This week, a startling statistic caught my eye in IFA Magazine: one in four Britons now spends more than two and a half weeks every single year simply managing ‘life admin.’
Think about that for a moment. That is nearly 20 days of potential growth, rest, or innovation swallowed up by spreadsheets, renewals, and digital clutter.
For the average person, this is a frustration. However, for the CEOs and business owners I work with here in Windsor, London and across the UK, this isn’t just a nuisance – it is a significant drain on the most expensive resource the company has: Executive Time.
The SME Admin Trap
While the national average is concerning, the reality for SME leaders is even more stark. Recent data shows that small business owners in the UK spend an average of 16 hours per week on administrative tasks.
To put that into perspective, nearly 36% of a UK business owner’s working week is consumed by admin rather than strategic growth. We are seeing a generation of brilliant leaders acting as their own bookkeepers, schedulers, and office managers.
It is no wonder that a 2023 survey revealed the typical UK business owner feels they need an additional four hours a day just to keep their head above water.
The ‘Always On’ Executive
Even at the highest levels, as in the FTSE 100 where the average working week stretches to 62.5 hours, the burden remains. While these Executives delegate heavily, they still spend roughly 72% of their time in meetings.
The danger zone we often see at Create Momentum is the “hidden” admin. High-level CEOs report being “always on,” often spending over an hour of their strictly personal time every single day responding to emails or fixing scheduling conflicts.
The most time-consuming culprits?
- Invoicing and complex bookkeeping.
- The endless dance of scheduling and calendar management.
- Personal compliance, such as tax returns and private renewals.
Reclaiming the Momentum
At Create Momentum, we believe that an Executive Assistant isn’t just a support role; they are a guardian of the CEO’s focus.
When you look at the numbers, the maths is simple. If you are a CEO spending 16 hours a week on admin, you are effectively working two full days as an administrator. If your goal is to scale, innovate, or simply reclaim your weekends, that is a cost your business cannot afford to pay.
The question isn’t whether the admin needs to be done; it’s whether you are the one who should be doing it.
Is your admin cost-effective, or is it costing you your momentum?
If you’re ready to delegate the 36%* and refocus on the 64% that actually grows your business, let’s talk.*
