This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and while the conversation often focuses on individual well-being, recent research has highlighted a staggering reality for the UK economy: the number of working days lost to mental health-related absence is at an all-time high.
For senior leaders, the pressure to be “omnipresent” is a significant driver of this trend. When a leader burns out, the impact isn’t just personal, it’s a systemic risk to the entire organisation.
The Executive VA:
More than just “Admin” I often speak with senior leaders and managers who feel they have to do it all because “it’s quicker to do it myself” or they don’t want to add to their permanent headcount. But there is a middle ground that protects both the individual’s mental health and the company’s bottom line.
Utilising a high-level Executive VA service isn’t just about offloading tasks; it’s about creating Strategic Capacity.
The Power of the Network, through my network at Create Momentum, I provide senior leadership teams with a unique resource:
- The “Team Behind the Person”: You aren’t just hiring one individual; you are tapping into a curated network of VAs and business associates. If one person is away, the resource remains. The “heaving lifting” continues, and the leader can actually switch off.
- The Financial Reality: Many are surprised to find that when you strip away the secondary costs of employment—NI, pensions, office space, and the cost of absence itself—the financials of a high-end VA service look remarkably similar to a traditional hire, but with far greater flexibility.
Sustainability in Leadership, true leadership, isn’t about working until the tank is empty. it’s about building a support structure that ensures you, —and your business, —remain resilient.
If your “To-Do” list is currently impacting your “To-Be” list, it might be time to look at how a professional partnership can give you your time, and your mental headspace, back.
Let’s discuss how a flexible executive resource can support your team this year.
