It is likely that you have dozens of duties associated with your main title, whether it is marketing manager, operations manager, copy editor, or managing director. Combine this with the demands of home and that elusive social life, overload is inevitable.

Business owners often wear too many hats. You may feel that you can handle everything yourself, but this can cause burnout and you may not be using your talents to their full potential!

Signs that you are wearing too many hats in your business:

• Do you have a never-ending list of things to do, and there’s no way you’ll ever finish it?
• Are you constantly switching between tasks?
• Is your work varied, from financial to administrative?
• Stressed out all the time and unable to shut off from work?

It can be difficult to let go of control. However, delegation is one of the most significant things leaders can do. Your business can move forward if you assign tasks to individuals with the right skills, allowing you to focus on what’s really important.

This is where a virtual assistant can help. Every virtual assistant has their own set of skills, but there are certain characteristics every virtual assistant should possess. In addition to being trustworthy and reliable, your virtual assistant should be able to multitask. After all, they’re professional task managers who are there to take those little hassles off your plate.

Tips from a virtual assistant

• List your hats: The best way to get your hat count under control is to write all your responsibilities down. According to Huffington Post, divide the paper into two columns. Write down all your hats in the left column. On the right, list the time each takes on a weekly basis.

• Rank your priorities: Rank each entry on your list according to its importance for you. It may shock you to find out that the most time-consuming tasks are the least important ones.

• Delegate work responsibilities: Start delegating your tasks. You can start off small and gradually work your way up as you feel more comfortable. You will be surprised at how much work a virtual assistant can do for you.

Using a specialised virtual assistant will allow you to outsource the items you struggle with. You can be sure that the tasks will be handled competently – maybe even better than you could do on your own. You may still have to wear a number of hats, but your overall load will be lighter. In fact, your job may even become more enjoyable.