The Secret to Doing Less but Achieving More: A Fractional Executive Assistant

 Let’s start with a question many leaders hesitate to ask out loud:

“Am I underperforming as a leader?”

It’s not that you lack capability, vision, or ambition you know what you’re capable of, but you just don’t have enough hours in the day. When your day is packed with meetings, admin, and low-leverage tasks, the high-level work often gets pushed to later.

That’s why many business leaders still feel they work too much “in” the business rather than “on” the business, limiting their business growth and development.

If that resonates, you are not alone, this isn’t a competence issue. It’s a capacity issue.

The solution could be simpler and more affordable than you think, and one that more entrepreneurs, executives, and NEDs are starting to lean on:

The Fractional Executive Assistant

A Fractional Executive Assistant (EA) is a skilled remote professional who works with you part-time to streamline your operations and free up your time.

Unlike a traditional full-time assistant, they provide focused, high-impact support for just a few hours a week, without the full-time, employed overhead.

Fractional EA’s can do much more than scheduling meetings and triaging email.

High-Value Tasks a Fractional EA Can Take Off Your Plate

Here’s what a great EA can help you with, especially the high-ticket tasks that directly drive business value:

• Managing Bespoke Projects – From coordinating board initiatives to launching internal processes, they keep things moving and people accountable.

• Research & Briefing – Quickly gather intelligence on competitors, markets, board members, investors, or potential clients, so you’re always ahead of the conversation.

• Strategy & Planning Support – Help with planning and setting strategic goals, or create briefing docs for key decision points.

• Financial Performance – Assist with preparing financial plans, tracking budgets, preparing expense reports, compiling financial summaries, tracking Key Performance Indicators, or liaising with accountant or finance team.

• Marketing & Content Coordination – From managing your newsletter calendar to briefing freelancers or building LinkedIn presence, they keep your personal or company brand on track.

• Presentation & Pitch Deck Creation – Turn raw notes into polished, on-brand slides for board meetings, investors, or high-stakes client calls.

• Client or Stakeholder Follow-Up – Ensure next steps actually happen without you having to chase.

In short Fractional EA’s they don’t just save time, they help you generate value.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

One of the top causes of executive burnout is trying to do it all. And yet, delegating remains a blind spot for many talented leaders not because they don’t want help, but because they don’t realise just how much they can outsource effectively.

A fractional EA gives you strategic leverage, helping you:

• Reclaim focus for deep work and vision

• Drive results faster by removing bottlenecks

• Reduce context switching and decision fatigue

• Maintain momentum on high-priority items

• Protect your time and energy for the things only you can do

A Few Hours, A Big Difference

You don’t need 40 hours of support a week to feel the impact. Even 5–10 hours with a skilled EA can help you shift from reactive to proactive, scattered to strategic.

Beyond the tasks and time-saving, there’s another benefit that’s often overlooked: having someone to think with. A great EA becomes more than just operational support, they become a sounding board, someone you can bounce ideas off, talk through decisions with, or simply share the day’s pressures.

When you’re leading a business, it can feel isolating. You may not want to burden your team or bring stress home to your family. Having a trusted, discreet partner in your corner, even part-time, can make a huge difference to your mental load and emotional resilience as a leader.

So, if you’re a NED, executive, or entrepeneur constantly working "in" the business instead of "on" it… it might be time to bring in someone who works "for" the business with you.

Curious what this could look like in practice? Please get in touch.