If you’re a regular reader of our blogs, you’ll know that we’ve already covered practically everything there is to know about hiring and working with virtual assistants. We’ve got you covered on everything from what virtual assistants perform to the benefits of having one on your team. So, why am I writing about the advantages of having an executive assistant at this time? Executive assistants are essentially administrative virtual assistants, aren’t they?
In our examination of the several types of virtual assistants available, we said that an administrative virtual assistant serves as an executive assistant. However, we believe executive assistants need their own posts because they bring a unique set of benefits.
So, then. Let’s get started, shall we?
1. Increased Productivity
Executive assistants, as opposed to administrative virtual assistants, who provide support to anyone in the firm, are senior office staff personnel who only serve top executives. This means they are given duties that have the ability to affect a company’s performance.
Executive assistants get to do a little bit of everything (or, more specifically, anything that catches their executive’s eye). You can request that they conduct research, write reports, plan meetings, take minutes, make reservations, organize critical files, interact with clients, write, edit, and proofread materials, compose internal and external communication, and so on.
Executive assistants enjoy a good challenge, so you can count on them to take on whatever duty you assign them while you focus on what only you can do.
2. Better Communication
Executive assistants encounter and connect with a wide range of people as they work with top executives, including clients and company executives from other professions. The nature of their employment also allows them to touch on practically all, if not all, significant parts of a company’s operations. This suggests they are most likely buddies with nearly everyone in the company.
Executive assistants serve as the primary point of contact for executives, workers, clients, and other internal or external stakeholders. You can rely on them to know who’s who and how to contact folks if you need to speak with them in person.
Executive assistants can act as your spokesman if you don’t have time to contact these folks personally. They act as your human face or voice while you are not present. They are excellent communicators who can create emails, conduct phone calls, and reply to questions on your behalf while representing you and your company.
3. Gaining Access to New Ideas and Perspectives
Executive assistants are similar to an executive’s right-hand man. Trusted executive assistants are given front-row seats to executive board meetings (which they also organize) and have first-hand knowledge of key corporate information.
Top executives can seek advice and counsel from their executive assistants on both major and little issues because they believe they have sufficient exposure to and knowledge of the firm and its operations.
Executive assistants are decision-makers who like analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of various business strategy decisions, so executives will find brainstorming ideas with them refreshing, psychologically interesting, and productive.
4. Improved Planning and Organization
Executive assistants’ roles and responsibilities include managing their executive’s personal and professional schedules, ensuring that key activities are fit into their overflowing calendars. They understand how to effectively prioritize activities and make the most of their executive’s limited time each day.
Executive assistants manage their own schedules as well. They are super-organized people who most likely keep a daily checklist where they outline their pre-work morning routine, their end-of-work routine, and other duties in between.
Super executive assistants are like mind readers and fate tellers, able to anticipate their executive’s demands and predict potential complications. They plan when to check their executive’s email and sort it according to the amount of urgency, as well as when to check in with their executive without causing an interruption.
5. Constant Help
Although executive assistants are assigned to serve a company’s boss, they are also capable of offering support to anyone in the company when necessary. Executive assistants can perform almost anything with the talents they have. Executives may be confident that everyone in their organization is receiving adequate support from a reliable team member.
Is there anyone who wants information about impending projects? They can rely on executive assistants to keep them up to date on major developments in the company. Because executive assistants are privy to their executive’s business goals, they can communicate this information with other employees (with permission from their executive, of course).
Is the event planning committee in need of some extra help? Executive assistants are responsible for keeping everyone satisfied and ensuring that everyone has everything they require. They won’t mind assisting with the selection of gifts or prizes for Christmas or Halloween parties, as well as decorating the party site (once COVID is out of the picture).
6. More value for less money
Executive assistants are very indispensable. They are capable of doing the tasks outlined in their job description as well as others. Executive assistants’ organizational responsibility goes beyond assisting the executive to whom they are appointed. They are problem solvers who can assist others with their work when needed, allowing them more time and freedom to do more for the firm.