Should I Hire an Assistant? 7 Reasons Why You Aren’t Delegating

As people begin to focus on what really matters to them, the value of their time starts to come into question. Yet, even though we know our time is limited and we need to spend more on growing your business or making memories with family instead of working all day and night or taking care of errands, we don’t ask for help.

Why is that?

We’d like to think people don’t ask for help because they don’t know where to look, but ever since the Yellow Pages was invented, there has been a source for finding the help you need. With the Internet, that source has grown tenfold.

Instead, we have found that when people hire a handyman to make home repairs, or they go to their favorite restaurant for that meal they just can’t duplicate; there isn’t second thought because they don’t have the skills to complete the task at hand.

So why is the act of asking for help, even if we can do the task ourselves, so difficult? The short answer is, that people can’t wrap their minds around asking someone else to do something they think they have to do.

As you continue to read this post, you’ll probably find yourself recognizing some of these phrases; you’ve probably thought them or said them to yourself when that state of overwhelm takes control of your day. And while you may have said them, we’re here to tell you that your thought process may be wrong, and we are going to share why.

I Can’t Afford to Hire an Assistant

One positive thing COVID-19 has done is to help us reconnect to the things that really matter. Over the last few weeks of quarantine, we’ve been spending more time with our loved ones doing things we don’t typically have time for, and even though we are all anxious to return to normalcy, there are some things we will struggle to give up.

Saying ‘I can’t afford it’ might be a knee-jerk reaction, and you’ve probably convinced yourself that hiring an assistant is beyond your budget. But have you actually done the math? Time may be priceless, but when you’re spending valuable hours on tasks you shouldn’t be doing—or things you hate—there’s often a price tag attached.

So if time truly is money, how much are you losing by doing tasks you hate instead of growing your business or spending time with family?

I Don’t Want Anyone to Find Out I Hired an Assistant

Whether you don’t want your friends and family members to know you have a personal assistant or your business requires privacy and confidentiality, the thing that is keeping you from outsourcing.

Before you hire an assistant, make sure there is a current non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in place. This will not only ensure your privacy, but it will also bring you peace-of-mind as you work together.

I Don’t Know What I Would Have Them Do

When it comes to hiring an assistant, you have to put yourself first. No, this doesn’t make you selfish. You are hiring someone to help you, so if they aren’t doing the things that benefit you the most, why are you paying them?

Start by making a list of things you love doing. Next, think of things that are keeping you from doing them. What are they?

We’ll venture to say that most of those tasks can be delegated to an assistant. But just to get your mind thinking, here are some of the most common tasks assistants can handle for you:

Executive Assistants

Creating and maintaining organizational systems, inventory management, e-mail management, calendar management, answering the phone, taking notes at meetings, brainstorming partners, preparing reports, and more.

Personal Assistants

Errands that takeover your weekends, laundry, light tidying, grocery shopping, meal prep, organization, travel planning, gift buying, meeting service providers, taking your car for service, and so much more.

Virtual Assistants

E-mail management, calendar management, travel planning, data entry, setting up appointments, CRM work, research, preparing reports and presentations, customer follow-ups, and more.

No One Can Do the Job as Well as Me

Millions of people hire assistants. They are a key part of many businesses and homes across the country. We promise that there are people that can meet your standards and help you.

Assistants know that every client is different, and they adapt to the work style that benefits you. But, it is also important to remember that just because they are doing something differently than you, doesn’t mean that the end result will not be the same.

So, take a deep breath, trust that they will get the task or project done how you want it, and even if they don’t, with proper feedback, anything can be fixed.

I Feel Guilty for Hiring Someone to Do This Stuff

It’s funny how our culture thrives on being busy and struggling. It’s almost like it’s trendy to reply with, “I’ve been busy,” anytime someone asks you what you have been up to. Sadly, with that idea comes doubt. You start to doubt that if you aren’t busy or struggling, something is wrong with you. We’re here to tell you that being busy and struggling isn’t a status symbol.

Once you begin to wrap your mind around the idea that asking for help can create the life you’ve dreamed of, you start to feel guilty. You probably ask yourself questions like, who would want to do these tasks, who am I thinking I can hire to handle this stuff, or why would someone want to do these things for me?

It’s time to clear that guilt. Assistants, personal assistants, virtual assistants, nannies, and anyone else you hire to support you are natural-born caretakers. They thrive on helping others and watching them succeed. So while a grocery shopping trip may seem like an unwanted chore to you, your assistant will find joy knowing they got you the items you need to make your day or week easier.

To fight this feeling of guilt, we recommend jumping right in with service. Hire the assistant and start feeling the stress start to fade away.

It Only Takes a Few Minutes to Do

1+1=2, 2+1=3, and while this isn’t a math lesson, it is a lesson about time. All those tasks that only take a few minutes to do, you know the ones like paying bills, checking e-mail, or running to the post office—can quickly take over your whole day. The minutes add up, and all of those small things you do regularly are taking away from the bigger picture.

Add up how much time you are spending taking care of the mundane tasks you really don’t want to do but feel like you need to do. You might be surprised how much time those few minute tasks take.

How Connect Can Help

Connect is your go-to resource for finding the perfect assistant. Whether you need an executive assistant, virtual assistant, or personal assistant, we’re here to help with job placement and training. Contact us to get started! Contact us to get started!