Weeks before his business was set for explosive growth, Matt Solomon, founder and CEO of the Center For Enlightened Business, got some bad news.
His executive assistant, someone he relied on for a thousand different things, was taking a new job. Not in two weeks, but in two days. She was leaving at the end of the week with only an hour of availability for her remaining days.
Talk about bad timing.
The time and energy necessary to hire her replacement would be a huge vacuum for his team, and possibly stall the growth he was eyeing in the near future.
If you are Matt, you are suddenly faced with finding the best replacement, and you don’t have a lot of time to figure it out.
In this post, we’re going to share exactly what to look for — and how — to find the best virtual assistant for you. Fast! Just like Matt.
So what’s first?
Let’s start by figuring out what to look for in an executive assistant.
7 Qualities of The Best Executive Assistants
If you had to write the perfect job description for an executive assistant, you’d want to build it around these seven qualities.
- The best assistant will have the right attributes. They stay focused. They are creative problem solvers. They pay attention to detail.
- There’s no substitute for character. That includes having a team-player personality, as well as being trustworthy and honest. Integrity is a must-have. Your executive assistant will be in your email and finances, responding to clients and vendors. It’s an extremely high-trust position.
- You have a work culture already in place. Great executive assistants are a culture fit. They work how you work. They work with your team. Everything clicks.
- Did we already mention being trustworthy? Because that’s a big one. It also means you trust them enough to step back and focus on important work. You don’t need to micromanage them or double-check their work.
- They’ll also behighly responsive. That’s part of being a good communicator. Time is money, and they know a fast response time matters for the bottom line. They’re even good at making sure the ball stays rolling from start to finish by following up.
- The best assistant is also proactive. They often intuitively know what should be done, or what you’re going to want before you do. They’re resourceful and figure out how to get things done even in a pinch.
- Most importantly, they care. About your business, your team, your goals, and you.
What Skills Does An Executive Assistant Need?
There’s no perfect checklist for all the skills an executive assistant will have. Your organization is unique.
But there are a few must-have skills that aren’t optional.
First, there’s great communication.
Whether through email, text, or on the phone, the message has to get through clearly and at the right time, without any white noise. An executive assistant also has to ask the right questions without being afraid.
Next up are the skills that generate efficiency and productivity.
An executive assistant is organized and productive, even under pressure. They have a knack for time management (even yours). We’re talking about multi-tasking and being resourceful.
Finally, an executive assistant needs to be skilled at self-learning.
They need to learn your work style, your systems, and the tools you use. Being good with tech is important, but instead of a list of software or apps, you’re looking for past experience that indicates flexibility and an ability to learn quickly.
What Can An Executive Assistant Do For Me?
Maybe you think an executive assistant basically arranges travel or fires off emails. Maybe they set up virtual meetings and notify the team. It’s basically an admin position, right?
Except it’s not. Don’t let the “assistant” part confuse you.
Yes, there’s the executive administrative assistant doing all that (and more) for C-level execs.
But executive assistants are also able to handle customer support. They can run social media marketing, and provide writing and editing services. You can even turn them into project managers, or let them do your bookkeeping. And some provide multilingual support if you have a global team or customer base.
There’s no position in your organization where an executive assistant couldn’t be plugged in. Not one.
The Best Next Step To Your New Executive Assistant?
Remember Matt?
A friend suggested he look into Boldly for a remote executive assistant on a monthly plan. Though he thought it was a huge chance to take at such a critical time, he took the leap.
In less than a week he was up and running with a rockstar assistant. His daily workflow didn’t miss a beat. And best of all, he was able to focus on growth rather than admin, completely setting him free to focus on the highest return work.
Getting started was easy, and it can be for you, too. If you’re looking for the best virtual assistant available without any hassle or time constraints, talk to us today.
About the authorKatie Hill is a Content Writer at Boldly, which offers Premium Subscription Staffing for demanding executives and founders. When she isn't writing about remote work or productivity, she can be found adventuring in Colorado's backcountry.
