For some, the thought of working with a virtual assistant can be a bit frightening. You don’t know how you would work with someone that you can’t see. If you can’t see them, how will you be able to trust them? You may have even heard a few horror stories about virtual assistants. However, working with a virtual assistant isn’t as complicated as you may think. To relieve the fear and anxiety that you may have in working with a virtual assistant, let’s take a moment to address each of these questions.
How will I choose the right virtual assistant for my business?
Choosing to add someone to your team isn’t an easy thing to do. However, it’s important for the growth of your business. The best way to go about finding a virtual assistant is to do your due diligence. For starters, you can ask colleagues for a referral. Getting a referral can be a huge help. It also helps with the trust factor. However, be mindful that just because the virtual assistant is a good fit for your colleague’s business doesn’t mean that she will be a good fit for you. You should still follow the same procedures that you would follow when hiring a contractor. I’ve written about how to find a virtual assistant in How to find the Perfect Virtual Assistant that you may find helpful.
How will you know that your tasks are getting done?
It’s not a matter of when your virtual assistant is sitting at her desk, the main point is if she is doing the tasks that you assign. You will easily be able to know if your virtual assistant is doing the tasks that you assign based upon the results that you see. For example, if you request that a flight be booked, once you receive the confirmation via e-mail, you know that it’s been handled. In order to determine how your virtual assistant is managing all of the tasks on her to-do-list, you can always schedule ongoing update calls with her.
Will working with a virtual assistant really benefit my business?
The answer is a resounding YES. You can grow your business so much faster if you have support. Just imagine what you could do if you weren’t drowning in administrative work. Your main focus should be working on your billable work. You can leave the non-billable work to your virtual assistant. You will be free to focus on things that you enjoy most about your business and spend more time with your family.
How can I get the most impact out of working with a virtual assistant?
Communication is the key to a great working relationship with your virtual assistant. Speak with her on a regular basis. The best way to do this is to schedule a weekly call. Even if you don’t have much to discuss still keep the call. Communicating helps to build any type of relationship, even a working one. Also, remember that the virtual assistant is a business owner and not an employee. Be respectful of her policies and procedures.
Working with a virtual assistant shouldn’t be a fearful process. Working virtually with an assistant can be done very successfully if you practice the information provided in this article. Your virtual assistant may not be right next door or even down the hall, but she can be just a click away and ready to support you.
