It’s officially Spring and this means productivity decreases in small businesses and large corporations. According to this article published by Entrepreneur.com, hot weather drops productivity by 4 percent per degree. What does this mean? It means that as it starts to look and feel more like summer we become distracted and find a way to unplug.
Don’t get me wrong, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a priority of mine and should be for all entrepreneurs. However, the truth is that in order to do so delegation is required. Whether you are taking a week long beach vacation, a weekend staycation or simply want to log off at noon each day you must have the proper coverage. Do you know what type of support your small business needs? Let’s dive in!
Should I hire an OBM or VA?
First and foremost as the business owner, you need to determine if you need a task doer or a task manager:
Scenario One: You are a one-person show and just need to get some recurring tasks off your plate because you still have the bandwidth to oversee the day-to-day operations. Hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) that is focused on a specific area (marketing, inbox management, customer service) is appropriate.
Scenario Two: You have a small team and simply cannot manage the daily operations and/or be the project manager anymore. Hiring an Online Business Manager (OBM) to oversee the daily operations, serve as the project manager and your accountability partner is the right move.
Get Clarity on What You Really Need With These 4 Steps
Make a list of tasks that bog you down, but can be done by someone else.
Identify what you can afford to invest in a resource.
Review items on your daily to-do list that frequently get skipped/overlooked.
Document tasks that you do NOT want to delegate.
After completing the four steps above you should have a clear idea on whether you need a doer or a manager. Congratulations! Now you are ready to start recruiting and drafting your onboarding plan. Remember, this is a partnership and requires adequate training in order to be successful. For a more detailed review of your homework before outsourcing, click here to download the FREE prep checklist.
If you got this far and are feeling overwhelmed, the good news is Creative PlanHer is just Zoom meeting away. We are happy to talk through what may be the best fit for your small business. Book a FREE consult today!