Debunking Executive Assistant Myths: What a Virtual Assistant Can Really Do
Many business leaders hesitate when it comes to hiring an Executive Assistant — or even a Virtual Assistant — because of persistent myths and misconceptions. In his book World Class Assistant, Michael Hyatt highlights several of these myths and how they can hold leaders back. Building on that conversation, we’re sharing our perspective and real-world experience, offering additional insights into why partnering with an assistant can unlock growth, focus, and freedom.
Why These Executive Assistant Myths Persist
It’s easy to understand why myths about assistants stick. Many leaders have limited experience with delegation, fear losing control, or simply don’t know how to find the right support. These beliefs create hesitation that prevents executives from gaining the productivity and peace of mind a skilled assistant can provide.
Common Myths About Hiring an Executive Assistant
“I Can’t Afford an Executive Assistant”
In Your World-Class Assistant, Michael Hyatt emphasizes that an executive assistant should be seen as an investment, not an expense. By delegating administrative tasks, leaders can focus on strategic and revenue-generating activities, making the cost of an EA worthwhile.
Truth: We completely agree. While an executive assistant is an overhead expense, it’s one that provides a solid return on investment (ROI). At Lift, we offer fractional virtual assistant services, making high-quality support more budget-friendly. In fact, hiring a fractional assistant versus a full-time employee can save you 30 - 40% annually on payroll costs.
“It’s Faster If I Just Do It Myself”
Hyatt introduces the concept of “delegation math,” explaining that while it takes time to train an assistant initially, the long-term savings in time and energy are invaluable.
Truth: Hyatt is spot on with his “delegation math” theory. If you continue doing everything yourself, you’ll spend far more time overall than if you had trained an EA. Additionally, a skilled executive assistant can likely perform the task more efficiently, develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), and reduce errors.
“No One Can Do It As Well As I Can”
This mindset limits scalability. With the right training and expectations, an assistant can handle tasks just as effectively—if not better—than the leader themselves.
Truth: Leaders often believe their way is the only way, until they get a second set of eyes on their work and learn there are easier ways. Proof: We worked with a client who was spending 10 hours a week on invoicing. After hiring an executive assistant, we streamlined their process using an online payment platform, reducing their invoicing time to two hours per week. The result? Better cash flow, less stress, and more efficiency.
“I Don’t Have Enough Work for an Executive Assistant”
Many leaders underestimate the tasks they could delegate. Once an assistant is in place, they uncover even more ways to improve efficiency.
Truth: Business owners report spending more than 50% of their time on administrative work. To determine how much work you have for an assistant, we suggest tracking your time for a couple of weeks. Group tasks into buckets like “email management” “social media engagement” “client work”, or “bookkeeping” and see where you are burning your energy. Anything that does require your specific expertise can be handed off. Once you get into the groove of delegation, your assistant time will be packed with the tasks you don’t like, or are not good at.
“Finding the Right Person Is Too Hard”
While hiring the right executive assistant requires effort, a structured hiring process and clear expectations significantly improve the chances of finding a great match.
Truth: Studies show it costs $4,700 to hire someone. At Lift, we take care of the entire hiring process. Our recruiting team uses their experience and expertise to pre-screen candidates, and they will introduce you to up to 3 candidates to find the one who vibes with you. Further, we acknowledge that there is no “perfect fit” with today’s variety of technologies your assistant may need, so we provide assistants with the specific training they need to be the best assistant for you.
Hyatt does a great job at dispelling common misconceptions but we want to take it a step further. In speaking with business owners, we have heard it all! And we have some hard truths to share.
Beyond the Usual — More Misconceptions You’ve Likely Heard
“I Don’t Want to Give Up Control”
Many leaders fear losing control over their work, but delegation doesn’t mean relinquishing authority. Instead, it provides leverage—allowing the leader to focus on high-impact activities while ensuring other tasks are handled efficiently.
Truth: Delegating isn’t giving up control — it’s multiplying your impact. If you continue holding onto control of everything, you are going to become resentful of your business and you will burn out. Learning to delegate tasks to an assistant allows the business to scale and ensures that decisions and execution aren’t dependent on just you. Not only will this reduce your mental burden and stress, but it can increase the value of your business if you ever choose to sell.
“I’ve Tried It Before, and It Didn’t Work”
A bad experience with an assistant doesn’t mean the role itself is flawed. Often, issues stem from poor delegation, unclear expectations, or hiring the wrong fit. Learning from past mistakes can lead to a better experience the next time.
Truth: We’ve failed too, and we have learned from it. At Lift, we’ve developed systems that set both clients and EAs up for success. Our structured kickoff process ensures smooth communication, workflow establishment, and clear expectations from day one.
“It’s Easier to Keep Things in My Head”
Relying on memory creates unnecessary stress and bottlenecks. Documenting processes and sharing responsibilities with an assistant ensures continuity, efficiency, and scalability.
Truth: When was the last time you went to the grocery store with your list in your head and remembered everything you needed? Never? And do you also end up with 12 things you don’t need, because you didn’t have a list to keep you in line? Putting extra stress on your mental load by trying to keep a million things in your head never works.
“An Executive Assistant Won’t Understand My Business”
While an executive assistant may not start with deep industry knowledge, they can quickly learn company-specific processes.
Truth: Expect a learning curve but if you learned to run your business, your executive assistant can too. They don’t need deep industry expertise—just strong organization, adaptability, and communication skills.
“I’ll Just Use AI Instead”
While AI and automation tools can help with some repetitive tasks, they lack the strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building skills of a human assistant. The best approach often involves using both AI and a skilled assistant for maximum efficiency.
Truth: AI enhances efficiency, but it’s not a replacement for an executive assistant. A skilled EA uses AI to work smarter, but leaders who’ve attempted to replace assistants with AI have struggled with gaps in decision-making and adaptability.
The Power of Letting Go and Building Systems
Consider this short parable:
A farmer once struggled to carry water from a distant well to his crops every day. He insisted on doing it himself, believing that no one could handle the task as well as he could. Day after day, he exhausted himself, spending hours transporting buckets. A neighbor suggested building an irrigation system, but the farmer resisted, thinking it would take too much effort to set up. Finally, after much persuasion, he allowed a helper to construct a simple channel. Once complete, water flowed effortlessly to his crops, freeing the farmer’s time and energy for more important tasks—like expanding his farm and improving his yield.
Like the farmer, many leaders believe they must carry every task themselves. However, by trusting an assistant to build efficient systems and handle the heavy lifting, they free themselves to focus on what truly matters. If you’re still hesitant, consider a small step—start with a fractional assistant - and see where it takes you. A skilled assistant will bring you greater organization, increased efficiency, and sustainable business growth—don’t let misconceptions hold you back.
Ready to Hire the Right Assistant?
By now, it’s clear that a well-trained Executive Assistant can transform your workflow, increase productivity, and free your time for high-value priorities.
Let us match you with a top-tier, U.S.-based assistant who fits your workflow and goals.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see how delegation can transform your business.
