You’ve hired a Virtual Assistant, now what? Here are some tips to help you to make this business arrangement beneficial to both you and your new Virtual Assistant. Let’s make it work, so you can continue to build your business and brand.
Onboarding
If you don’t have an onboarding process for your Virtual Assistant, that needs to be one of the first tasks that you have them assist you with. An onboarding process is important for your business, especially if you regularly hire new members to your team. This is the first thing that should happen after you hire someone new.
How to make it work? Create a repeatable onboarding process for any new members that you add to your team. This process should introduce them to what you do and what their role is in relationship to your business.
Plan In Advance
Here’s a big thing that a lot of entrepreneurs or small business owners don’t realize. A virtual assistant is not sitting around all day waiting for you to assign tasks to them. You are not their only client. Plus, they are also running a business which means, they have to spend time marketing, creating, and investing in their own content and learning.
How to make it work? Have work/tasks ready for virtual assistants at the beginning of the day. This may require some planning ahead on your part. Sit and decide on all the things that you need your virtual assistant to work on the day before. If you can plan out a day’s worth of tasks great, a week’s worth even better!!
Communication
Determine ahead of time the communication tool that will be used between yourself and the virtual assistant. How will tasks be communicated? How soon will they respond to emails? What are their normal business hours? Communication. Communication. And oh yea, COMMUNICATION.
Also the online project management tool that you use in your business may have a chat or comments feature in the tasks section where you can leave comments or notes for your VA. If you haven’t tried an online PM tool yet, you should look into one.
How to make it work? Use a tool like Slack or Microsoft Teams to leave messages for your VA throughout the day. Not all virtual assistants are comfortable sharing their personal telephone number with clients. #Boundaries – So keep this in mind when you are looking for ways to stay connected with your Virtual Assistant.
Review, Reflect, Renew?
After some time has passed, take some time to review the current working relationship. Is it working out or stressing you out? Are your expectations being met? Are you spending more time explaining things than actually getting work done? Reflect on what has changed in your business since hiring your Virtual Assistant. Then, decide if you will renew their contract or start the search for a new VA.
How to make it work? Review, reflect, and decide if you want to renew the VA’s contract. There’s nothing that says the first VA you hire will be perfect for your business. If you have to rehire, ensure that you use the job description to set expectations for the person(s) applying for the role. The right fit is waiting to help you build your business and brand!!
Before you even hire a Virtual Assistant you should already have an idea of the tasks that you need them to help you with. Once hired, things like planning, communication, and evaluating what works/doesn’t work will help you to make the relationship mutually beneficial for you both. Take these tips into consideration and HAPPY HIRING!!
Have some more tips on making the business/virtual assistant relationship work? Drop them below. I’m open to learning some new ones to ensure I practice them in my business. Looking for a Virtual Assistant? Make your list, then schedule a Discovery Call with me.