The Winding Road to Finding the Right Admin Support
I’ve said it before, the pursuit of the ideal administrative support can often feel like a winding journey. Over the course of my career, I've witnessed both high-level executives and small business owners traverse a myriad of twists and turns in their quest for dependable assistance. Today, we embark on a discussion that delves into the path commonly undertaken by the entrepreneurs I've had the privilege of coming to understand.
An efficient administrative support system is the foundation of a successful business. Unfortunately, the value of reliable assistance is often overlooked in the early stages of a company's growth. Many entrepreneurs and executives don't fully appreciate the importance of support staff until after dealing with the headaches of disorganization for months or years. However, investing in competent assistants from the start can prevent countless headaches down the road.
THIS PATTERN TYPICALLY UNFOLDS LIKE THIS….
THE DIY APPROACH
Initially, dedicating a few extra minutes each day to handle backend administrative tasks may seem manageable. But before you know it, those few minutes escalate, gobbling up half of your day or even your week. How often has, “it’ll take me five minutes to do____” turned into hours of admin clean up? Exxxactly…
TURNING TO FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY:
This approach might work initially, but eventually, mistakes or lack of motivation can strain relationships. Intertwining personal relationships with business can be messy, and managing others while treading on eggshells becomes draining. It’s not impossible to work within your personal network - but most of those I know who have gone down that path have regretted it or needed to nip it before they got any traction. Saving money or trying to look out for someone by offering them what you think is an easy job is not worth the cost of your relationships.
THE HIRING HASSLE:
Recruiting takes time and effort. You have to create job listings, sift through resumes, conduct interviews, and assess candidates. Once you've made a choice, there's the onboarding, the training, and finally - ongoing management of your in-house admin. This is a complex process that can divert focus from core business operations - which is the exact thing you’re hiring to avoid.
THE “AFFORDABLE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT:”
While this seems cost-effective upfront, high turnover with cheap contractors means constantly training new hires. You'll still end up handling most tasks yourself or starting from scratch down the line. You have no control over how another company is treating the virtual assistant or the quality of the assistants they’re assigning you. If you do get a quality VA - putting weeks of time into forming a collaborative relationship feels devastating when the rollover strikes. If you don’t find that they have the caliber of assistance that you need? You’ve already paid for the service you wish you hadn’t.
(Side bar: that’s not to say there aren’t good VA companies out there, and lots of amazing administrative professionals branch off to be independent VAs. You just have to decide the kind of support you need to not just minimize the chaos under the hood of your business, but eliminate it. That’s where a strategic partner such as myself can change your life.)
THE EPIPHANY:
The key realization is that administrative roles are not costs to be cut, but investments to be made. Bringing on experienced administrative support staff should be viewed like hiring any other vital position for growing a business. Rather than minimizing expenses, investing in reliable admin talent lays the groundwork for long-term success.
THE WAY FORWARD…
A skilled administrative team can truly transform your business for the better. If you have not experienced this support, I encourage you to consider speaking with me. Even if we don't end up working together, I want you to know this: Professionals like myself, who are deeply committed to being top-notch administrative partners, aim to help your business thrive. I want to see your success, help you spend more time with loved ones, and build your legacy.
