In this blog, OrangeIQ will share some tips to ensure success with your virtual assistant. Are you considering investing or planning to set aside time and resources to find your ideal virtual assistant? That is to say, it is time to discuss what you can do to ensure that your relationship with your newly hired virtual assistant is a success. While having the right systems in place can help you build your business, you will also need to nurture it.
In addition, building your team with the right systems in place can be time-consuming. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to bring someone into your business. Many are considering the process of hiring and working with virtual assistants. We hope that these tips to ensure success with your virtual assistant help you decide and gain new business growth.
Most relationships with virtual assistants fail simply due to a lack of time investment on the part of the owner. Like any good relationship, you need to give what you want to get back. Part of ensuring success is having the right systems in place to build your business and our team. Here are some tips to ensure success with your virtual assistant:
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Start By Getting Your SOPs In Place
Standard Operating Procedures, or SOPs for short, are written instructions for the tasks that you are hiring them to do. This step is often overlooked because it is not the most compelling of tasks to complete. But it is also critical for a smooth delegation process.
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What You Need:
Have an updated set of SOPs for all your business processes. That is to say, not just for the tasks you are passing on to your virtual assistant. You never know when the unexpected will happen to help out in an emergency. As a result, a good place to start is with the tasks you are handling over to your virtual assistant. As time passes by, perhaps your virtual assistant will be able to write the rest of your SOPs for you.
Make sure you write down all the information needed to get the job done, including login information and templated texts you are using already. For example, the easiest way to do this is to simply screencast.
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Build A Healthy Relationship
You will want to take a few minutes to think about how you will build your relationship with your virtual assistant. You are their client but it also feels like she is working for you. That is to say, many of us are used to being solopreneurs, doing everything ourselves and the way we like it. As a result, it may be hard to delegate tasks to someone else.
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Communicate As Much As Possible
Without the benefit of body language that comes from speaking to someone who is physically there, many find it hard to build and maintain story working relationships. That is to say, the secret is to establish effective communication channels and use them frequently. It is important from the onset to discuss with your virtual assistant which mode of communication works best for both of you. For example, phone, email, video calling, text messages, or through your project management system.
Keep in mind that others can do some of your tasks just as well as you can, and in some instances, maybe even better. Virtual assistants bring experience to the table that they have gained from working with other clients and can often suggest new, more efficient methods for doing things. The trick is to nurture an open relationship in which our virtual assistant feels confident enough to share their knowledge. In addition to that, make sure you let your virtual assistant know how often you expect them to check-in and update you. It is also encouraged to limit communications to normal business hours. You both deserve a private life and this should be mutually respected.
Make time for each other. It is a good rule of thumb to check in with your virtual assistant at least once a week ‘in person’ via a video conference or phone. With some time, you can find the perfect tools to help you communicate with your virtual assistants.
What To Do If It Doesn’t Work Out?
No matter how well you prepare and vet candidates beforehand, sometimes it is just not a good fit. Don’t forget that you are paying them to do their job to the best of their ability and to deliver on time. That is to say, if you find that this is not happening, don’t wait too long to terminate the engagement. You can give an outsourced service provider a certain number of chances. Discuss with them the issues you are displeased with, ask them for their input and if after the certain number of chances have depleted and there is no improvement, you can discontinue working with them.
In addition, don’t let one bad experience with a virtual assistant prevent you from trying again. Like all our business activities, we don’t always get it right the first time. The important thing is to learn from our mistakes.
So When Do You Know?
We have given you some tips to ensure success with your virtual assistant above, and if you still find it hard to work with a virtual assistant, they are probably not the right person for you. A good virtual assistant/employer relationship shouldn’t require tonnes of hand-holding and should always make your life and work easier, not more difficult.
