Frequently Asked Questions

Great question;  it’s still a relatively new concept in Australia, so let me explain.

Think of an OBM as your Virtual Chief Operating Officer; the equivalent of a General Manager or COO, working with you remotely. I manage your operations, your team, and your projects with one eye always on your bigger vision.

With my support, you’ll:

• Build efficient systems and workflows that run without you in the middle of everything.

• Get your inbox under control and keep it that way, so you start each day with clarity, not dread.

• Protect your diary so your time reflects your actual priorities.

• Have someone to share the load with, a genuine right-hand person, not just a task-taker.

• Improve productivity across your team with clear processes and real accountability.

• Create the space to work ON your business, not just in it.

• Step into the CEO role your business needs and actually feel like it.

It depends on your business and what you need, but here’s the honest answer: for most clients, working with me doesn’t feel like managing another person. It feels like things are finally getting done.

In practice, I’m working in the background of your business, keeping an eye on what’s moving, what’s stalled, and what needs attention. I’m not waiting to be told what to do. I’m proactively managing your operations so you don’t have to.

Day to day, that might look like:

• Keeping your project management tool updated so everything is tracked and visible

• Following up with team members or contractors on outstanding tasks

• Managing your inbox and diary so your day starts with clarity

• Building or refining a system or SOP

• Flagging anything that needs your attention — and only the things that genuinely need you

• Preparing for an upcoming project, launch, or deadline 

Honestly, it varies — and I think that’s actually a good thing.

Unlike hiring an employee, one of the benefits of working with an OBM is that the hours flex to match what your business actually needs. A busy launch period looks very different from a quieter consolidation month, and your support should reflect that.

For most clients, we scope the engagement upfront based on what needs to be done. From there, we review regularly to make sure the hours are working for both of us. Some clients need a focused block of hours to get through a project. Others prefer a consistent monthly arrangement for ongoing support.

What I’d say is this: we won’t lock you into something that doesn’t serve you. The best way to work out what makes sense is to have a discovery call and talk through where your business is at right now. 

I’m comfortable across a wide range of tools and I’m a quick learner when it comes to new platforms. My core toolkit includes:

• Project management: ClickUp, Asana, Trello

• Communication & collaboration: Microsoft Teams, Zoom

• Document creation & file management: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace 

If your business already runs on a platform that isn’t on this list, I’m generally open to working within what you have, I assess it case by case to make sure I can genuinely add value with the tools you use rather than disrupting what’s already working.

If you’re not sure what tools you need, that’s something we can figure out together too. Part of my role is helping businesses find the right systems for how they actually work, not just the most popular ones.

My preference is to keep communication streamlined and in one place and for most clients, that means working through a project management tool like ClickUp. It keeps everything visible, searchable, and out of your inbox.

Rather than a fixed check-in schedule that may or may not suit what’s happening in your business that week, I work on an as-needed basis. If something needs your input or decision, I’ll flag it clearly. If everything is ticking along, I won’t fill your calendar with meetings for the sake of it.

That said, I’m not the kind of OBM who disappears into the background and leaves you wondering what’s happening. You’ll always have visibility over what’s being worked on, what’s been completed, and what’s coming up next.

At the start of every engagement, we’ll talk through what communication looks and feels right for you because every business owner is different, and your preferences matter.