Whether you want more energy to grow your business or more bandwidth to get things done, an administrative assistant can be the superhero you need! These specialists work behind the scenes to take care of day-to-day activities so you can transform your dreams into reality—and too many teams don’t know what they’re missing.
Administrative Professionals Week runs April 25-29, 2022. It’s a time dedicated to celebrating everything these organizers, implementers, and communicators do to help our organizations move forward.
We asked some administrative professionals at Upwork to share their experiences as we take time to appreciate how these multi-talented experts have helped strengthen their teams.
“I love being the ‘go-to’ person and someone the team can consistently count on. I get to be a strategic partner and a contributing partner, not just a support person.”
—Manuela Dominguez, Executive Assistant, Upwork
Administrative expertise is more than great organizational skills
People who offer administrative services have a diverse skill set that includes communication, time management, strategic planning, and tech savviness. But what they bring to the table is more than the sum of these parts. 92% of people who’ve worked with administrative professionals agree that they’re “essential to the success of a team.”
What makes them so valuable? For many, it’s how they thrive when faced with something new.
“My favorite part about being an [executive assistant] is the unknown, which makes this role both interesting and unpredictable,” said Stefano Zapata, a virtual assistant who helps support various teams at Upwork including the product and experience team.
Every day brings a different challenge, a dynamic environment that equips administrative professionals with a broad knowledge base, sharp problem-solving skills, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
When added to your business, that experience brings flexibility and perspective that can help you be more competitive.
“I get to partner with some of the most brilliant minds in the company … Each day is a new opportunity to help drive the success of our business and what continues to excite me is the thoughtfulness behind the ‘how’ that I am able to contribute to best support our teams [to] deliver.”
—Alyssa Ahkuoi, Executive Assistant, Upwork
How can your business leverage administrative professionals?
If you don’t have a virtual assistant in your corner already, consider that some of the most in-demand skills are firmly within their area of expertise, including marketing and customer service support.
They are also often able to contribute an insider’s perspective to your work. Half of the administrative professionals work in healthcare, education, or professional/scientific/technical services, often receiving industry-specific training and experience.
Businesses lean on specialists to support internal and stakeholder communication, project management, processes and procedures, management support, and other task-driven activities. If you’re looking for a project to start with, consider some of these predefined services available through Upwork’s Project Catalog™.
Manage projects and events
- Hands-on expertise to help your team adopt rapid agile processes
- A custom design for your next event
- Planning for your next virtual team meeting
- Custom corporate training to help your team grow
Support operations
- 1:1 coaching to help you navigate organizational change
- A Shopify pro to support your ecommerce store
- Creative content and social media management
- An experienced moderator for your next virtual event
Track ongoing progress and metrics
- A custom setup for your team using leading project management software
- A sales, revenue, and lead management dashboard
- A marketing dashboard to help you make better-informed decisions
Organize administrative services
- Broad support when you’re out of the office
- U.S. tax-related preparation services
- Organize your email so you can get to Inbox Zero
Assist with other task-driven activities
- Travel planning and logistics for your next trip
- Presentation design for your next pitch or proposal
- A website for event promotion and ticket sales
- Design support to help you get ready for your next trade show
Ready to see what’s possible?
When you aren’t wrapped up in the minutiae of keeping your business running, you can focus your energy on what comes next. With Administrative Professionals Week just around the corner, this is the perfect time to consider how having a virtual assistant in your corner could change your business and help it grow.
