14 Jun What to Look for in a Personal Assistant

Our lives are as busy as they can be, and with a hectic work culture finding time to stay organized and handle the nitty-gritty details can get difficult. No wonder people are turning to personal assistants for much-needed support to navigate their personal and professional affairs. PAs help you stay organized and on top of your responsibilities. But what qualities should you look for when hiring a personal assistant? Let’s take a look!

Excellent Communication Skills

Effective communication is the backbone of any successful partnership, and for hiring a personal assistant, this skill can make all the difference. You should look for a candidate demonstrating exceptional verbal and written communication proficiency. An assistant with strong verbal communication skills can articulate ideas clearly and effectively. They should be capable of expressing themselves via any media, whether phone calls, emails, zoom meetings, or in-person.

Candidates with exceptional written communication skills will be proficient in composing professional emails, proposals, reports, and corporate letters. They understand and value the significance of precision, grammar, and tone in written correspondence. Their ability to express themselves clearly, listen attentively, and convey their message professionally enhances productivity maintaining a harmonious work environment. Hiring a personal assistant with excellent communication skills ensures that information flows smoothly and accurately. It avoids misunderstandings or miscommunication among all your staff.

Ability to Organize and Prioritize

A personal assistant must excel in structuring workflows, managing schedules, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Their arrival should uphold order and enhance overall organizational efficiency. A PA identifies the urgency of important tasks by tracking deadlines allowing them to prioritize effectively and allocate resources accordingly. This skill is particularly valuable when dealing with time-sensitive projects, tight deadlines, and multiple demands on your company’s resources.

Candidates excelling in time management can effectively handle schedules and coordinate meetings utilizing every second of the day. They keep track of all corporate events verifying that no meeting or event overlaps with other important tasks. Your assistant’s prioritization skills enable you to tackle high-priority assignments without being overwhelmed by smaller, time-consuming details. It lets you maximize your time and focus on core duties with the firm’s executives.

Friendly Demeanor and Confident Body Language

An assistant wearing a smile as their armor and showing confidence through their body language is an irreplaceable asset in any professional setting. Their friendly demeanor and warm, approachable nature create a positive work environment, fostering open communication and collaboration. Their approachability becomes an open door, inviting discussions, feedback, and guidance. Your staff and clients will feel at ease seeking their assistance, knowing they will be met with a friendly and accommodating attitude.

Additionally, confidence enables personal assistants to navigate challenging conversations and difficult situations tactfully and professionally. They exude confident body language by maintaining eye contact and assertive gestures while expressing their thoughts. These gestures may include hand movements, facial expressions, and a shift in their voice’s pitch. A PA’s confident demeanor will instill trust and credibility among your clients, reassuring them that they are in capable hands.

Technical Proficiency

Technological advancements have transformed how we work, communicate, and manage tasks. So, to stay relevant and sustain efficiency in this technology-driven market, a personal assistant with technical proficiency is necessary. By seeking a PA with strong technical skills, you guarantee they can effectively navigate the digital landscape leveraging technology to streamline your workflow. When hiring, you should lean towards candidates comfortable with essential office software and well-versed in digital systems.

Assistants with tech proficiency can effortlessly navigate the labyrinth of the internet and digital world. They oversee everything from handling emails to scheduling Google Calendars and operating performance management systems (PMS). They will assist with online research and data analysis allowing you to make data-driven and statistically favorable decisions. A personal assistant also manages the web portal and social media, following the trends to bring more clients or traffic to your page. Additionally, a tech-savvy PA can help you adopt new software and tools in the office, enhancing staff productivity.

Proactive Attitude

A proactive personal assistant takes the initiative, anticipates needs, and goes above and beyond assigned tasks. They actively seek ways to contribute and improve their job rather than merely waiting for directions. They will follow your instructions, pay attention to your comments, and spot areas where they can do more. A proactive assistant is always one step ahead, whether researching new strategies, suggesting improvements, or taking charge of projects.

They are willing to go the extra mile to ensure everything runs smoothly and you have the support you need. It cultivates a foundation of reliability and trust, allowing you to delegate tasks and responsibilities confidently. So, look for someone who demonstrates a proactive mindset and a genuine eagerness to contribute, make a difference, and watch the profits roll in.

Creativity and Problem-Solving Ability

Creative individuals can think outside the box, offering fresh ideas and innovative solutions to problems and challenges. Likewise, a creative personal assistant provides a unique perspective on problems and helps generate ingenious ideas to solve them. Their resourcefulness and adaptability guarantee that they will deliver results even in the most demanding situations.

Familiarity breeds contempt. You’re already familiar with your work, so you may not realize the existing problems. However, a new set of eyes from a creative PA will help you see things from a different angle.  The best part? They provide ideas for existing problems, anticipate potential issues, and nip them in the bud. So, embrace your assistant’s creativity and problem-solving ability and explore new possibilities in your organization.

These qualities are vital in establishing a successful and productive work relationship with a personal assistant. Hire someone with these exceptional qualities and share your principles and work ethic. So, before taking the plunge and hiring an assistant, carefully analyze and verify whether the candidate you’re interviewing possesses such features.

It may seem daunting, but with Riveter Consulting Group, you can hire an assistant that meets your criteria. Our role is to pair you with an assistant who meets your requirements and makes you feel comfortable working together.