Q:
How do I know when I’m really ready for an assistant?
A:
A: Bringing in an assistant is a significant (and exciting!) step in your speaking career. Hiring support not only frees up your bandwidth, it can elevate every aspect of your performance.
If you’re kicking around the idea of working with an assistant, these questions can serve as a simple self-assessment to identify your support readiness, need level, and what kind of assistant may serve you best.
1. Can I afford it?
Truthfully, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Your ability to recoup the cost of your assistant depends on your speaking fee, how many events you do, and your business and personal expenses.
As a rule of thumb, estimate how many additional speaking gigs you expect to land with the support of an assistant, and compare that to their retainer rate. If you get a positive number, an assistant, even in a limited-time capacity, could be a great investment.
2. Do I have enough work to need an assistant?
If you’re doing more than a couple of events per month that require travel, that’s a strong indicator an assistant could really benefit you. With a dedicated partner managing your travel and lodging logistics, monitoring your communications while you travel, and helping you navigate setbacks and delays, you’ll gain hours back every month for content creation, topic development, and well-deserved rest!
3. Should I hire an in-person, virtual, or hybrid assistant?
To answer this question, reflect on your working style and specific needs. Some speakers are used to leading teams and collaborating across the table. Others value the convenience and accessibility of virtual support. If most of your tasks are digital—think email communications, online admin work, and travel arrangements—a virtual assistant offers a good balance of affordability and efficiency.
4. What experience and education level should my assistant have?
Ideally, you’ll want to look for an assistant with experience in administration or event planning. Qualities like quick learning, problem-solving, and an interest in your speaking niche are also helpful. Added points for an assistant with experience in travel arrangements and people management!
If these questions have you dreaming of delegating, Storyteller Solutions can help.
When professional speakers, authors, and coaches need help turning their best ideas into actionable plans (that actually get done!), we help them tell a stronger story. Connect with our team to grow your audience, shrink your task list, and raise your fees—not your stress level
