For many business owners, the joy fizzles out quickly – but it’s not because they no longer love what they do. It’s because they’re spending more and more time mired in administrative tasks and handling jobs that don’t have a direct connection with their vision for the business. Sadly, that leads to burnout pretty fast… except for people who hire virtual assistants to swoop in and lend them a hand (or two). This guide covers the seven signs that you need to hire a virtual assistant before your performance starts slipping – or worse, you lose the spark that drove you to start your company in the first place.
7 Signs You Need to Hire a Virtual Assistant Before You Drown in Work
Check out these seven signs you need to hire a VA before things get too out of control (or, if they’re already out of control, before they become worse):
- You spend too much time on admin work.
- Your performance is slipping because you’re spread too thin.
- You’re missing bigger, better opportunities because you just don’t have the bandwidth to take them on.
- You’re always working – even when you’re “off.”
- A zillion things distract you when you’re working, and you have to pay attention to them all.
- You’ve wished – more than once – that you could clone yourself to get more done.
- Your inbox, your desk and your phone (and some other things) are a hot mess.
Here’s a closer look at each.
Sign #1 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: You Spend Too Much Time on Admin Work
How much time are you spending on administrative tasks? If it’s more than a few hours per week, it’s almost certainly time to hire a virtual assistant. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re spending more than 10 percent of your time on non-revenue generating activities, it’s time to outsource. That means if you’re working 40 hours per week, fewer than four of those hours should be going to tasks like scheduling appointments, sending emails or other administrative busywork.
Related: Everything you need to know about hiring a virtual assistant
Sign #2 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: Your Performance is Slipping Because You’re Spread too Thin
If you find that your performance is slipping, it could be a sign that you’re taking on too much and need some help. When you’re constantly trying to do everything, it’s impossible to give any one task your full attention. That leads to subpar work across the board. If you’re starting to feel like you can’t keep up, it might be time to hire a virtual assistant.
Sign #3 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: You’re Missing Bigger, Better Opportunities Because You Just Don’t Have the Bandwidth to Take Them On
If you’re turning down good opportunities because you don’t have the time or energy to take them on, it’s time to get some help. A virtual assistant can lighten your workload so you can focus on the tasks that will move your business forward. Your VA can handle all kinds of administrative tasks, such as sending emails, creating invoices, designing ad campaigns so your business can grow, and even monitoring your social media presence. That means you’re free to spend those hours on the bigger, better opportunities coming your way.
Related: Why you should hire a virtual assistant to manage your Facebook ads
Sign #4 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: You’re Always Working – Even When You’re “Off”
If you find yourself working more hours every day (or worse, if your brain is still hard at work when you’re hanging out with friends or family… or you fall asleep and wake up thinking about work), it’s a sign that you need help. You should be able to clock out at the end of the day and enjoy some personal time without worrying about work. But when you can’t, it might be time to hire a virtual assistant to take some tasks off your plate so you can relax and recharge.
Sign #5 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: A Zillion Things Distract You When You’re Working, and You Have to Pay Attention to Them All
When you’re constantly getting pulled away from your work by things like social media notifications, text messages, phone calls, and the never-ending stream of email in your inbox, it’s tough to get anything done. If you find yourself being distracted some or most of the time, it’s a sign that you need some help. A virtual assistant can tackle all of those distractions for you so you can focus on your work.
Related: How to manage an out-of-control email inbox
Sign #6 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: You’ve Wished – More Than Once – That You Could Clone Yourself to Get More Done
If you’ve ever wished you could clone yourself (or at least have someone else around to help with all the things on your to-do list), it might be time to hire a virtual assistant. A VA can take care of all the smaller tasks on your list so you can focus on the big picture stuff. Your VA is an extension of you; she’ll complete all the tasks you send her way. She can run with whatever you give her, too. For example, if you want her to follow up on emails, send invoices to clients, plan your appointments and find your plane tickets, just let her know; you can spend your time focusing on doing what you love.
Sign #7 You Need To Hire a Virtual Assistant: Your Inbox, Your Desk and Your Phone (and Some Other Things) Are a Hot Mess
If your inbox is overflowing, your desk is littered with sticky notes, and your phone is constantly ringing off the hook, you’re in over your head and could use some help. Hiring a VA can mean the difference between you becoming overwhelmed (and less productive) and you taking your business to the next level.
Related: Bookkeeping, writing and editing: VA services you may need
Ready to Talk to a Virtual Assistant?
If you’re thinking about hiring a virtual assistant to help you dig yourself out of the hole you’re in, we’re here to help. Fill out the form below and we’ll find a time that works in your busy schedule – and then we’ll start getting things done so you can shake off some of the weight on your shoulders.
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