There are many qualities that a virtual assistant should have. One of the primary attributes is being proactive. An excellent virtual assistant should go the extra mile to try and make things easier for her clients. She shouldn’t always wait in the wings for the client to provide instruction on what to do or how to do things. Of course, a virtual assistant will need some initial direction of how to support the client. However, there are some things that the virtual assistant can do to work with the client proactively.
Don’t Wait for Things to Do
Everyone is different and operate their businesses differently. The same holds true for each business owner in regards to how they want the virtual assistant to support them. So, naturally, the VA will need to take these things into account. However, once she knows the client’s preference for support, she can run with things from that point. For example, if the virtual assistant is providing social media support and needs to find curated articles each week, she shouldn’t wait for the client to tell her to do this each week. She should take the initiative and send the client the curated articles, that she’s found, without the client’s need to ask for them.
Take it a Step Further
Business owners are usually very busy. Having to operate a business servicing clients and marketing can take a tremendous amount of time. Hence a business owner choosing to partner and work with a virtual assistant. Being busy can sometimes mean that you don’t always think of last-minute details related to completing tasks. However, a proactive virtual assistant should think of the small details. For example, if a client wants the assistant to set-up a newsletter to be distributed and provides the copy, the VA should proofread it without direction from the client. Proofreading the newsletter is an example of taking it a step further by doing something small that the client may not have considered but is of great help.
Offer more efficient ways of doing things
An excellent virtual assistant should be knowledgeable of efficient administrative processes. She should know the best and most efficient way to get administrative tasks completed. For example, if a client is using a spreadsheet to house data/information, but the VA is aware of an online platform that will make the task more efficient, she should offer this suggestion to the client. The virtual assistant’s goal should be to make her client’s administrative processes easier for the client’s business.
A virtual assistant provides administrative services; therefore, she should be knowledgeable in the services that she provides. She should also have a great ability to work efficiently and know which resources to use to work most efficiently. The main reason business owners choose to work with a virtual assistant is to make their work life easier. Having a proactive partner, such as a virtual assistant, on their team should accomplish that goal.
