Getting the most out of a personal assistant

If you've finally taken the plunge and hired a personal assistant, it's easy to get a great return on investment with your new hire by following these three simple tips.

• Unlike most jobs that have well-defined roles, the title "personal assistant" refers to a job that is constantly shifting and changing. This means that communication is even more important, and the sooner you establish effective lines of communication, the better.
• Decide when and how you will communicate with your personal assistant. Will you meet weekly? Call daily? Together with your assistant, establish some simple communication protocols and expectations such as, "the personal assistant will respond within two hours" or "the employer will provide clarification during a daily huddle call."
• Stick to your plan, and make adjustments as needed. The better your communication skills, the better your return on investment.

• It can be tempting to think of your personal assistant as a robot, but recognizing the humanity of your assistant can make both of your jobs much easier. Always use common courtesy when communicating with him or her, even when you are rushed or frustrated.
• Be clear when you communicate and never expect your assistant to read your mind.
• Work to identify and play to his or her strengths, providing training and support where necessary.
• Don't forget to acknowledge and thank your assistant for his or her help.
• These tips will pay off a thousand times over and help you cultivate a time-tested relationship with your assistant.

• Many busy professionals invest in a personal assistant when they're so busy they are unable to function, but then resist truly delegating tasks to the professional they've hired.
• Your goal should be to give your assistant more responsibility over time. When you find yourself holding onto tasks, ask yourself if working on the tasks is the best use of your time and energy or if your assistant could help with them.
• Wondering if you're still holding on too tightly? Meet with your assistant and ask him or her what tasks he or she would like to take over. You might just be surprised at how much your assistant can handle and how much your life will change once you're able to really focus on your own work again.