According to U.S. Career Institute studies, about 79% of managers believe that remote executive assistants are instrumental to helping leaders excel.

Remote working is transforming how we do work. It’s making business owners and entrepreneurs more productive. You can be efficient at handling everyday tasks that used to consume your time and concentration.

Embracing a virtual powerhouse is the standard. Now it has become easy to manage calendars and set appointments by hiring someone who lives on the other side of the world. These virtual professionals provide top-notch administrative support so executives, like yourself, can focus on what truly matters.

If you’re ready to thrive, check out the ways a remote executive assistant can be a strategic leverage.

What Is a Remote Executive Assistant Job Description?

A remote executive assistant is a professional who provides strategic support to corporate leaders outside of the traditional office setting.

Their role goes beyond administrative, as they become the right-hand person of high-level executives. They manage your schedule and ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. This allows you to focus on executive-level tasks and drive business growth.

The beauty of working with remote EAs is their ability to take the initiative and think proactively. Instead of waiting for your command, they anticipate future needs and address issues before they escalate. This makes them invaluable for time-pressed individuals, like you, with a demanding schedule.

What Does a Remote Executive Assistant Do?

Here’s how a remote executive assistant can reduce your daily burdens:

Schedule Appointment

On average, executives lose 72% of their time sitting in meetings. Between setting appointments and preparing for these business sessions, it’s easy to lose track of your priorities.

Asking a remote executive assistant to do it for you allows better control of your schedule. They can structure your hectic day and track events without stressing you with the details.

Handle Email

Don’t you want an email that shines? A remote executive assistant can keep your messy inbox organized. They can filter messages and ensure only relevant content reaches your attention. This way, you can stay on top of your email correspondence and make timely decisions.

Bad email management breaks your focus and fuels the productivity drain.

Manage Projects

Your remote EA has technical knowledge and extensive experience in creating project plans. They can coordinate team members, handle the budget and schedule tasks. From start to finish, they can efficiently deliver your project needs using project management software.

Organize Travel

Aside from meeting clients outside the city, you need to plan the travel. Unless you rope in a remote executive assistant, you don’t have to handle the intricate travel details yourself. From hotel bookings to ground transportation, delegate them all and travel with comfort and ease.

Write and Edit Presentations

Create the perfect presentation with remote executive assistants. They can review your draft and put together a presentation that’ll leave your audience impressed.

Other Administrative Support

Your office’s spot-on administration is what keeps you organized and productive. So, make sure the little things don’t pile up by teaming up with a remote personal assistant.

All the office management tasks that break your concentration should be delegated to this virtual admin expert.

• Data entry
• Sending invites
• Completing paperwork
• Preparing reports
• Organizing digital files

Communication and Coordination

Communication plays a crucial role in keeping processes organized and streamlined. A virtual professional for executives serves as a point of contact, facilitating correspondence between executives and stakeholders. With their support, urgent matters get to the right person quickly.

More Tasks to Delegate

The job of your remote executive assistant is to support you all the way in every way. They adapt to your current business needs, reducing stress and increasing productivity. As such, they take on other roles and provide the support you need most.

• Social media management
• Website management
• Digital marketing activities
• Content creation
• Research
• Personal errands

Skills a Remote Executive Assistant Should Have

To find and hire the “truly great one” requires an investment of time and energy. After all, you can’t just recruit the first candidate you bump into.

Vet remote executive assistants carefully and assess the whole candidate, not just the resume. Can they actually support your everyday business operation?

Soft Skills

• Strong communication skills
• Resourcefulness
• Adaptability
• Discretion
• Time Management skills
• Proactiveness
• Organization skills

Hard Skills

• Technical proficiency
• Calendar and email management
• Knowledge of online tools
• Data management
• Attention to detail

The Challenges

A remote assistant who has difficulty communicating and is slow to respond is waving a red flag. To ensure a productive long-term match, ensure your candidate embodies the skills we mentioned.

The right VA evolves with your needs and is committed to helping you succeed. If you find someone who is just like that, congratulations, you’re on the right path to success.

Benefits of Hiring a Remote EA

Working with a remote executive assistant means keeping an eye on your office administration while you sleep. Sounds like magic, right?

This online help is the perfect alternative to your traditional executive assistant. They help you avoid the heavy employee-associated costs while adding value to your company.

Global Talent Pool

Why settle for a local employee who doesn’t meet your requirements? Hire the best the world can offer with a remote executive assistant.

Remote working opens a world of possibilities. You can recruit beyond borders and find the right talent with the skills to take your business to the next level. They’re not just task-takers; they carry your business vision and impact your overall operation.

Cost-Effectiveness

The cost of bringing in an in-house assistant is too expensive for your startup business. You could be in financial debt before you even begin working with them.

A remote executive assistant is a budget-friendly, high-value support. They make the overheads disappear, allowing you to allocate more resources to strategic ventures.

According to Global Workplace Analytics, you can save as much as $11,000 for every employee if you outsource. This is the result of zero expenses on rent and compensation benefits, highlighting the massive economic return of having remote workers.

By going remote, you make every dollar work, pushing your business forward.

Scalability

The evolving market requires you to step on the accelerator to meet your current business needs.

Luckily, remote professionals can scale alongside you, adapting swiftly to the unpredictable market shifts. They can decrease or increase support without the shackles of long-term contracts, allowing you to operate more flexibly. This agility evidently results in operational efficiency.

Flexibility

Remote executive assistants are nothing but flexible. You see, they can fill in odd hours and provide continuous support in different time zones. This is truly advantageous in catering to global customers. You can deliver fast service and enhance customer experience without working overtime.

Reduced Employee Turnover

Remote working decreases turnover rates. How? It’s simple: workers who feel supported stay.

When a newly hired employee leaves, you’re buried in financial stress that costs thousands of dollars. Autonomy through flexible working arrangements significantly improves retention rates. This shines brightly, even in the high-pressure role of an executive assistant.

Remote working helps build a consistent and stable workforce, promoting sustainable work. This is the sort of stability you need to push your company forward without the hassles of rehiring.

Enhanced Productivity

Remote executive assistants outperform in-house executive assistants in productivity. They are 40% more productive because they have better control of their working environment.

Without having to commute to their workplace, they can start early with more energy. This drives their performance and overall productivity.

On top of that, they free up your time to concentrate on core responsibilities just by taking over your admin duties. This means you can achieve greater results without having to do everything.

Better Work-Life Balance

The transition to remote work has made life easier. You can structure your day in a way that caters to both your personal and professional ventures.

According to Forbes, people who work remotely straight from their homes are 20% happier than those who don’t. CarrerCircle further reports that a staggering 91% of remote professionals have a better work-life balance. This leads to them being more satisfied with their jobs.

Work-life balance is a major factor in job satisfaction. Happy workers perform optimally and are committed to your mission. They won’t go looking for a job elsewhere because they want to build a lasting partnership with you.

How to Work Effectively with a Remote Executive

Working with a remote EA is not as easy as it seems. It requires planning and preparation to stay connected and in sync with your assistant despite the ticking time belts.

Here’s what a day with a remote executive assistant would look like:

Remote assistants count on various communication and project management tools to collaborate and communicate with you. Some of the tools they use include:

• Trello, Asana and Basecamp for task management
• Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat for direct messaging and quick updates
• Zoom, Google Meet and Webex Meeting for video conferencing and regular check-ins
• Harvest, Toggl Track and Clockify for time monitoring

Working at a Distance

Remote professionals work around your availability to provide you with the support you need when you need it. Although regular check-ins are necessary to ensure quality performance and progress, VAs don’t need micromanagement. They keep priorities clear even without your supervision.

Do you need a bilingual virtual assistant?

Remote Executive Assistant FAQs

How does a Remote Executive Assistant Differ from an In-House Executive Assistant?

The main differences between an in-house executive assistant and a remote executive assistant lie in their flexibility, location and responsibilities.

A remote EA can handle the same tasks as any traditional EA. But unlike the latter, they operate remotely, removing the overhead costs. They also follow a more flexible schedule that runs beyond standard office hours. Their scope of work is broader and supports executives strategically.

What is the Difference Between a General VA and a Remote Executive Assistant?

A general virtual assistant takes on administrative support. Meanwhile, a remote executive assistant offers executive support. They are more experienced in handling projects and engaging with stakeholders.

What is the Description of a Remote Executive Assistant?

A remote executive assistant is a virtual professional who provides high-level support to executives. They manage a wide range of tasks that go beyond simple administration and assume a more strategic role.

Ready for a Remote Executive Assistant?

If your current business demands don’t fit your workday, hire a remote executive assistant. They can be your strategic advantage in transforming your workflow and maximizing your productivity.

Start your journey to success by partnering with a virtual assistant company like VAV. We are your leading recruitment experts, providing high-quality virtual assistant services that evolve with your needs.

We have perfectly capable remote EAs who can remove day-to-day distractions, allowing you to work more efficiently.

Let us help you take charge and shine. Book a free consultation today and talk to our experts to find the support you really need.