Have you recently hired a Virtual Assistant for your business?
Congratulations, outsourcing can be one of the best investments you can make to grow your business!
But before you get too comfortable, it's important to understand that merely hiring a VA isn't a silver bullet that will magically solve all your problems.
There's a right way to use a VA in your business, as well as a number of mistakes you'll want to avoid. Here are eight tragic mistakes to avoid if you hope to get the most from your VA relationship.
Mistake #1 - Not communicating with your VA daily.
Regular communication with your VA is vital (if you're a regular reader of our blog, you'll know this already!). We suggest a quick brain dump each morning on WhatsApp or via email to ensure your VA understands your priorities and expectations.
Mistake #2 - Thinking a VA is going to fix all your issues from day one.
A VA isn't a quick fix solution to all your problems. You need to invest time in building a long-term relationship to reap the benefits. Start by providing adequate training, and be prepared to provide extra support while your VA gets up and running.
Mistake #3 - When handing over tasks, you’re not giving them all the details they need up front.
A task isn’t going to be completed correctly if you only give your VA half the information and expect them to perform a miracle. This also means not assuming that certain details are obvious (because they may not be to someone who has never completed the task before.) Invest a little more time upfront to delegate a task with all the information.
Mistake #4 - Your VA makes a mistake, but rather than saying something, you fix it without mentioning it.
Remember, no one wants to fail. By letting your VA know when something's not quite right, you'll help them understand your preferences and what's important to you. Without letting them know, they'll never have the chance to improve.
Mistake #5 - Not treating your VA like a real person.
Your VA is a living, breathing person! Sounds obvious, but it can be easy to forget they are more than just a resource over the internet when you’ve never met them in person.
Ask them how their day is. Let them know they are doing a great job. Say please and thank you. Send them a message on their birthday. These gestures are very much appreciated and go a long way to helping build a fruitful, productive relationship.
Mistake #6 - Micromanaging your VA.
Give your VA the freedom to work their magic. Trust them to do the job you hired them to do and let go of the need to control every little detail.
Mistake #7 - Failure to delegate
You hired a VA to accomplish tasks that you cannot do yourself due to lack of time, interest or expertise, so failing to delegate these tasks defeats the purpose of a virtual assistant!
If you’re struggling to find tasks to delegate, we suggest taking the time to recognise the tasks you perform daily, weekly, or monthly and compiling a list of repetitive tasks. While it may seem tedious, it is more tedious to continue doing tasks that you dislike!
When completing a task, ask yourself if it can be delegated to your VA. Remember, leave your ego at the door and trust that your VA can handle the task.
Mistake #8 - Not thanking your VA
This mistake is a big no-no and making it can result in hurt feelings all-round. Working for someone that seems ungrateful for your efforts is tough. The work your virtual assistant does will likely be saving you hours of time and allowing you to grow your business in all sorts of ways, so should be regarded as anything but a thankless job.
Never underestimate the power of a good relationship with your Virtual Assistant!
This list of mistakes might come across as common sense, but take it from us, they can be easy mistakes to make if you're new to outsourcing.
We hope you'll take these tips and use them to generate productive working relationships with your own VA. You are paying for the service, after all, so by getting the basics right; you can reap the many benefits outsourcing provides!
If you'd like to find out more about working with a virtual assistant, book a discovery call with our team today!
