It can be challenging deciding whether it’s time to take the next step in your business and hire an assistant. Afterall, there’s a considerable cost involved, regardless of whether they’re full or part time. There are a few things you need to consider before you can decide if you need an assistant or not. Perhaps you could get by with outsourcing a few specialised tasks, or maybe you need to take the plunge and find someone who will be fully focused on your business full time. Here are the most simple ways to tell if you need an assistant:
1. You’re Spending so Much Time on Maintaining Your Business There’s no Time for Growth
It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your business, thinking there’s no one who can do things quite like you. But there’s a good chance you’re spending a lot of your energy on the daily grind of your business, that you’re not actually able to invest the time required to help it grow. If weeks and months go by, but you have no time to achieve your growth goals, then that can be a clear sign it’s time to hire an assistant. If you don’t have the time to spare for head hunting, companies like executive assistant headhunters can help make this task seamless and ensure you find a great fit for your business.
2. Your Work Life Balance is Out of Whack
Work life balance is one of those mystical things that we all want, but so few of us manage to achieve. It’s easy to notice when it’s really out of whack, and you’re feeling frazzled and like you’re not really succeeding in any areas of your life. If you find yourself constantly working at night, cancelling on friends and family to get a little more work in during the weekend, and feel that you’re constantly exhausted, then it may be time to look at ways you can help relieve pressure in your business. Having even a part time assistant help you move through tasks can free up more time for family and friends, so you can get closer to having a better work life balance.
3. You Never Take Time Off
While it’s healthy to be focused on your business and to want it to grow, there also needs to be room for things outside of work. After all, as the famous saying goes, we should work to live, not live to work. If you rarely book holidays for yourself because you’re worried your business will fall apart in your absence, or don’t know how you can manage to celebrate special occasions because you’re constantly snowed under, that can be a big red flag that you need some extra help.
4. Your Inbox is a Disaster
If you feel that you’re constantly behind on communication, and as soon as you’ve managed to respond, five more emails have come through, then it;s easy to feel overwhelmed and like you’re making no progress. There are only so many working hours in the day, and if you’re not able to get through the basic communication needs of your business alone, then that’s a clear sign you need an assistant to help you clear out your inbox.
Hiring an assistant can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. You want to find someone who’s a great fit for your company, and can grow alongside it’s progress. For that reason, I always suggest bringing in a professional recruiting agency to help you find the right fit.