Working with a Virtual Assistant can sometimes give Clients more job than minimizing the things that they should worry about. If done wrong, you will end up thinking that this is one of the bad decisions that you have made in your business. But if done correctly, you will enjoy the benefits of working with a Virtual Assistant and take advantage of the time, better revenue and being back with your family and circle of friends.
So, the question is? How should I manage my Virtual Assistant?
In my previous blog, I have discussed delegation and the questions that you need to ask yourself when you are hiring a Virtual Assistant. Now, managing a VA should not be as challenging as creating the list. Given the fact for example that you have already created the list of tasks that you need help on, you now need to know the qualities of your Virtual Assistant. Depending on where you hired your Virtual Assistant from, you should know by now if you are to train the VA for the system that you already have or if the VA has skills already that you need.
Either ways, I still feel the need of showing your VA how it's done. In order for you to be happy with how your VA work is to make sure that you are clear with your expectations and instructions.
1. Prepare the list of tasks that you would like your Virtual Assistant to work on for you.
2. In the first few days of working with your VA. Check your schedule. Spend 30 minutes - 1 hour with your VA everyday. I prefer to have this at the start of your VA's shift. In this time, you can inform the VA what the tasks are for today and any special instructions that you have for her, It will help you catch up with your VA and also know if there are gray areas that she needs help on. This is better than having your VA call you each time they have questions which will just affect your whole day activity. If the question is not that important, she can park it and ask it during the meeting. Now if it is a very important matter then the VA should call you and you are assured that you are only answering important calls. You can lessen the daily meeting as the VA gets comfortable with the task and she can just add her questions for you in her Day-End Report.
3. Training. Instead of spending a lot of time training your VA. You can actually make use of screen recording tools. Make an example on how you usually work on the tasks that the VA should work on. While you are doing it in the computer you can add some audio to make the process clearer. Save the file in an Online Storage Folder and share it with your VA. This will not only lessen your Training time with your VA, but the VA can use this as a reference if he or she forgets something in the process.
4. Have your VA login to Time Tracking tool, this will give you a piece of mind that the VA is working on the tasks as opposed to sleeping on the job. Most VA's work in odd hours since they need to adjust their schedule with your business hours. You will feel more comfortable working with a VA, when you are assured that you are getting what your money is worth.
5. Trust your VA. A Virtual Assistant's job is not easy as it seems and it makes the relationship even better if you will learn to trust your VA that they can do the job well. Be appreciative and commend your VA when they are doing a great job and give them Constructive Criticisms when they are doing it all wrong. Remember, if you want to make your VA as an extension of yourself you should maintain good relationship with them.
There are VA companies that actually manage the VA in your behalf and make sure that things are done as it should be. You can hire a Freelance VA from different websites and manage them by yourself or hire a VA from a VA Company and be relieved that they will do everything for you from Recruitment, Training to the Management of your VA. If you want to know more about this, let me know and I will be more than willing to help!
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About the Author:
"Driven by the passion to provide great service to her clients, Allie commits on helping her clients meet their goals and be successful in their niche by providing them a better way on handling their day to day tasks."
Maritess "Allie" Pasag Real Estate Virtual Assistant | Consultant | Business Professional
www.myvirtuallie.com
Phone: 321-541-7753
So, the question is? How should I manage my Virtual Assistant?
In my previous blog, I have discussed delegation and the questions that you need to ask yourself when you are hiring a Virtual Assistant. Now, managing a VA should not be as challenging as creating the list. Given the fact for example that you have already created the list of tasks that you need help on, you now need to know the qualities of your Virtual Assistant. Depending on where you hired your Virtual Assistant from, you should know by now if you are to train the VA for the system that you already have or if the VA has skills already that you need.
Either ways, I still feel the need of showing your VA how it's done. In order for you to be happy with how your VA work is to make sure that you are clear with your expectations and instructions.
1. Prepare the list of tasks that you would like your Virtual Assistant to work on for you.
2. In the first few days of working with your VA. Check your schedule. Spend 30 minutes - 1 hour with your VA everyday. I prefer to have this at the start of your VA's shift. In this time, you can inform the VA what the tasks are for today and any special instructions that you have for her, It will help you catch up with your VA and also know if there are gray areas that she needs help on. This is better than having your VA call you each time they have questions which will just affect your whole day activity. If the question is not that important, she can park it and ask it during the meeting. Now if it is a very important matter then the VA should call you and you are assured that you are only answering important calls. You can lessen the daily meeting as the VA gets comfortable with the task and she can just add her questions for you in her Day-End Report.
3. Training. Instead of spending a lot of time training your VA. You can actually make use of screen recording tools. Make an example on how you usually work on the tasks that the VA should work on. While you are doing it in the computer you can add some audio to make the process clearer. Save the file in an Online Storage Folder and share it with your VA. This will not only lessen your Training time with your VA, but the VA can use this as a reference if he or she forgets something in the process.
4. Have your VA login to Time Tracking tool, this will give you a piece of mind that the VA is working on the tasks as opposed to sleeping on the job. Most VA's work in odd hours since they need to adjust their schedule with your business hours. You will feel more comfortable working with a VA, when you are assured that you are getting what your money is worth.
5. Trust your VA. A Virtual Assistant's job is not easy as it seems and it makes the relationship even better if you will learn to trust your VA that they can do the job well. Be appreciative and commend your VA when they are doing a great job and give them Constructive Criticisms when they are doing it all wrong. Remember, if you want to make your VA as an extension of yourself you should maintain good relationship with them.
There are VA companies that actually manage the VA in your behalf and make sure that things are done as it should be. You can hire a Freelance VA from different websites and manage them by yourself or hire a VA from a VA Company and be relieved that they will do everything for you from Recruitment, Training to the Management of your VA. If you want to know more about this, let me know and I will be more than willing to help!
-------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
"Driven by the passion to provide great service to her clients, Allie commits on helping her clients meet their goals and be successful in their niche by providing them a better way on handling their day to day tasks."
Maritess "Allie" Pasag Real Estate Virtual Assistant | Consultant | Business Professional
www.myvirtuallie.com
Phone: 321-541-7753