Freelancing is a great opportunity for administrative support professionals. In fact, if you have the right set of skills and character traits, it could be the perfect career option for you.
This article will discuss the 15 character traits you need to succeed as freelance administrative support.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Excellent organizational skills |
| 2. Strong attention to detail |
| 3. Effective communication abilities |
| 4. Adaptability |
| 5. Multitasking capabilities |
| 6. Problem-solving skills |
| 7. Time management skills |
| 8. Professionalism |
| 9. Client relationship management |
| 10. Self-motivation |
| 11. Resourcefulness |
| 12. Flexibility |
| 13. Ability to work independently |
| 14. Continuous learning mindset |
| 15. Positive attitude and resilience |
1. Confidence
Confidence is the most important trait for a freelancer to have. Confidence comes in many forms, but it can be defined as the belief that you can overcome any challenge or achieve any goal. Confidence is essential because it will allow you to take on new projects with ease and success will follow.
For example, if you want to increase your earning potential by taking on more clients and working longer hours than usual, but don’t believe that you can handle those tasks at this time because of past experiences or current circumstances, then even though there may be nothing stopping you from achieving this goal other than yourself (i.e., no physical limitations), it will never happen simply because of lack of confidence within yourself.
Building a successful career as a freelance administrative support requires specific character traits and skills. Check out our article on 15 Character Traits You Need to Succeed as a Freelance Administrative Support to discover the qualities that will help you thrive in this field.
2. Focus
The second trait you need to succeed as freelance administrative support is the focus. The ability to stay focused and not get distracted is one of the most important skills for any freelancer or entrepreneur. You will be working on multiple projects at once, so it is crucial that you can set aside distractions and focus on completing one task at a time.
Think back to when you were in school—how many times did your teacher tell you to “focus”? How many times did they tell you that if they heard another word from your mouth, they would send home an embarrassing note? If we had my teachers’ attention span back then, I doubt we would have made it through the day!
Focus helps us set goals and achieve our goals by keeping us organized, staying disciplined in our work habits, and preventing distractions from derailing progress toward those goals (like watching YouTube videos instead of studying).
3. Good Communication Skills
If you want to succeed as freelance administrative support, it’s important that you have good communication skills. In order to communicate effectively with your clients and colleagues, there are some things that you need to do:
Listen carefully when people speak with you. Make sure that they know that they have your full attention when they’re speaking with you by focusing on them and not looking around the room while they are talking to you.
It is also important that you don’t interrupt them or cut them off before they finish what they’re saying because this can be very rude and make it seem like their opinions aren’t heard or valued by others in the group discussion (or meeting).
Speak clearly so that others can hear what it is that you are saying clearly without having difficulty understanding what was said while at the same time being mindful of how much noise there may be surrounding each other during conversations between parties involved in these discussions/meetings/etcetera.
Especially if these conversations take place over long distances between locations where multiple individuals might be participating simultaneously via telephone calls etcetera.; which means making an effort not only about how loudly one speaks but also considering whether any background noise might interfere with their ability to hear someone else talking over phone lines too close together (this could cause problems later on if something happens during work hours).
If possible try turning down volume levels before starting any conversation so nobody has trouble hearing anything while working hard during busy periods (then raise again after hours end).
Also, remember never to say anything negative about anyone else even though sometimes it seems easier just forget about doing these things instead
Are you considering a career as a freelance administrative support professional? Learn how to start your journey by reading our comprehensive guide on How to Become a Freelance Administrative Support and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in this rewarding profession.
4. Determination
Determination is a characteristic that can be learned and used to your advantage. Being determined means that you are less likely to give up. A person who is not determined often gives up at the first sign of failure or setback, while a determined person will keep going even when things get tough.
Determination can be used to set goals and achieve them, which will help you reach success as an administrative support professional. If you find yourself lacking in motivation or interest in your work or life, try setting some new goals for yourself and making plans on how you’re going to achieve them. Use determination so that these goals become reality!
5. Ability to Prioritize and Manage Time Well
With so many things to do and so many deadlines to meet, it’s important that you know how to prioritize tasks and manage your time well. This can be tricky if you don’t have a system in place or if you’re not good at organizing yourself. The following is a list of the most common ways freelancers manage their time:
Prioritizing Tasks
When facing a particularly stressful work situation, it can be easy to let everything fall by the wayside and end up working on one task all day long until its deadline is due. When this happens, take a step back and ask yourself what needs doing most urgently (i.e., which task requires more attention). Then set aside some time just for that task before going back into whatever else was already on your plate.
Managing Deadlines
If there are multiple deadlines coming due in close succession (or even overlapping), there are several ways you can make sure each client receives their documents by their specified date:
Set an alarm on your phone for when each document needs sending out so that any potential issues arise before an actual deadline arrives
Check with each client about any special requirements they might have regarding formatting or delivery options (such as UPS vs FedEx) beforehand; this way there won’t be any confusion later down the road!
Do not forget about these deadlines until they’re upon us! Whether or not we have other pressing matters waiting around somewhere behind them doesn’t matter; once they’ve been assigned such importance by our clients themselves then they shouldn’t wait long after being assigned before being taken care of properly.”
6. Integrity
Integrity is the ability, to be honest, consistent, and true to oneself. It’s a trait that can be easily faked, but it will be noticed if you try.
You don’t have to be perfect anybody is! but you do have to have integrity in your dealings with others:
Clients need this trait from their administrative support staff as they will only trust someone they know they can rely upon and trust completely. Not having integrity could lose your clients or cost your company money which could lead to losing more than just one client if word gets out quickly enough.
Your coworkers need this trait from their peers because people who are dishonest are not likely going to get along well with those around them at work (unless they’re playing some kind of game). If there’s any chance of getting fired because someone else doesn’t like how much time they spend gossiping about others then maybe it’s best not
Women looking to enter the freelance job market can find valuable insights and tips in our article on How to Secure a Freelance Job as a Woman. Discover strategies for overcoming challenges and building a successful freelance career tailored to your unique strengths and abilities.
7. Problem-Solving Skills
As a freelance administrative support professional, you will be expected to resolve problems quickly and effectively. Clients are likely to have questions or concerns that need to be resolved quickly, and if you’re able to handle these situations well, you’ll gain their trust and more work!
In addition to the ability to problem solve, good communication skills are also important for this role. It’s important that you can clearly communicate with both your client and other team members in order for projects or tasks to go smoothly.
Communication is vital because it allows all team members involved in a project (including yourself) access to what needs to be done next so that no one feels overwhelmed with too much information at once.
In addition to these character traits, being organized is an absolute must when working as an administrative support professional freelancer—you will be juggling multiple projects at once so it’s important that everything has its place so nothing gets lost in the shuffle!
8. Patience
Patience is a virtue. It’s also a learned skill that can make or break your business, depending on how you use it. When dealing with clients, patience is key. Some people are not always easy to work with they may be difficult or challenging in some way and test your limits of tolerance and grace.
But the ability to remain patient during those times will ensure that you don’t lose your cool when faced with stressful situations. And while it may seem counterintuitive at first glance, it’s actually very good for business!
Patience shows that you’re confident in yourself and your abilities as an administrative support freelancer; it shows others around you that they can trust what you say because they know there won’t be any unnecessary drama coming from someone who doesn’t have any patience for nonsense (i.e., themselves).
9. Self-Reliance
Self-reliance is the ability to work without relying on others. You can be self-reliant in many ways, but it all starts with being willing and able to take responsibility for your own actions, decisions, and commitments.
If you are self-reliant, then you won’t blame others when things go wrong or don’t go as planned and will instead look at ways to solve problems before they become an issue. This trait also helps you stay focused on your tasks because there’s no one else to rely on except yourself.
This trait is especially important when you’re working as a freelancer because it allows you control over how effectively and efficiently your work gets done so that everything runs smoothly throughout each day.
Hiring a freelance administrative support professional can bring numerous benefits to your business. Explore our article on the Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Freelance Administrative Support Professional to understand the advantages of outsourcing administrative tasks and how it can enhance your productivity and efficiency.
10. Self-Motivation (Motivation)
As freelance administrative support, you will be the deciding factor in how well your business succeeds. The more motivated you are, the harder you will work and the more productive and efficient you’ll be. Motivation is key to success in any field. If you’re not self-motivated, it’s unlikely that anyone else will motivate or push you to do anything worthwhile.
There Are Many Ways To Motivate Yourself As A Freelancer; Here Are Just A Few:
- Motivate yourself by setting goals for yourself (e.g., spend five hours doing X task today).
- Motivate yourself by rewarding yourself when something is done (e.g., buy an ice cream cone after finishing an assignment).
- Motivate yourself by thinking about what happens if the project falls through (e.g., losing clients).
11. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a set of skills that help you manage your emotions, manage relationships, and handle stress. If you have high emotional intelligence, you are able to control your feelings and stay calm. You can also sense other people’s feelings and communicate in an effective way that helps both parties feel heard.
EQ is not about being nice all the time; it’s about showing empathy for others’ emotions and understanding why they feel how they do and then managing those feelings so that everyone can work together toward a solution.
Emotional Intelligence can be learned through self-reflection: identifying what makes you happy or sad; being aware of when you’re stressed out or upset; noticing when someone else is upset; putting yourself in their shoes, asking them what’s wrong before jumping to conclusions about what happened between the two of you… These are all things that are part of building emotional intelligence!
12. Teamwork Skills (Teamwork)
Teamwork is important to any job, but it’s especially vital in an administrative support role. If you’re lucky enough to land a job as a freelance admin, your clients will expect you to work well with others. And that includes other freelancers! The best way for you to make sure this happens is by improving your teamwork skills from the get-go. Here are some ways you can do that:
- Improve your communication skills by practicing active listening and asking questions when appropriate
- Practice problem-solving skills by working on projects together with other people or teams of people
- Learn how to navigate uncomfortable situations by having difficult conversations about things like deadlines or expectations
As an administrative assistant, it’s important to continually improve your skills and stay updated with industry best practices. Our article on 15 Tips Every Administrative Assistant Should Follow offers practical advice and actionable tips to help you excel in your role and become an indispensable asset to any organization.
13. Attention to Detail (Attention Detail)
Attention to detail (ATD) is a skill that many companies are looking for, but it’s often difficult to find the right people. The reason is simple: most people aren’t detail-oriented.
Being detail-oriented means that you can spot mistakes and problems before they become big issues or cause problems in your organization. You also know how to fix them when they do occur before they get too big even if no one notices them until later on down the line! It’s important to note here that you don’t need perfect vision or hearing; just be able to see things clearly enough so that you know what needs fixing when something goes wrong.
14. Technical and Computer Skills (Technical AND Computer)
In addition to being strong in the areas above, you should also have technical skills. Technical skills can be related to computer hardware and software such as word processors or spreadsheets.
Technical skills are important for administrative support professionals who work with computers on a regular basis. This might include operating programs like Microsoft Office Suite, Gmail, Outlook, and other similar applications.
Conclusion
The conclusion of this article is simple: if you want to succeed as a freelance administrative support professional, you need to be able to demonstrate your character traits. These traits will help you build trust with clients and make them more likely to hire you again and again. They also show that you’re trustworthy and reliable two things that are essential for any successful business relationship.
If you keep these character traits in mind when working with clients, it’ll be much easier for them (and for yourself) to grow into trusting business partners who can rely on each other over the long term.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that can provide further insights into the qualities and strengths required for success as a freelance administrative support professional:
Qualities of a Successful Personal Assistant: Discover the key qualities and skills necessary to excel as a personal assistant and enhance your effectiveness in supporting executives and managers.
Top 5 Strengths for an Administrative Assistant: Learn about the five essential strengths that can set you apart as an administrative assistant and contribute to your overall success in the role.
10 Qualities Every Great Administrative Assistant Should Have: Explore a comprehensive list of ten qualities that define an exceptional administrative assistant and how cultivating these attributes can elevate your performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost?
Our prices vary based on your needs, but we’ll discuss the specifics at length during our first consultation. We’re confident that you’ll find our rates to be more than fair for the quality of work we deliver.
What Is Your Process For Accepting New Clients?
We have a rigorous vetting process that begins with an application form and ends with a phone call or Skype interview. If we think you’d be a good fit for our team, an offer will follow shortly thereafter!
What are the key qualities of a successful freelance administrative support professional?
Successful freelance administrative support professionals often possess qualities such as excellent organizational skills, strong attention to detail, effective communication abilities, adaptability, and the ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently.
How can I improve my skills as a freelance administrative support professional?
To enhance your skills as a freelance administrative support professional, consider investing time in continuous learning, staying updated with industry trends, seeking professional development opportunities, networking with peers, and seeking feedback to identify areas of improvement.
What are some common challenges faced by freelance administrative support professionals?
Freelance administrative support professionals may encounter challenges such as managing time effectively, dealing with diverse clients and their varying requirements, maintaining work-life balance, and continuously finding new clients or projects.
How can I establish a successful freelance administrative support career?
To build a successful freelance administrative support career, focus on building a strong professional network, showcasing your expertise through a well-crafted portfolio, delivering high-quality work, providing excellent customer service, and consistently seeking opportunities for professional growth.
What are the benefits of outsourcing administrative tasks to a freelance administrative support professional?
Outsourcing administrative tasks to a freelance administrative support professional can bring advantages such as cost savings, flexibility in hiring, access to specialized skills, increased productivity, and the ability to focus on core business functions.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.