In this article we discuss why hiring exceptional VAs to streamline your business is one of the best investments you’ll ever make into your growing enterprise, how to cultivate a successful working relationship with your VA and finally, touch on several more things your VA can take over, so you have more time to do what you do best – and things in your business only you can do, and just maybe have some personal time too!
Hiring Exceptional Virtual Assistants To Streamline Your Business
Do you need more time during the day to meet with clients, develop products or give your attention to future planning for your business? Do you feel that you spend too much time filling out paperwork, updating your contacts list, and settling business accounts? Rather than trying to squeeze more time out of each day, why not hire a virtual assistant to get some of these less important (but still necessary) tasks done for you?
The Most Important Reason to Hire a Virtual Assistant
Every single person on this planet has the same 24 hours each and every day. The most important reason to hire a virtual assistant is so you have the ability to spend your time more wisely, so instead of spending an hour or two each day completing less important administrative tasks, you could meet with a new client, work on ways to expand your business and your brand, or take the day off to spend with your family or to pursue a passion or hobby.
A talented virtual assistant will work with you on a project-by-project basis or on an ongoing basis for a specific number of hours each week or month. This means you don’t necessarily have to hire a full-time employee (a big concern for startups and small businesses on a budget).
Developing a Successful Working Relationship with Your VA
Find a VA that has the specific skill sets needed to complete business tasks that are unique to your business. Create a daily or weekly schedule of tasks for your VA to complete, then encourage your VA to submit a completed task list each day so you can track their progress.
Since your virtual assistant works remotely, you can expect most tasks to be completed in less time than it would take an in-house employee who may become distracted with clients, meetings, or chatting with co-workers, so it’s definitely in your best interest to schedule at least one monthly meeting with your VA to discuss their workload. If your VA is willing to take on a few extra responsibilities, make sure to provide adequate training and feedback until they’re secure in completing these tasks.
It’s important to understand that working with a virtual assistant is more of a partnership, than an employer/employee relationship. Since many VAs are also business owners with multiple clients, you need to maintain a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to hiring the right VA for you. For example, some VAs will only commit to a specific number of hours per week or per month, while others prefer to work on a per-project basis, so before hiring a particular VA, make sure both of you are in agreement with the number of hours they can work for you.
Help Your Business Grow
To get the most out of your partnership with your virtual assistant, make a list of all the tasks you need to complete in order to grow your business and be specific. Delegate as many of the less important tasks to your virtual assistant as possible so you can concentrate on the more meaningful tasks – things that only you can do, that can help you finally grow your business.
