In our fast-paced world, keeping on top of administration tasks can be a challenge. Here, CAROLINE BASHAM, founder of Caroline B Personal Management, offers insights into outsourcing your “to-do list” across five main categories, from a concierge service to a virtual personal assistant. Plus, we ask her to define personal management and to tell us the key features of her service.
5 options for outsourcing your to-do list:
#1 App-based concierge services
These on-demand services are quick for straightforward tasks like collecting dry cleaning or dog walking. However, they’re less suitable for complex, ongoing tasks due to their impersonal nature.
#2 Overseas virtual personal assistant
These personal assistants that are based worldwide handle simple, computer-based tasks at low cost. While cost-effective, they require time investment in direction and checking output – and you may have reservations about confidential or sensitive tasks. You may also need to check if the fluency of English is adequate for your needs.
#3 Local employment agencies
These are suitable for specific short-term and local needs like apartment deep cleaning, data entry. Drawbacks of a local PA include lack of flexibility and paying for a “middleman” to employ the staff.
#4 Membership concierge clubs
These clubs help with travel and reservations, sourcing hard-to-find items. However, they often favour their own network of sponsored service providers, thereby limiting options.
#5 Personal management companies
For a bespoke service, a personal manager like Caroline B offers comprehensive services combining benefits from all categories while addressing limitations on flexibility, privacy, and understanding.
What is personal management?
Caroline explains:
“The best way to describe personal management is like a concierge service, but much more personal and customised. For a start, we’re independent, acting in the client’s best interests and not driven by promoting others’ services or products.
“Then there is the actual scope of services: clients are often surprised at the range of things we can do, big and small. At one end, we can help navigate a client through the whole process of selecting the right international school, to visa and passport applications, to simply sorting and scanning the mail while they’re away.”
In short, personal management distinguishes itself with several key features, according to Caroline:
- Not location specific. It services clients around the world and allows for the fact that many clients travel a lot and have more than one regular home.
- Tailored long-term service. Involves collaboration and sensitive information sharing with clients.
- Handling of confidential tasks. Salary/pension payments, medical insurance, expense claims, and private document management.
- In-house analogue to digital service. Ensures maximum confidentiality by converting client data in a secure manner.
- Transparent “by the hour” fee structure. Similar to professional services like accountants or lawyers with a time-task log so you can see precisely the activities where the time is spent.
- Impartial sourcing of suppliers. No sponsorships, rebates or hidden levies, ensuring unbiased recommendations.
- Direct client-service provider contracting. Eliminates the “middleman” from transactions.
- Property management assistance. Helps with tenant relationships and maintenance.
Understanding clients
Caroline emphasises that her company provides “intelligent help”, seeking a genuine understanding of a client’s specific issues to solve problems effectively. The service is built on a mutual investment in the relationship, fostering trust and long-term collaboration. Responsiveness is key to this condition being established and maintained.
Typical Caroline B clients are:
Typical Caroline B clients are:* “Organised individuals who are good at delegating and understand the value of their time. They tend to either require a long-term relationship or come to us with a specific project. It could be probate assistance, moving house, relocating, a birthday party or a photo library.”
* “Small business owners who are entrepreneurial and need to stay productive and focused on developing their businesses. For small businesses, Caroline B becomes their admin back office, offering continuity and scope of service that might be impossible with a single PA.”
How can I find out more about Caroline B?
Caroline B Personal Management has been operating since 2012. The company’s website contains extensive information about their services and includes client testimonials that provide insight into how they’ve utilised these services.
Keen to know more? Email Caroline at caroline@caroline-b.hk or call her directly at 9861 5788.
caroline-b.hk
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