Business Archives - Ann Albrecht Consulting https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/category/business/ Virtual Assistance & Administrative Support Wed, 29 Mar 2023 19:16:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 208458024 Seven Must-Have Traits To Look For When Hiring An Executive Virtual Assistant https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/seven-must-have-traits-to-look-for-when-hiring-an-executive-virtual-assistant/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 01:32:51 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=1614 Gone are the days where Executive Assistants are simply gatekeepers to executives, answering phone calls and take messages. In today’s virtual work environment Executive Virtual Assistants (EVAs) help with decision making, technical assistance, internal and external communications, overseeing business travel and even event planning. An Executive...

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Gone are the days where Executive Assistants are simply gatekeepers to executives, answering phone calls and take messages. In today’s virtual work environment Executive Virtual Assistants (EVAs) help with decision making, technical assistance, internal and external communications, overseeing business travel and even event planning.

An Executive Virtual Assistant is undeniably an important asset to any high-ranking executive, president, CEO, or members of a C-suite. And behind most successful executives is a hardworking and talented EVA that plays an integral role in the success of the company.

Thinking about hiring an EVA? Check out these Seven Must-Have Traits To Look For When Hiring An Executive Virtual Assistant (EVA):

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Executive Virtual Assistants are expert problem-solvers. They are often tasked with issues and challenges that business owners don’t have time to handle. When hiring an EVA you should be looking for someone that has the ability to think outside the box when it comes to problem solving. A talented EVA will be able to offer alternative solutions and quickly think on their feet to handle any situation thrown at them.

Problem-solving skills like creating budgets, working on multiple projects at one time, scheduling meetings or conferences and managing executive operations within a company all requires effective problem solving.

You will want to look for a candidate that knows how to break down a problem, understand the problem and generate ideas to effectively solve the problem.

WILLINGNESS TO LEARN

When hiring an EVA, you want someone that is willing to go the extra mile without being asked. They will need to be familiar with the company’s mission statement and work to promote it. Even when the work week is moving at a hundred miles an hour, your EVA should be dedicating some time to keep up with the latest news and trends within your industry and be on the lookout for the tools that could help make your life easier.

ANTICIPATION OF NEEDS

Anticipation of the business owner’s needs is a trait that normally would come with years of experience. A successful EVA has the ability to anticipate what an executive’s needs are and plans accordingly.  Good EVAs respond to the boss’s requests but great EVAs anticipate those requests, and most likely already have solutions ready. Anticipation is an important requirement of the job. Anyone can take a direction, but successful EVAs are always one step, actually make that two steps, ahead of everyone.

RESOURCEFULNESS

Some of the best EVAs are those who know how to find answers where there might not be any. You should look for an EVA who has the resources to identify solutions and make intelligent decisions, even without you, and who always has the best interest of company.

A resourceful EVA knows how to get things done. It takes an entrepreneurial spirit, someone always looking for ways to make things better. Because EVAs are solution-oriented, they don’t just anticipate challenges, they know how to get resolution.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Attention to detail is a critical trait for the success of any EVA. As a business owner, you probably have high expectations. An experienced EVA becomes your first and last line of defense against mistakes whether it is a typo in a presentation or a board member’s name misspelled in a document. EVAs double and triple check every detail to ensure accuracy. You’ve heard the expression “The devil’s in the details”. You don’t have time to oversee and manage every detail. Be sure your EVA candidate possesses the skills to manage the details and meet expectations.

THE ABILITY TO PRIORITIZE AND ADAPT

An outstanding EVA has the ability to take chaos and turn it into a smooth-running machine. Always look for a candidate who demonstrates unique organizational skills. You will need someone who can identify an area that could use a little organization and show initiative by making recommendations.

Change is something your EVA will need to embrace. Crises may pop up unexpectedly, the phone is always ringing, emails constantly filling the inbox, and, of course, execs require constant attention. They should be able to prioritize and adapt to the ever-changing environment while constantly evaluating processes and finding ways to make them more efficient and effective.

EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS

An EVA’s greatest quality is the ability to speak and write in manner that creates a good image of the company and the executive that they represent. In addition to having a good grasp of grammar, a key component to look for when hiring an EVA is someone that has the ability to interact with coworkers or your company’s clients in a positive manner that is efficient yet friendly.

An EVA deals with people all day long. From the executive they work for, to other team members within the company and clients and stakeholders outside of the organization, your EVA will be your spokesperson for the company and must, therefore, possess great communication skills as well as people skills.

Behind most successful executives is a hardworking, talented Executive Assistant that plays an integral role to the business. How do you find the perfect EVA? Be sure to ask specific questions during your hiring process to help you evaluate potential candidates.

Ultimately, anyone can be an assistant. But, only choose those who possess these traits when choosing your EVA. For more tips or to learn more about how Ann Albrecht Consulting can take your business to the next level, contact us today.

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Ways an Executive Virtual Assistant (EVA) Saves You Money as a Business Owner https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/ways-an-executive-virtual-assistant-eva-saves-you-money-as-a-business-owner/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 13:09:54 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=1609 In today’s business world, an Executive Virtual Assistant (EVA) is an asset to so many companies.  EVA’s work differently than full-time employees, and they can save business owners a lot of time and money. Before we look at how you will save money by hiring...

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In today’s business world, an Executive Virtual Assistant (EVA) is an asset to so many companies.  EVA’s work differently than full-time employees, and they can save business owners a lot of time and money.

Before we look at how you will save money by hiring an EVA, it’s important to understand what an EVA is: a remote executive assistant who works from anywhere and can work either full-time or on specific projects. EVA’s have experience, add value to your business and help you operate your company efficiently.

Every organization, no matter how small, has daily operative and administrative tasks that need doing to keep things running smoothly. As a business starts to grow, it becomes difficult to keep on top of these tasksand this is when mistakes start to be made

Even small errors can lead to big financial losses eventually, so instead of having several employees juggling multiple admin tasks, it makes sense to hire one person to do them all.

Virtual assistants fill the same role as an executive assistant, except they work remotely instead of physically being present in your office. Let’s take a look at ways an Executive Virtual Assistant saves you money as a business owner.

No Office Space or Equipment

Did you know that a new cubicle costs about $2,000? The money a business can save by hiring an EVA extends beyond the initial outlay for office furniture. There are also other hard costs, like office supplies, utilities (lighting, heat, and air), parking, snacks, beverages, meals, on-site childcare, on-site work-life amenities and even on-site wellness and fitness amenities. EVA’s have an office, either at home or in a co-working space, so you can run your business without the expense of renting an office.

No On-Boarding or Staffing Costs

Whenever you on-board new employees, you spend money and time on training. EVA’s ensure that you save hours spent on training and dedicate that time to something more profitable.

EVA’s will bill you either on the number of hours they work, or on the scope of the work required – you pay them for their productive time, and not any time spent on breaks, etc. When you hire an EVA, you only pay for hours worked.

With full-time employees, you pay a salary whether there are tasks to be done or not. And there’s no overtime, hourly rates with EVAs. Sick days, turnover, disengagement, and other pitfalls associated with some work cultures have true business costs.

You Save Time, Time is Money

Time is a valuable resource that always seems in short supply, and once it’s gone it’s gone. That’s why it’s critical to hire people that you can delegate tasks to.

Business owners that spend their days addressing low-level administrative tasks are destined to stall. Having an EVA frees you up from your routine administrative tasks, so you and your team can focus on growing your business instead. 

Ease of Operations and Lack of Time-Consuming Arrangements

The expertise of EVA services, like Ann Albrecht Consulting, offers ease of operations and allows you to streamline your operations. And because EVAs are tech-savvy and have a wide range of experience in different software, they can help improve your office processes and services to your business run smoother.

High quality of work

EVAs are independent contractors. They know that their reputation and success rides on being productive and delivering value to their clients. EVAs strive to perform at a high level, and don’t suffer from the distractions that a typical office-based assistant on a salary will.

Flexibility

EVAs are highly skilled and can generally take over the workload with minimal supervision from you. This is crucial when your business is going through a busy period, and you need to be concentrating your efforts elsewhere.

Hiring EVAs gives you the flexibility you need. Many companies have busy times and having an EVA you can scale their work according to your business needs.

We all know that multitasking is often not effective or efficient and hiring an EVA can help you focus on the important things.

If you think about it, having someone that you can delegate to that you can trust is priceless. What’s your sanity and peace of mind worth?

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8 WAYS YOUR EXECUTIVE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT CAN HELP EASE THE STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/8-ways-your-executive-virtual-assistant-can-help-ease-the-stress-during-the-holidays/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:34:11 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=1604 With the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how you can make your life as a business owner easier during this high-stress and hectic holiday season, and all year long. If you’re like most, there’s no way you can do everything on...

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With the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how you can make your life as a business owner easier during this high-stress and hectic holiday season, and all year long.

If you’re like most, there’s no way you can do everything on your to-do list by yourself. Professional time management skills is critical these days, which means hiring an Executive Virtual Assistant (EVA) could be one of the best investments you’ll ever make! EVA’s will provide invaluable support for business owners who want to take their businesses to the next level without sacrificing any personal time with family or friends during this busy time of year.

TRAVEL PLANS

Your EVA can help you arrange all your holiday travel plans. Let them book flight tickets, hotel reservations and transportation. Give them a list of things you need for your trip and let them take care of it.

MANAGE BUSINESS WHILE YOU’RE GONE

Take some time off to refresh your mind and recharge your battery. Unplugging is truly one of the hardest things to do as a business owner. Your EVA is there for you. Knowing that someone has your back will give you the stress-free time off that is much needed.

HOLIDAY CARDS

Giving Christmas cards is a yearly tradition that can take a lot of time and effort. Your EVA can take care of all of this for you – making sure they are ordered and sent out on time.

EVENT PLANNING

Hosting a holiday party is a good way to show appreciation to your clients and employees. During the busy holiday season, you may not have the time to plan – sending send invitations, tracking RSVPs, book a venue, etc. Let you EVA handle it all for you. This would allow you to focus on other tasks while knowing that your company party is going to be a huge success.

EMAILS

If you are planning to take some time off during the holidays, it’s important to remember that not all of your clients are taking time off. Someone still has to keep your social media accounts updated, reply to emails, and process transactions. These are tasks that your EVA can take care of for you. Knowing that someone is keeping an eye on your inbox will give you peace of mind.

GIFTS

Do you love to give gifts but don’t have the time to go shopping? Have your EVA purchase gifts for your employees and clients. With enough information and details about the people on your list, your EVA can find the best gifts.

PREPARE FOR THE COMING YEAR

Your EVA can help you analyze your company’s performance during the year and plan for next year. Their involvement will help provide insights on your business. This feedback can help you and your team come up with best strategies for a successful New Year.

MORE FREE TIME

Hiring an EVA can do a lot for your company. Having more time to focus on your business and being able to spend more time with friends and family is priceless.

So, spend the holidays with less stress and more joy with the help of your EVA!

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Thankful https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/thankful/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 19:24:16 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=1599 As the Holiday Season is beginning to kick in with Christmas ads on TV and decorations in all the stores, it makes me want to take a moment to pause. And as I take that moment, I must reflect on all that we have been...

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As the Holiday Season is beginning to kick in with Christmas ads on TV and decorations in all the stores, it makes me want to take a moment to pause. And as I take that moment, I must reflect on all that we have been through with the pandemic, the economy and things going on around the world. It also gives me a moment to truly understand how grateful I am for my clients, my friends and family, so many of you have made a huge impact on my business and my life.

Above all, I am appreciative for my team, without whom Ann Albrecht Consulting would not be where it is today. I am often asked – how do you build teamwork when you all work remotely? The best way to describe it is we work like a community – with inclusivity, constant communication, responsiveness, and trust. We work closely together to share ideas and knowledge.

I know firsthand that sometimes when you are part of a virtual team you may experience feelings of isolation. I make sure that my team never feels forgotten!

What makes the AAC virtual team successful?
It’s simple really – it starts before I bring someone on to join our team. They must have excellent communication skills, be resilient and adaptable, motivated, and self-disciplined, understand clear goals, and have a sense of purpose and belonging. I believe that my team has solid rapport, we support each other, and hold each other in the highest regard, even though we have never met in person.

So, during this season of Thanksgiving, I want to share my genuine appreciation of my team and my clients for your support throughout this past year.

At Ann Albrecht Consulting, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

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HAVE YOU BEEN TASKED WITH PLANNING A CORPORATE EVENT? WHAT NOW? https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/have-you-been-tasked-with-planning-a-corporate-event-what-now/ Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:41:11 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=1592 Understanding Corporate Event Planning Corporate event planning goes beyond meeting planning. Although conferences and meetings are typical events, other events you may be tasked to organize include corporate hospitality, client entertaining, conventions, exhibitions, and employee events—team reward programs, team building, motivational events, receptions, parties, and...

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Understanding Corporate Event Planning

Corporate event planning goes beyond meeting planning. Although conferences and meetings are typical events, other events you may be tasked to organize include corporate hospitality, client entertaining, conventions, exhibitions, and employee events—team reward programs, team building, motivational events, receptions, parties, and charity days.

Planning and executing a successful corporate event is no simple task. It’s typically a months-long process with many stages and organizational steps.

As you start to plan for any type of corporate event, it’s best to think of them in terms of their size from the beginning.

Micro events are events planned for up to 100 attendees and often take the form of meetings or smaller training sessions.

The planning requirements for these micro events may simply involve a room booking, presentation facilities, breakout refreshments, and registration.

Small events are generally host to between 100 and 250 attendees. They could be seminars, training days or departmental conferences.

As an event planner you may need to manage a main stage itinerary or several breakout sessions, along with lunch, refreshments, AV needs, online registration, and transportation.

Midsize events could be company-wide conferences for up to 1,000 attendees or leadership summits for important client customers.

There are other considerations when it comes to planning a midsize event – an event website, pre-event communications and outbound strategy, and perhaps an event mobile app. Attendees may require hotel accommodations and transportation. Also keep in mind that a pre- or post-event reception or evening entertainment may be required as part of the planning for this size event.

Large-scale events often require additional technology tools to manage elements such as hotel room bookings, flights, budgets, and online registration.

Large-scale events may be multi-day events – so things to consider when planning include offsite activities, dinners, partner programs, an awards ceremony or other itinerary planning.

Staffing, catering, registration, speaker and attendee management will all need to be carefully planned. Conventions, for example, can attract over 10,000 attendees and can last a few days.

Events in a corporate environment are often staged designed to communicate company strategy, change internal company behavior, launch a product or service, motivate, train or reward staff, or influence the external behavior of customers towards your company.

To ensure effective and successful corporate events, here is a checklist of action steps to keep in mind as you begin to plan:

  • Determine the goal and the primary objectives of the event
  • Identify the audience to set the event’s tone
  • Understand how the event fits into your overall company strategy. What are its long-term objectives?
  • Make a comprehensive list of all the budget line items for the event
  • Identify a planning team and delegate responsibilities
  • Establish a schedule for planning meetings
  • Decide on the date(s) when the event will take place
  • Prepare a preliminary budget based on historic costs
  • Create a list of venue requirements, compare venues and negotiate pricing
  • Plan the event layout and design
  • Secure speakers
  • Develop an event-marketing plan
  • Prepare an event timeline
  • Reserve accommodation and transport requirements
  • Plan menus for meals and refreshments, taking dietary needs into consideration
  • Prepare and print event collateral, invitations/registration
  • Prepare all digital/video content. Secure AV needs
  • Confirm or recruit event staffing
  • Create a Run of Show, include speakers’ rehearsals and tech checks
  • Follow-up with speakers and attendees post-event to thank them for attending and provide key takeaways
  • Conduct post event survey, secure feedback and final costs for future reference

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! When planning an event, location is key and should be determined before you start planning anything else.

Factors to consider when choosing your LOCATION:

  • Nearby airports and convenient public transportation options, walkability
  • Number of quality venues available to choose from
  • Weather
  • Distance from most target attendees
  • Conflicts with city-wide events
  • Safety
  • Traffic
  • Free attractions
  • Flight availability and cost

Tip: To save time narrow your search down to your top three cities. Explore the personalities of the cities. Ask a few key stakeholders to share their thoughts as they might have insights you never even considered.

Factors to consider about your VENUE:

  • How do you feel when you first walk into the venue? First impressions do matter. The venue has to have the right personality for your event
  • Check out the staff. Are they smiling and courteous?
  • Is the venue clean and well maintained? Be sure to check the restrooms!
  • Layout and sizes of the rooms
  • Hotels within walking distance—if the venue is not a hotel
  • Restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance
  • Customer reviews
  • Parking
  • Services offered in-house, including catering, audiovisual, wait staff, cleaning services, etc. and outside vendor policies
  • Insurance and Accessibility

Once the location and the venue have been secured, you can begin to put your plan together for the event – developing your budget, event marketing strategy and attendee engagement ideas.

Virtual Meeting and Event Planning

Not all corporate events are held in-person. If you are planning a virtual event, you will need to ask yourself some additional questions. Does your company have the technology to allow you to host a virtual event? And if it’s a virtual event, do you want it to be casual or formal? Is the content engaging? While the planning process doesn’t vary much from in-person to virtual, the main difference will be in the production and presentation of your content, as well as the virtual technology used.

What ever direction you go with your event, whether in person or virtual, or a hybrid, the best advice I can offer when it comes to event planning is this:

  • Stay Organized
  • You Can’t Start Too Soon
  • Create A Timeline and a Checklist
  • Have a Specific Goal and Purpose for The Event
  • Delegate!
  • Stick to Your Budget
  • Be Prepared to Negotiate
  • Embrace Event Technology. …
  • Don’t Take a Risk When It Comes to Venue
  • Be Prepared to Brand and Market Your Event

Event planning can be extremely successful. Nowhere else is Murphy’s Law more applicable than in event planning. If anything can go wrong, it probably will. So be prepared for all emergencies and make sure you have contingency plans in place long before the day of your event. Unpredictable weather, malfunctioning technology, last-minute cancellations – have a backup plan for everything.

At Ann Albrecht Consulting, we know what it takes to plan event. Have questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected] we are happy to help.

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Seven Levels of Listening – Administrative Professionals Conference https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/seven-levels-of-listening-administrative-professionals-conference/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 15:53:24 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=1587 Recently I attended the sold out Administrative Professionals Conference (APC) hosted by the American Society of Administrative Professionals in Orlando, Florida. Over 1600 administrative professionals of all levels, from all over the world, came together for 3 full days of seminars, workshops, and training. It was...

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Recently I attended the sold out Administrative Professionals Conference (APC) hosted by the American Society of Administrative Professionals in Orlando, Florida. Over 1600 administrative professionals of all levels, from all over the world, came together for 3 full days of seminars, workshops, and training.

It was a great reminder that there is an entire community out there of Administrative Professionals. It was an opportunity to network with companies from all over the globe with 3 full days of sessions and workshops presented by professional trainers. APC is one of the leading training conferences for administrative and executive assistants. It was a chance to develop new skills to bring back and share with my team. It was a time to exchange best practices and ideas with peers and making new connections. It’s always exciting to learn new things that can increase productivity and increase our value as Administrative Professionals. Ultimately making us more valuable to our clients.

During the conference the session tracks were organized into five educational tracks – Business Acumens, Core Competencies, Effective Leadership and Influencing, Professional Personal Growth and Technology Tools.

One of the powerful take-away for me was listening to Ryan Leak’s Keynote:.  “The most important part of communication isn’t how well you talk, but how well you are listening. And are there levels to it. Once we learn them, we can nurture incredible work relationships, so that we’re all the team members that everyone wants to work with. Listening is probably the most underrated component of communication”

Seven Levels of Listening

  1. Not listening: Not paying attention to or ignoring the other person’s communications.
  2. Pretend listening: Acting like or giving the impression that you are paying attention to another person’s communications, but in actuality not really paying attention to that individual.
  3. Partially listening: Only focusing on part of the other person’s communication or only giving it your divided attention.
  4. Focused listening: Giving the other person your undivided attention to his or her communication.
  5. Interpretive listening: Going beyond just paying attention but really trying to understand what the other person is communicating.
  6. Interactive listening: Being involved in the communications by asking clarifying questions or acknowledging understanding of the communication.
  7. Engaged listening: Being fully engaged in communications involves listening to the other person’s views, feelings, interpretations, values, etc. concerning the communication and sharing yours as well with the other person(s). In engaged listening, both parties are given the opportunity to fully express their views, feelings and ideas.

Often times working in our industry as an Admin Professional it is easy to feel like you are working in a silo, not feeling valued. There are times when the roles of the admin or executive admin are not understood. It’s a position that is not often thanked publicly. Global industries send admins of all levels to this conference as a way to recognize their value and reward them by sending them to APC.

Another reminder for me – the Administrative Professional is more than a job, it’s a profession.

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Do You Work From Home (WFH)? Is Every Day Casual Friday? Why You Should Get Dressed When Working from Home https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/do-you-work-from-home-wfh-is-every-day-casual-friday-why-you-should-get-dressed-when-working-from-home/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:15:01 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=507 Working from home (WFH) has become the new normal, actually the normal for many of us. The idea of spending our days working from home on the couch in our pajamas is tempting.  But not getting dressed for work could have a negative impact on...

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Working from home (WFH) has become the new normal, actually the normal for many of us. The idea of spending our days working from home on the couch in our pajamas is tempting.  But not getting dressed for work could have a negative impact on your productivity and mental health.

Dressing up in the morning is just one part of a routine, but it can have a surprisingly big affect on your overall mood, and well-being.

It’s not just about sitting at your desk in a tailored suit. Comfort is just as important as anything else when working from home. The point is, change into something other than your pajamas.

Getting dressed properly for your workday, you will tackle the day with a whole different mindset. And here are some reasons why:

  1. Getting dressed has a positive influence

Many of us that used to work in a corporate, office setting have realized that making the switch to WFH required a shift in perception, attitude and behavior.

It’s easy to get caught in the work-from-bed vortex when you first wake up, reach for your phone and start firing off emails. Before you know it, it’s 11 am, and you haven’t left your bed. Failing to get out of bed and adequately preparing yourself for the day ahead can leave you feeling just as disheveled as you look and feel.

Whether you work for yourself or you’re working remotely for a company, your energy, motivation and performance are intrinsically linked to how you feel mentally and physically. Keep a healthy routine that involves getting up, getting active and getting ready.

  1. Clothing can make you feel good (or bad)

Maintaining a daily routine of getting up, having a shower, and putting on a comfortable outfit is key when you work from home.

When you feel like you’ve made the effort to get dressed and put on something you feel good in, then you’ll be more likely to approach your day with confidence and purpose.

Often times, we underestimate the power of clothing and how it can make you feel – good or bad. Something as simple as wearing a bright colored top or your favorite piece of jewelry can set you up for a productive day!

  1. It prepares you mentally

If you’ve been involved in the world of full-time work, you know that your routines before your workday starts tend to stay the same. And a big part of that routine is getting dressed appropriately.

When you put your work clothes on, you send a message to your brain that it’s time to act a certain way – time to get ready to work. Mindset is affected by the smallest thinking patterns and habits. And getting dressed when working from home easily sets your mind on the right track.

  1. Separating work and home life

Not all of us have a house big enough to have an actual office set up. But even if you are working at the kitchen counter or a corner of the living room, you should separate the time you spend at your workspace from your everyday life as best you can.

And the best way to do this would be by getting dressed when working from home. It gives you the signal that the day has started.  And if you have small children, it helps them to separate the time of day when they see that you are home all day, every day.

  1. You gain confidence

It has been proven so many times, that when we dress up in a way that we feel we look good, it boosts our confidence. And when we feel confident, we can accomplish anything.

Happiness is all about appreciating the little things in life. And one of those little things is being aware of the affect the way we dress has on our mood. When we are in a good mood because of these actions in our everyday lives, it then becomes a habit.

Getting dressed, when working from home, keeps you more accountable and is an affirmation to yourself every morning that you are ready for what the day will bring.

  1. Get dressed to signal a shift in your day

Getting dressed for the day, especially when you’re working from home, sets you up to have a more productive day.  While it’s important to dress for work, it’s also important to change out of your work clothes and into something more casual at the end of the day.  You need to have that differentiation between being in work mode and the end of your day. If you are working from home, and not leaving the house, your environment is not changing so it’s important to change your outfits to signal the end of your day.

What to wear when you WFH

So, you have read all the reasons why it’s important to get dressed properly when working from home, but what should you wear? You want to be comfortable, but you also want to present professionally.

Here are some tips on the types of clothing to wear when working from home:

Make it fun but stylish

The key to a good work-from-home wardrobe is wearing something that makes you feel equal parts comfortable, productive and good about yourself.

Summer cotton pieces can be fun and stylish, mixed and matched. Winter is jeans and an oversized, flattering cardigan, ideally with a long-sleeve top or high neck. You can always throw on a blazer if you need to be a bit more dressy for a video conference call.

Choose the clothing you’d actually leave the house in

When it comes to WFH attire choose clothing that you would actually leave the house in. You still want that element of comfort and practicality, but ask yourself: would I go to the office or shopping in this outfit, let my friends and family see me dressed like this?

Jogger pants, a cashmere sweater, and tops in soft and stretchy fabrics are great options when working from home.

Don’t forget shoes

Wear proper shoes, other than Uggs or slippers. This will help you to feel more in the work mode. A pair of slip-on loafers, soft flats, or a pair of sneakers are ideal when working from home.

When you work from home, is every day is (very) casual Friday?

There is no dress code in a home office. Fashion, in general, has become increasingly casual over the past few decades. These days, activewear or “athleisure”, which historically was considered gym or weekend wear, is now accepted work attire in many businesses. Remember the day when you wouldn’t leave the gym without a shower and change of clothes!

Formal work attire has become the exception, not the rule —as many companies have adopted a more flexible dress code. For some, every day casual work attire creates a feeling of broken routines and under-motivation. For others, it’s ultimate liberation. What’s your thought on this?

How disheveled do you look when you’re working from home? Do you stay in your pajamas all day? Or are you one of those people who needs to look your office-best even while working on your computer at home? Do you get dressed in the morning when you work from home? Or can you still produce as much great quality work in your pajamas?

 

At Ann Albrecht Consulting, we want to hear your take on this – comments welcome.

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Five Reasons Why Every Virtual Office Needs a Virtual Assistant https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/five-reasons-why-every-virtual-office-needs-a-virtual-assistant/ Thu, 21 Jul 2022 17:51:37 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=472 Before we get into the five reasons virtual offices need a virtual assistant, it is important to answer the question – what is a Virtual Assistant? A virtual assistant is an individual who provides services to businesses or entrepreneurs from a remote location. While they...

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Before we get into the five reasons virtual offices need a virtual assistant, it is important to answer the question – what is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is an individual who provides services to businesses or entrepreneurs from a remote location. While they are not in-office employees, they can access all the necessary data and tools to do the required jobs virtually. These services may include office and administrative support, calendar and expense account management and HR support, just to name a few.

Reason #1 – Reduced Overhead Costs – Lower Salaries, Operating Costs and Training Costs

Most business owners and entrepreneurs hire virtual assistants to reduce their overhead costs. Instead of hiring a full-time employee, virtual assistants are hired to do the same jobs but because they are virtual, it lowers overhead costs for businesses. Virtual Assistants can usually jump right into a project or task with little to no training. When you hire a new employee, think about how much time and resources you have to invest to train them for different aspects of their job. Virtual assistants only work on specific tasks that they are already trained in, so you won’t have to worry about spending a lot of time training them.

Reason #2 – Increased Efficiency

Another great reason to hire a virtual assistant is that they allow you as the business owner to focus on their core competencies and taking care of what is important to grow your  business and manage your time. As a business owner, you have to deal with a large amount of non-revenue generating activities like scheduling meetings and travel, event management, expense account management, and on-boarding new hires, just to name a few. While these are necessary tasks, they are not core tasks that need to be done by business owners or an in-house team.

By outsourcing your non-core activities to a virtual assistant with the right skill set, it lets you invest your time and resources into tasks that needto be done to grow your business and increase your efficiency.

Reason #3 – Scale Your Business Operations Quickly

Virtual assistants will help you scale up your business operations quickly when it comes to hiring. A virtual assistant will give you the ability to quickly hire talent on a project-by-project basis, you can easily cope with increasing work demands without worrying about rushing your recruitment process. Think about how much time you will save not having to handle on-boarding new hires, benefits and enrollment, and even time sheets. A virtual assistant gives you the chance to handle the important tasks you need to deal with to manage and grow your business.

Reason #4 – More Free time for Strategic Thinking

Since virtual assistants can perform your non-core activities, you have more time to focus on growing your business.

Rather than wasting time and resources in doing day-to-day operations, you can invest your time in what’s important – strategic thinking and future plans for your company – setting you up for long-term success.

Reason #5 – Maintaining Your Work-Life Balance

By hiring a virtual assistant, you no longer have to deal with the time consuming tasks that drag you down as a business owner. Virtual assistants are great at staying one step ahead at all times, providing you the resources to help you thrive and be as productive as possible. Having a life outside of work often sounds too good to be true to most business owners.

Call Ann Albrecht Consulting if you are ready to get your free time back!

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Considering Hiring a Virtual Executive Assistant? https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/considering-hiring-a-virtual-executive-assistant/ Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:58:04 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=456 Common Objections Answered. Many business owners understand that today’s access to connectivity allows people from anywhere in the world. But they still are apprehensive about hiring a virtual executive assistant (VEA). Common Questions business owners ask themselves about hiring a VEA are actually objections. QUESTION OBJECTION...

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Common Objections Answered.

Many business owners understand that today’s access to connectivity allows people from anywhere in the world. But they still are apprehensive about hiring a virtual executive assistant (VEA).

Common Questions business owners ask themselves about hiring a VEA are actually objections.

QUESTIONOBJECTION
Will it be difficult to get the VEA up to speed?It will take them too long to get up to speed 
Will my VEA understand my business? How will I know if it’s going to work?I can’t commit to something if I don’t know it’ll work
Will my confidential business and/or personal financial information be safe and secure?Working with a virtual executive assistant doesn’t seem safe or secure
 Will there really be a true cost savings? Hiring a VEA is too much of a financial investment 
Am I too busy to deal with training them?I’m too busy to hire a VEA, I have no time to train someone

The questions above are actually Objections:

#1  It will take them too long to get up to speed 

#2  I can’t commit to something if I don’t know it’ll work

#3  Working with a virtual executive assistant doesn’t seem secure

#4  Hiring a VEA is too much of a financial investment 

#5  I’m too busy to hire a virtual assistant, I have no time to train or manage them

OBJECTION #1: IT WILL TAKE A VEA TOO LONG TO GET UP TO SPEED

Even if you had the time to outline the details of what you want to delegate, you might be thinking to yourself that your virtual executive assistant will take too long to get up to speed or even worse – just won’t get it.

It’s hard enough to manage someone in person, how will you be able to delegate to someone that might be working half a world away?

Today’s business owners need to be focused on doing the things they need to do to grow their business. Think about workflow and what you need to do that adds the most value to your company that only you can do. Once you figure that out, the rest you can delegate to your VEA.

OBJECTION #2: I CAN’T COMMIT TO SOMETHING IF I DON’T KNOW IT WILL WORK

Hiring a VEA will take your time and commitment to find, interview, onboard, and get your virtual executive assistant up to speed. You will need to manage your VEA – so they can learn and understand your way of doing business.

Communication is key to a successful working relationship with your virtual assistant. Speak to your VEA on a regular basis. If you commit, communicate and delegate you will have a winning partnership with your VEA.

If you are overwhelmed with administrative tasks that keep you from accomplishing your goals for your business, you need admin support, because your loss of productivity will cost you money in the long run. Just think what you could you do to advance your business goals if you weren’t so overwhelmed by admin tasks?

Remember, it will take commitment from you and your VEA.

OBJECTION #3: HIRING A VIRTUAL EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DOESN’T SOUND SECURE

Cyber security is on every business owner’s mind these days. Making sure that your virtual executive assistant is trustworthy and abides by security best practices is imperative.

In today’s business world, we interact with others remotely via phone, email, and video conferencing every day. Some of your most sensitive data (credit card information, various email, logins, and passwords) must be given to your VEA. If this leaves you feeling uneasy, there are certain secure ways to give your VEA tiered access to data you’d like to keep secure. 

Create a clear security policy and train your VEA on these policies. You can protect your information by clearly outlining policies, establishing a strong training program, and by ensuring that you, as the business owner, lead by example. With the landscape of social media platforms and software platforms always changing, it’s a good idea to continually review your security procedures and policies.

OBJECTION #4: IT MAY NOT BE COST-EFFECTIVE TO HIRE A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

How does hiring a VEA save money in the long run? Most business owners have experienced the high cost of hiring in-house employees, and even higher costs to replace a salaried employee.

Think about when you lose a salaried employee – there are real costs for replacing that position – advertising, screening, interviewing, hiring, training, benefits, taxes, IT infrastructure and support, facility costs, a work computer, and not to mention how much time it takes away from running your day to day operation.

Generally, when you hire a virtual executive assistant, your costs will be 50-75% of what it takes to hire an in-house employee. Since VEAs cover their own costs associated with taxes, insurance and benefits the risk factor to hire virtually is a lot less than if you were to hire an in-house employee to do the same job.

OBJECTION #5: I’M TOO BUSY TO HIRE, TRAIN, AND MANAGE A VEA

It’s perfectly normal to think that working with a virtual executive assistant will require a lot of detailed, hand holding, up-front management. You’re probably thinking, “I don’t have time to figure out how and what to delegate”.  It’s totally normal to feel stress just thinking about the time it will take to find, hire, train, and manage a virtual executive assistant.

So what’s the solution? Think of it this way – you know you need help so you can focus your efforts on growing your business. That’s the first step. The time you invest today, WILL save you time and money tomorrow (and in the future).

At Ann Albrecht Consulting, we understand that it can be challenging to hire, train and trust a virtual executive assistant. It is our goal to make the process as seamless and effortless as possible. If you are considering on-boarding a VEA, call us and let’s talk about working together. You can also visit our website at www.annalbrechtconsulting.com.

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Staying Healthy While Working From Home https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/staying-healthy-while-working-from-home/ Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:52:10 +0000 https://annalbrechtconsulting.com/?p=437 And avoiding the Afternoon Slump! After 14 months of social distancing and remote working, you may be settling into a routine with your workday, but it’s always good to be reminded on ways to staying healthy, keeping your energy level up and staying productive when...

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And avoiding the Afternoon Slump!

After 14 months of social distancing and remote working, you may be settling into a routine with your workday, but it’s always good to be reminded on ways to staying healthy, keeping your energy level up and staying productive when working from home, even if your kids, pets or the nice spring weather  tempt you with distraction.

Are you working from home – spending too much time seated, slouched on the couch, staring at your computer for hours? This not only affects our physical health but also our mental health. Here are a few tips from Ann Albrecht Consulting to stay healthy and boost your energy level during your workday.

How to Stay Healthy While Working from Home

When you’re working from home, it’s important to have a balance between family, work, meetings and breaks you take. When you apply that same type of structure to working from home as you did when you worked in an office setting, you will eventually fall into a productive routine.

  1. Set up a dedicated workspace

You need a comfortable space at home where you can work without distraction or interruptions. Find a space you can claim as your own. This may be a corner out of the way or one end of the kitchen table. Think of your home office as a safe space just for you, where you can focus, make uninterrupted phone calls and get your work done. By the end of your workday, you can walk away from this space feeling like you’ve been productive.

  1. Avoid strain and pain

Although the couch may seem tempting, a chair that supports your back is probably the best bet. Practice good posture while working at a computer all day, and make sure to stretch often to avoid neck and shoulder injuries. Sitting sedentary for long hours may be linked to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Even try to walk a little bit every hour or practice exercises near your workspace.

  1. Establish a routine

If you can, plan to start work at the same time every day and practice healthy boundaries. Structuring your day will help you stay focused on the task at hand, and set boundaries with others to let them know you’re “at work.”

  1. Take breaks, including lunch

Be sure to schedule breaks during the day and be mindful of your own well-being. Get up and move around, take a walk or throw a load of laundry in. Anything to get your thoughts away from work will do.

If you have family at home, schedule a regular time to eat lunch together —making sure to get back to work at the same time every day. Choose healthy, nutritious foods, just as you would at work and try to avoid eating at your desk. And stay hydrated!

  1. Think beyond work

When you’re feeling tired or anxious, it can be difficult to stay focused on work. Be sure to take care of your whole self, with exercises and relaxation techniques you can do at home.

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Ann Albrecht Consulting

Why Choose Ann Albrecht Consulting?

We thrive on helping executives be as
productive and impactful as possible.

Ann Albrecht has over two decades of experience supporting C-level executives in diverse industries including Biotech, Venture Capital, Strategic Marketing and Non-profit.

• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks

• Excellent time management skills

• Well-developed organizational skills and attention to detail

• Great verbal and written communication skills

• Most importantly, professional discretion

Let’s Talk > Contact Ann Today!

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