".....it takes her [the Avail Assistant] a few hours to finish what it would take me a few weeks to accomplish. The financial investment is small compared to what I was paying in late fees when doing it myself."
-G.A.,National Sales Director & Entreprenuer Austin, TX
Knowing When it’s Time to Hire an Assistant
Not sure you really need an assistant? Not sure you can afford one?
Not sure exactly what you’d have an assistant do?
Take a moment to answer the following questions.
- I would normally charge my clients $________ per hour
- My daily rate for services is $___ per day or $______per hour.
- This week I'll spend ______ hours working on Quickbooks/Accounting.
- This week I'll spend ______ hours scheduling meetings, client appointments, travel.
- This week I'll spend ______ hours running errands (post office, office supplies, etc.)
TOTAL HOURS _______ @ $ _________ per hour equals $___________
Is it benefiting your business for you to do these types of tasks at your hourly rate?
How to Decide Which Tasks to Delegate
Check your "To Do" list. Is everything on that list something you MUST do? Or are some items things you feel you SHOULD do? Separate the items on your to do list into "Should Do's" and "Must Do's" -- for example:
SHOULD DO:
- Filing
- Input data into Quickbooks
- Organize receipts
- Send out thank you cards
- Arrange a follow up meeting with prospect
- Sort & process incoming mail
- _______________________________
HAVE TO DO:
- Return client prospect calls
- Work on new project
- Finish expense report
- Pay bills
- Invoice customers
- _______________________
- _______________________
Is it better to tackle the “SHOULD DO'S” yourself or outsource them to someone whose time costs less?
Still having trouble deciding what to pass along?
Try keeping a second "In Box" in your office.
- As tasks arise (especially lower skill-type tasks or administrative jobs) determine whether or not you want to do them or if someone else could do them for you.
- Jot a note about the job and put it in the box.
- A growing pile of notes will be a good way to evaluate whether or not help is needed.