When you have what seems like thousands of emails to respond to, clients to call, and projects to finish, do you feel like you can rely on your assistant to help you? Many business owners underestimate the importance of the role. It’s a very strategic role if it’s done correctly and can save business owners a lot of time and stress. We have come up with the 6 characteristics that we believe your assistant should posses:

1) Organized- They can keep track of everything that is going on in your schedule as well as their own schedule. They are detail oriented and their organization is what helps makes the company run smoothly.

2) Forward Thinker – They foresee problems that may arise and are able to fix them proactively. As a result, you won’t have to waste time dealing with the issue later.

3) Communicator – They aren’t afraid to ask for help when they have a question. They can also communicate with a variety of people, from clients to executives, in a friendly and effective manner.

4) Willing to be “The Hub” – They know you, and others, will rely on them to help with a number of tasks on any given day. They are comfortable being behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly, but are also willing to step up when necessary.

5) Task Master – They possess the unique ability to help you manage your tasks and projects on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, they are tracking their own tasks to ensure things don’t slip through the cracks.

6) Juggler – They deal with shifting priorities masterfully and are willing to jump in wherever they’re needed. They aren’t rattled by frequent interruptions in their day; instead, they continue to focus on the next task at hand.

Even if you manage your daily tasks and schedule on your own, hiring a good assistant that possesses these qualities will free up time for you to focus on growing your business and maximizing your productivity.

Does your assistant possess any other good qualities that help you out? Share with us in the comments below!

Many busy professionals have already made the switch to electronic calendars, but others are sticking to their tried and true paper planners. So which type does our team at Innovatively Organized think is best? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!

Advantages of Electronic Calendars:

• Sync across devices: Easily access your calendar and to-do list on your computer, phone, and other electronic devices so you’ll never have to worry about forgetting it at home.
• Share with others: Share your calendar with coworkers, family, and friends so it’s easier to coordinate schedules.
• Set reminders: If you’re prone to forget appointments, setting reminders for an upcoming event can help you stay on track.
• Our favorite electronic calendars: Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Toodledo App (to-do list app) or Action Method App (for managing your to-do list)

Advantages of Paper Calendars:

• Good for tactile people: Some people respond better to physically turning pages in their calendar, writing reminders in a specific pen color, etc.
• Writing it down: For many people, the act of physically writing something down helps them remember it better. An article by Lifehack explains the science behind this idea.
• Making it your own style: You can customize your paper planner to fit your “style” whether that means color coding appointments with highlighters or using sticky notes.
• Our favorite paper calendars: Circa Notebooks, Moleskine, Action Journal 

What Innovatively Organized Recommends:

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preferences and individual learning styles (although, we’d love to hear your opinions in the comments at the bottom of the page).  While an electronic calendar might make the most sense for someone who is constantly on-the-go, a paper calendar makes a lot of sense for people who benefit from physically touching a pen to a piece of paper. No matter which system you choose - the key is consistency.

If you do decide to make the switch (either way), remember that it will take time to build new habits. Be patient. It will get better.

Which type of calendar do you prefer? Let us know in a comment below!