The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Concierge Service for Busy Professionals
Even a cursory internet search shows that America is one of the most overworked nations. While many Americans wear their business as a badge of pride, this fact should instead sober us. A recent world health organization study identified overwork as the cause of more than 745,000 deaths in 2021.
However, one busy demographic would love to throw in the towel on busyness but seemingly cannot do so: small, independent business owners. Often building their companies from the ground up, this subset is among the most willing to try time-saving strategies such as the Eisenhower Matrix or hiring out for virtual assistant services. Yet, even with these measures, many of them are caught in the vicious cycle of needing a break so that they can work the insane number of hours needed to catch a break.
There is, thankfully, a solution to this struggle. Hiring a personal concierge. Time doesn’t discriminate between “life” and “work,” and a personal concierge doesn’t either.
Read on to learn what “personal concierge” means and how hiring one might make a significant difference for you.
What is a Personal Concierge?
Indeed defines a “personal concierge” as “a person who makes arrangements and performs tasks on behalf of busy people.” In other words, a personal concierge is a hired personal assistant for your life.
If you’re wondering about the difference between a personal concierge and a personal assistant, Indeed is also helpful here. They specify that a personal assistant usually works for a single company, while a personal concierge works as an independent contractor. Just like a hotel concierge can arrange tours, book reservations, and transport your luggage, a personal concierge can coordinate any number of tasks specifically for you.
Although the modern form of the personal concierge industry has existed since the 1990s, many business owners assume it is a luxury for the wealthy. While that may have been true in past generations, the rise of technology and virtual office spaces has changed the playing field. Many personal concierge services can be hired hourly or through packages that meet your budget. All it takes to get one on your team is some research, planning, and the belief that you deserve this type of support.
What Can a Personal Concierge Do?
The following list presents the scope of what a personal concierge can do for you.
Event Planning
Reservation Booking
Shopping
Travel Details
Gift Sending
Meal/Grocery Services
Kids Activities
Set up House Cleaning
Delivery Automation
Calendar Management
Research
Pet Care Services
Technology Services
Paperwork and Filing
Document Compilation
Insurance Claims
Book Landscaping and Lawn Care
Remodeling and Interior Decorating
Relocation/Moving Services
Life Organization
Research Decluttering Services
While not exhaustive, the items on this list are similar in that they are tasks that can be outsourced. Imagine what life might be like for you to have some of these items taken from your plate!
Considerations for Hiring
Considerations for Hiring
Before you bring someone on board, you’ll want to consider the following categories: traits and tasks.
Traits:
You shouldn’t entrust your personal affairs to just anyone. So when hiring a personal concierge, you’ll want to look for an individual with qualities that mark them as a trustworthy team member for you. The following list will get you started.
Professionalism:
Make sure the personal concierge you’re considering is a true professional. Explore their website and ask them for a complimentary call to find out how they work and ask them to provide proof of business insurance. While there’s nothing wrong with hiring a family friend or acquaintance on referral, you’ll want to do your research to make sure the person can accomplish your desired tasks reliably and ethically.
Flexibility and problem-solving skills:
Since life never goes as planned and your personal concierge will work with life logistics, flexibility, and problem-solving skills are critical. Unless you enjoy hand-holding, you’ll want to ensure that your concierge exercises critical thinking and feels confident working under pressure. One way to do this is to add interview questions requiring potential candidates to describe how they would think through and act during specific scenarios.
Excellent communication:
Not only will your concierge communicate with you, but they will also communicate with contractors and other businesspersons on your behalf. This means that they should possess strong active listening skills in addition to verbal/written communication skills. In addition, they will need to be able to convey details and big-picture ideas to act as your liaison.
Knowledge:
It goes without saying that you’ll want to hire a personal concierge who knows how to do the things you’ll need them to do. While you may need to do some training at the outset, you can also hire assistants skilled at niche services (e.g., finding the best place to auction your grandma’s tapestries).
Empathy and integrity:
The value of empathy and integrity in the workplace cannot be overstated. The best personal concierges will be able to anticipate your general needs and the needs of those they interact with. They will also demonstrate respect, confidentiality, and reliability. In other words, hire a compassionate and trustworthy human being. You’re hiring this person to take stress off your plate, not to add to it through unreliability.
Tasks
You’ll also need to spend a little forethought regarding your expectations for your new team member. Failing to think through at least some logistics in advance may result in a longer and messier learning curve than you anticipate. Be sure that you can identify:
• The specific tasks that you want to pass off
• The frequency and timeframe of those tasks
• Any special knowledge or training your new assistant may need
• What resources, passwords, or credit cards your assistant may need
• How you will handle confidentiality
• What problems or curveballs you anticipate, and how you’ll handle them
• Payment agreements
• Expected means and frequency of communication
• How much autonomy you’ll pass off in decision making
• Any brand-specific wording or techniques you’d like them to use
Once you determine your expectations, you’ll want to draft a business contract that you and your concierge can review on a prescheduled, periodic basis to ensure both of you are safe and happy.
You Deserve It
As you might suspect, one of the hardest parts of hiring a personal concierge is developing the belief that you deserve to have this service! It can be hard to break the assumption that such service is only for the wealthy few, but if the overworking casualty statistics tell us anything, it may be a mindset shift that we need to make.
What would you do with extra time if you had a personal concierge? Would you go to the gym regularly, prioritize sleep, call your grandmother, or plan that family vacation before the kids get too old? While you can also put those extra hours back into your business, make sure to take some of that time for yourself. Breaking the vicious work cycle is why you hired the personal concierge in the first place!
Whether it’s a task you dread or don’t have time to do, investing in a personal concierge is ultimately an investment in yourself. Whether by necessity or for comfort, you as a busy professional deserve to have this benefit.
If you don’t know where to start in finding a personal concierge service or knowing how to best implement one, schedule a call with us today!
WRITTEN BY: KATIE BARNETT
