Reduce Executive Stress With Proactive Leadership and a Fractional Executive Assistant

Executives and leaders often struggle with reactive leadership, leading to increased stress and communication problems. But with some simple adjustments and the help of a fractional executive assistant, you can become a more proactive leader (without running yourself into the ground.

The Downsides of Reactive Leadership

Many executives fall into reactive leadership habits, which include:

- Waiting until there's a problem to create processes

- Under-communicating, then becoming dissatisfied with results  

- Having big emotional reactions ("blow-ups")

- Delegating tasks, but then taking them back

- Setting unrealistic deadlines

- Giving feedback at odd hours through multiple channels

Reacting this way leads to frustration for both leaders and team members. It causes confusion, missed deadlines, poor morale, and increased stress.

In fact, studies show that this kind of leadership leads to poor work culture and poor retention–a difficult and expensive problem for leaders.

So what can you do instead? The answer is simple: get proactive.

The Benefits of Proactive Leadership

Proactive leadership–that is, working to address problems before they’ve caused damage, sets you up for success. This looks like:

- Establishing small, realistic goals early on

- Setting clear expectations for giving and receiving feedback

- Scheduling regular check-ins  

- Anticipating problems and planning for them ahead of time

When you lead proactively, you reduce confusion and create an environment optimized for productivity. Your team can work more efficiently to meet your expectations.

That means your team is more likely to stick with you and help your business grow.

But when you’re busy, overwhelmed, or otherwise over-extended, it can be incredibly difficult to stop being reactive. You need space to breathe, think, and strategize.

That’s where your assistant comes in.

How a Fractional Executive Assistant Enables Proactive Leadership

You might be thinking something like, “I can’t afford to hire an executive assistant yet,” or “my business hasn’t grown enough for me to have an assistant.”

And while you may be correct that hiring a full-time executive assistant can be time-consuming and expensive, don’t panic just yet. A full-time, in-house EA is no longer your only option.

In today’s work, more and more executives are turning to fractional executive assistants to help them save time, make more space on their calendar, and lead more proactively.

A fractional executive assistant helps you adopt a proactive approach. With an executive fractional executive assistant, you can:

- Offload administrative tasks to focus on strategy  

- Systemize processes so your team has consistent direction

- Schedule regular check-ins and meetings

- Get reminders for important deadlines or commitments

- Have help anticipating potential problems or risks 

A dedicated assistant also provides accountability to stay on track with your leadership goals.

What is a Fractional Executive Assistant?

The "fractional" model allows entrepreneurs, executives, and businesses to tap into an elite tier of seasoned assistant talent without the overhead costs of a full-time hire. You get access to an experienced professional when you need them without having to pay a salary during lower-demand periods.

Fractional EAs are particularly valuable for startups, small businesses, or solopreneurs who may not require a full 40-hour per week assistant yet still need reliable, high-caliber support to operate efficiently. Many leverage fractional assistance during intense growth stages or for specific projects requiring temporary additional manpower.

What sets fractional EAs apart is their ability to integrate seamlessly into your existing operations while maintaining objectivity as an external resource. They can apply best practices gleaned from supporting multiple clients across industries. This cross-functional exposure allows fractional EAs to offer fresh perspectives and identify areas for optimization.

Effective fractional EAs should have excellent time management, communication skills, and the ability to quickly adapt to new environments while maintaining confidentiality. Since most executives are already busy, it’s often best to use an agency like ChatterBoss to find the right fit.

Work Smarter, Not Harder With a Fractional Executive Assistant

If you’ve noticed yourself leading reactively or noticed your team feeling overwhelmed with administrative tasks, it might be time to talk about hiring fractional support.

Whether you’re looking to hire a full-time, in-house assistant or a fractional assistant to help with your startup, it’s always best to start with a strategy call to walk through your specific expectations and needs.

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Valerie Trapunsky is the founder and CEO of ChatterBoss and the author of Delegation Nation. Read more weekly insights on better leadership and more productive remoted teams by connecting with Valerie on LinkedIn.