Productivity Myths Executives Still Believe and How Virtual Assistants Prove Them Wrong

In today’s connected world, it’s easy for anyone to share productivity hacks online. Everyone seems to have the secret formula for working smart. While some of these tips may help, many long-standing beliefs don’t hold up in real life. The rise of virtual Assistants (VAs) is exposing these outdated beliefs. True productivity is beyond doing more; it’s doing less of the wrong things.

The earlier you realise that delegation is not a loss of control but a demonstration of leadership maturity, the better for you and your business. A VA ensures you stay ten steps ahead by handling the small but significant details that used to weigh you down.

Myth 1: If I don’t do it myself, it won’t be done right

This mindset has trapped countless leaders in cycles of overwork and burnout. It comes from a place of pride and fear – the pride of competence and the fear of losing control. But doing everything yourself doesn’t make you indispensable; it just makes you exhausted. A competent virtual assistant can handle routine yet essential tasks, such as managing emails, scheduling meetings, organising files, and preparing reports, with precision and care.

Myth 2: Being busy means being productive

Many executives confuse motion with progress. They rush from meeting to meeting,  respond to every email, multitask endlessly, only to end the day drained and unfulfilled. 

A skilled VA helps cut through that clutter. They bring order to your day, manage calendars effectively, filter distractions, and ensure your priorities align with your strategic goals. So you can take charge and lead with focus rather than being reactive.

Multitasking might look efficient, but it drains energy and reduces attention.  

Myth 3: Hiring a VA is expensive

On the surface, it may seem like hiring a VA is something only big organisations or CEOs can afford. But the truth is, not having one can cost you much more. How many hours a week do you spend on scheduling, replying to emails, or gathering information that could have been handled by someone else? Those hours could go into brainstorming new ideas, nurturing partnerships, or even resting.

Hiring a VA is not an expense; it’s an investment in your productivity and peace of mind. Delegating smartly helps you reclaim time, a resource you can never replace. Many executives who take this step wish they had done it sooner.

Myth  4: Waking up at 5 am guarantees success

 The real myth you need to wake up from is this one. We’ve all heard the stories that successful people rise before dawn to conquer their to-do lists. For many executives, this has become a badge of honour. But over the years, we have seen that productivity is less about when you wake up and more about how you use your peak hours.

Virtual Assistants prove this daily. Many of them work across time zones and plan their schedules around their personal energy peaks, not the clock. The result is consistent, high-quality output without burnout. As an executive, you can do the same by structuring your day around your natural rhythm and delegating the rest. 

Myth 5: Start your day with the hardest task

Every virtual assistant has mastered the art of prioritisation. ‘Eat the frog’ can sound good in theory, but can backfire in practice.

Starting your day with your toughest task often leads to procrastination and fatigue.

VAs start with smaller tasks like responding to emails, organising data, or preparing briefs. These small wins build energy that fuels productivity throughout the day. As an executive, you can apply the same principle: delegate smaller tasks to your VA to build momentum and save your focus for strategic work that moves you closer to your goal.

At Sisi Manager, we’ve seen these myths fall apart again and again. Send a message to us at hello@sisimanager.com to get started.