Virtual assistants are a crucial part of running any business. They allow you to delegate and focus on your core responsibilities while someone else handles the grunt work so you don’t have to.
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However, VAs can be tricky. It can be hard to find a reliable assistant that will work effectively for you, every day, without needing constant management. If you’re looking for some tips to help keep your VAs working efficiently and effectively in your company, read on!
Meet regularly with your VAs
VAs are a huge investment for any business. They are important people who can make or break the success of your company. That’s why it’s essential to build a close relationship with your VAs. You can do this through regular meetings, one-on-one conversations, or even video calls. This will help you develop a strong working relationship with your VAs so that you can troubleshoot together and solve problems quickly. If you meet regularly with your VAs, you’ll be able to identify potential problems before they become serious issues. It will also allow you to work with your VAs as a team. If one person is having a problem, you can have a meeting to discuss the issue and find a solution together.
Communicate effectively with your VAs
Communication is key in any relationship — it allows you to establish relationships and build trust between your VAs and your other employees. It’s important to communicate regularly with your VAs. This can take many forms, but the most effective communication methods are written communication and video calls. Writing is an effective way to communicate with VAs, especially if you’re sending instructions or tasks. It allows your VAs to follow instructions exactly, which can help prevent any confusion. It’s also a great way to communicate information to your VAs, like timelines or deadlines. When communicating with your VAs, try to use examples. This can make your instructions and information much clearer to your VAs. It’s also helpful to use social media when communicating with your VAs. This allows your VAs to see your communication as well as any replies that come from their team members.
Be transparent with your VAs
Transparency is the key to any type of relationship — it allows your VAs to trust you and know where you stand with them. One of the best ways to be transparent with your VAs is to make sure you keep everything documented. This can be done in many ways, like keeping a daily journal, note taking on your computer, or creating a task management program. When documenting everything, you can also make use of templates. This can make documenting your business much easier, allowing you to keep track of your VAs, tasks, and other information. It can also help you keep organized and look professional when documenting your business.
Create a standard operating procedure for tasks
It’s important to create a standard operating procedure for tasks. This can help your VAs and other team members, who may need assistance with certain tasks, to know exactly what to expect and how to get it done. A standard operating procedure can be written down as a guide, or it can be done through a program like task management. Creating a standard operating procedure can help you get rid of the confusion that can come from having too many tasks. It can also help your VAs to know what to expect when they’re assisting you with certain tasks. This can be especially helpful if your VAs have different skill sets.
Wrapping up
Working with a virtual assistant is all about the long-term, so don't give up if it seems difficult or overwhelming at the onset. If you hang in there, you'll soon be more productive and better able to compete in your industry.