Strategic Freelance Business Support is more than you might expect. Far from being ‘just’ epic email management and diary organisation, the services we offer transform clients’ businesses.

In this blog, Steph Taylor does some straight talking about the strategic business support she delivers to her clients after a 20+ year career in Human Resources and Change Management.

FIND OUT ABOUT STEPH

Boost Your Business with Strategic Freelance Support

As an entrepreneur or executive, you need more than task completion from your freelance team members. You need strategic partners offering valuable expertise to accelerate your business growth. With over 20 years of HR leadership experience, I provide strategic skills along with hands-on operational support.

My extensive HR background has refined my ability to understand people, processes and operations. I now use these skills to collaborate with clients, optimising their businesses and driving results. My experience helps me identify their most valuable assets – engaged employees and satisfied customers – to boost retention and loyalty of both. I also have proven change management expertise to guide teams through change (big or small) smoothly.

In addition to strategic insights, I offer tactical support using project management, communication and organisational skills developed through a variety of HR leadership roles. I streamline processes to increase efficiency, I have strong analytical skills in gathering and interpreting data, and identifying actionable insights. My detail orientated mindset ensures clear, consistent policies, documents and procedures too.

My analytical thinking and critical evaluation allow me to objectively assess current processes and initiatives, revealing performance gaps and opportunities. I then help design tailored interventions aligned with my clients’ organisations and target markets. My project management skills ensure initiatives stay on track and on budget.

While I don’t offer formal HR services (there are plenty of companies that do that), I bring well-rounded expertise for value-driven support. My blend of people skills, analytical thinking, project management and passion for operational excellence is what my clients most value.

I can advise on workforce strategies, evaluate candidates, design onboarding programs, and more. I can assist with leadership training and coaching to build management capabilities. I can provide guidance on strengthening culture and engagement.

Operationally, I manage activities ranging from event coordination to streamlining everyday processes efficiently. I oversee special projects, gather and analyse data, manage communications between teams and customers, and keep initiatives progressing smoothly.

Strategic freelance business support is the rocket fuel you need to take your business to the next level. Let’s discuss your plans. 

You can find out more about Steph by clicking here!

Further blogs from The Passionate PA: 

Steph Taylor is our Passionate PA based in Christchurch, Dorset. She joined us in November 2021 after a 20+ year career in Human Resources and Change Management.

In her role as a Passionate PA, Steph helps her clients manage their To Do Lists and create productive routines to help their businesses thrive.

In this blog post, Steph looks at the hard-finish technique – the idea of having a set time by which a task must be completed – and adds some tips to optimise your productivity.

Want to improve your productivity and focus?

Have you ever noticed how much work you can complete when there is something exciting waiting for you at the end? It could be a family outing, a date with your special someone, or a long-awaited holiday.

The anticipation sharpens your focus and drives your productivity. But you don’t have to limit this level of productivity to those special moments. By using the hard-finish technique, you can consistently achieve heightened productivity.

Set Clear Boundaries

Setting clear boundaries is the first step towards a successful hard finish. Before starting your work, or at the beginning of the day, establish a specific finish time for your tasks. Clearly communicate this deadline to your colleagues, team members, clients or even your family – and of course, yourself.

Pop that time on a post-it note and stick it in plain sight.

By doing this, you create awareness and external accountability, reinforcing your commitment to completing your work within a specified timeframe. Setting expectations and having others aware of your schedule will help you stay on track and encourage their support.

Use Time Blocking

Time blocking is a key part of achieving a hard finish too. It involves scheduling specific time slots for different tasks or activities – e.g. admin/email and ‘deep’ project work.

Multi-tasking is not productivity’s friend!

By allocating dedicated time blocks to your work, you create a structured schedule that creates focus and minimises distractions. Make sure you include breaks within your time blocks to prevent burnout and maintain mental clarity, and also add ‘creep time’ too – as things will inevitably slip into your day.

Experiment with different time periods to find what works best for you, for example, deep work is often best in the mornings when your brain is fresher. Consistency and discipline in adhering to your time blocks will enhance your productivity.

Prioritise Tasks Wisely

To achieve a hard finish, you need to manage your time and priorities effectively. Identify your most important tasks and prioritise them accordingly. Use time management techniques, such as Eisenhower’s matrix, to categorise tasks based on urgency and importance.

By focusing on high-priority activities, you will make sure your time is allocated wisely, allowing you to make significant progress toward your important goals.

Remember, not all tasks are created equal, so investing your time and energy in the right areas will deliver the greatest results.

Break It Down

Sometimes, large and overwhelming tasks can be a barrier to our progress and productivity. A helpful approach is to break down these daunting tasks into smaller, more manageable subtasks. This makes the task seem less intimidating and even allows you to measure your progress, gaining a sense of accomplishment along the way.

Here at The Passionate PA, we believe in celebrating even small victories as this can provide motivation and help to maintain momentum. Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small.

Include Transition Time

Transitioning from one task to another or shifting between work and personal life can be challenging and take more time than you think, leading to reduced productivity. It is useful to plan intentional transition activities. Allow yourself a short period to recharge and shift your mindset.

For example, taking a 5-minute break to step outside for some fresh air or going for a short walk can help clear your mind and prepare you for the next task or phase of the day – especially if you are shifting from transactional tasks to deep work.

Intentional transitions act as mental buffers; they enable you to detach from the previous task and refocus your energy on the next. By using transition periods, you enhance your ability to maintain a consistent level of productivity throughout the day.

Optimise Your Environment

Your physical environment can have a huge impact on your productivity level. Review your workspace and make adjustments that will help you to focus and concentrate.

Minimise distractions by decluttering your area and keeping only the essentials within reach – consider leaving your phone in another room whilst you are in deep work mode.

Also consider incorporating things that inspire and motivate you, such as plants, a vision board, or personal mementos. Additionally, ensure that your workspace is comfortable and ergonomically suited to prevent physical discomfort.

The hard-finish technique is a powerful tool to help you reach your productivity potential. By using this, and the top tips above, you can consistently achieve high productivity and build momentum towards achieving your goals.

Remember, the key lies in committing to a specific finish time and maintaining focus throughout the process. We encourage you to try the hard-finish technique and witness your productivity soar!

You can find out more about Steph by clicking here!

Further blogs from The Passionate PA: 

Steph Taylor is our Passionate PA based in Christchurch, Dorset. She joined us in November 2021 after a 20+ year career in Human Resources and Change Management.

In her role as a Passionate PA, Steph helps her clients manage their people through associate models i.e. where one or two directors grow their business and develop their client offering by outsourcing work to trusted consultants, associates or freelancers.

FIND OUT ABOUT STEPH

The power of writing it down!

One of the first things I was taught as a young, aspiring HR Manager was “keep a record… always write it down!”. As much as I now keep an electronic record rather than writing with a pen and paper, I still believe that this continues to be one of the best pieces of advice that was gifted to me.

As leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners we make quick decisions. We have multiple conversations, with multiple people about different things and agree actions every day. This is just normal for us, but, without notes, there can be misunderstandings or confusion. This can be costly too, both financially and from a human impact.

We simply cannot remember everything but writing it down isn’t just about memory joggings. It’s also not about those pesky HR people adding to your workload. In this blog I explore why the simple HR advice “always write it down” can be invaluable to you in every aspect of your business.

Clarity and Accuracy

When you write something down, you can clarify your thoughts, ensuring that you deliver your intended message. This is especially important when communicating with employees, clients or freelancers. By writing down the details of a conversation including any actions or agreements that have been made, you can avoid misunderstandings that can lead to conflict. Writing actions down and sharing them gives everyone an opportunity to check their understanding.

Accountability

When you document important conversations or decisions, you create a paper trail that can be used to hold people (and yourself0 to account. This is great when making plans for the future or ideas sharing – and of course can be especially important when dealing with performance issues, disciplinaries or disputes. By having a written record of what was said or agreed upon, you can ensure that everyone is clear about their accountabilities and progress is made in the right direction.

Reflection and Learning

Writing things down gives you the opportunity to reflect on decisions and learn from experiences. By keeping a record of decisions, actions and outcomes, you can identify trends and areas for improvement. This can help you make better decisions in the future, replicate success and avoid making the same mistakes.

Litigation Protection

Finally, writing things down can also provide protection for your business. If you are ever involved in a legal dispute, having a written record of what was said or agreed upon can be invaluable. It can help you defend your position, prove your case and avoid costly legal fees.

Keeping a record doesn’t have to take a long time. It can be a quick note, an email or even a voice note. Just don’t forget your GDPR compliance (that’s a blog for another day).

And remember, it can be fun.

Our franchisor, Kate, once worked with an older chap who had a notebook for every quarter of every year of this entire career. They spanned a whole wall in his Dorset-based office and every single one was full to the brim of notes, drawings, musings, ideas and the full story of the multiple businesses he had run – each from inception to sale. It was fascinating to dip into these notebooks – for him, his family and friends, and for Kate! A very special way to honour a life’s work.

You can find out more about Steph by clicking here!

Further blogs from The Passionate PA: 

When asked how business is, we often respond with “busy”. We live in such a fast-paced world and it has become very easy to define our success by how busy we are – it has almost become a status symbol.

As business owners, being busy means that there is a lot going on. Work, and importantly money, is coming in which will keep everything moving forward.

Or will it?

In this blog, Steph Taylor provides her top tips for getting productive rather than busy!

FIND OUT ABOUT STEPH

Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are being productive – it certainly doesn’t always correlate with the bottom line in our experience as freelance business support to entrepreneurs.

Being busy means that you don’t have much free time. You have a lot on your plate and, sometimes, might mean you are feeling overworked and overwhelmed.

However, productivity is all about being efficient and effective with both your time and resources. It’s about focussing on the things that will help you achieve your end goal (or big vision as we like to call it).

Being productive rather than busy is about prioritising your time, focussing on outcomes and eliminating distractions. The tips below can help you make some changes to work smarter, not harder.

9 tips for being productive and rather than busy:

TIP 1: Clarify your big vision

Write down what your ultimate goal is in business and identify the tasks and projects that are needed to get there.

TIP 2: Prioritise aligned tasks

Before you start your day, make a list of the task that align with your big vision. Focus your time and energy on them before moving on to less critical work.

TIP 3: Avoid multitasking

Multitasking is counterproductive as you end up juggling too many different things, splitting your attention and brain power. You are more likely to make mistakes or become overwhelmed and so you will then waste time fixing the issues or errors created.

TIP 4: Rhythm and breaks

Identify your ‘deep work/admin rhythm’ – for example, some like to do their most important work within 30 minutes of getting up and then have the morning on more administrative tasks. Some are night owls and like the peace of the evenings for deep work. Whatever rhythm is most productive for you, know it, understand it and harness it!

Taking breaks can make you more productive too. Your brain has a chance to rest and recharge, which can improve your focus and concentration when you return to work. It also helps when switching from one task to another.

TIP 5: Remove distractions

Distractions can be a significant barrier to productivity so you need to remove as many as you can. Turn off your phone, turn off email notifications or choose to work in a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted.

TIP 6: Reward productivity

You’ll know when you’ve had a productive day, it feels different from “busy”. Reward these by recognising them in your own mind or treating yourself to something special.

TIP 7: Say no

This can be a challenge for some but learning to say no is essential to maintaining productivity. Saying yes to everything will lead to overwhelm and overload. If a request doesn’t align with your big vision or personal rhythm just say no. It’s nowhere near as hard as you might think.

TIP 8: Focus on the outcomes, not the activity

Rather than focussing on completing tasks, think about the outcomes of those tasks. Ask yourself whether the outcome is truly driving your big vision, if not, why are YOU doing it? Does it need to be done at all?

TIP 9: Self-care

To stay productive, it is essential that you look after yourself. Healthy habits will take care of your body and your mind. Sleep, good nutrition, hydration and exercise are a great place to start. You will then have the energy and focus you need to be successful and productive.

You can find out more about Steph by clicking here!

Further blogs from The Passionate PA: