary.
• Travel arrangements. 
• Writing and editing. Need a once-over on a rough draft, or an extra set of eyes on a presentation you’re going to give? A virtual executive assistant can work through these documents to provide editing.‍
• Remote office management. A virtual executive assistant can carry out functions like bookkeeping, invoices, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.

 

Signs You Need an Executive Virtual Assistant

It’s hard to argue that an executive assistant wouldn’t make your life running a business much more smooth.  But how can you tell when you’re ready to create a role like this? What are the signs that you’re sorely in need of a virtual executive assistant yourself?

Still not sure? Aside from the subtle and not-so-subtle signs listed above, let’s focus on some of the key indicators that you could use a virtual assistant:

1. When your family asks why they’re not seeing more of you.
2. When you’re on vacation and can’t get away from your phone because you have too much to do at work.
3. When you find yourself spending valuable work hours handling your own travel arrangements.
4. When you never finish a day feeling like you’ve “completed” all the day’s tasks anymore.
5. When you consistently put off managing tasks like data entry.
6. When you have an inbox full of hundreds or even thousands of emails and you’re not sure how to tackle it.
7. When you put off managing expense reports because they’re too difficult to deal with.
8. If you consistently make notes in your calendar that never get done.
9. If your to-do list is mostly pristine by the end of the day, having never crossed your essential tasks off the list.
10. If you’re sick of dealing with people on the phone and would rather do the work that’s most productive.
11. If you find that distractions are constantly biting into your time.
12. If you have to work through your lunch break on a routine basis.
13. When you have enough money coming in with revenue but aren’t sure how to reinvest it to make your business better.
14. When you find yourself wishing that you had another pair of arms.

Final Thoughts

Are you convinced?  You know that a virtual assistant is a great way to improve your efficiency and help your business grow, not to mention improving your day to day work life. What next?

If the process seems intimidating at first, keep in mind that it’s only the initial steps that you need to break down into their smaller components.  Once you have your Executive Virtual Assistant working with you, you will immediately notice an improvement in productivity and available time.

You can then decide based on results, not on words. We often speak to clients who’ve not had much success with overseas Executive VA’s, and want someone that they know they can rely on, that speaks their language and understands business in Australia – and that’s important!

Book a discovery call and we can start giving you time back in your day.

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