Are you tired of having your business running you, instead of you running it? 

Are you experiencing an overflowing inbox?

No time to spend with family and friends

You worry about every detail of the business whilst on vacation, and find yourself being afraid to take time off 

Your to-do list is out of control, and you are stuck on social media 

If this is you, then it’s time to hire an assistant.

Who is a Virtual Assistant, and How Can They Help Your Business?

Virtual Assistants (VAs) are professionals who provide administrative support and other services remotely. They can help businesses in a variety of ways, from managing emails and scheduling appointments to researching topics and creating content.

• Access to highly skilled professionals without paying for overhead costs such as office space, equipment, training, vacation leave, sick leave, taxes, etc. 

• Additionally, VAs can often work flexible hours that fit your business needs 

• With a Virtual Assistant, you can free up your time to focus on what matters most – growing your business.

How to Find the Right Fit for Your Business

It’s vital to understand what qualities to look for in a VA before hiring them. Whether you’re looking for someone to manage your day-to-day operations or a specialist, consider these three factors when making your decision: 

• Their skill set
• Experience and 
• Communication style 

These factors can ensure that you find the perfect match for your business needs.

What Tasks Can a Virtual Assistant Perform

The list of tasks a virtual assistant can help with is very exhaustive. Virtual Assistants are specialists in different areas, and you can find VAs for almost any aspect of your workflow. 

Therefore, if you are considering outsourcing some of your tasks, the first thing to consider are tasks that take up most of your working hours, cause you the most stress, or that which you least enjoy doing. 

How to Work as Effectively as Possible With Your Virtual Assistant

Create effective workflow systems: remote work rides on the shoulder of technology. You need to set up systems that will make working together from different locations easy. Some of those systems are:

Project management systems: ClickUp, Asana, or Trello

Communication systems: Slack

Password sharing system: LastPass 

Set clear expectations: the job description and requirements must state clearly the tasks to be carried out, and the expected deliverables. 

Provide feedback: as often as you can, ensure that you are providing constructive feedback to your VA. Feedback allows your virtual assistant to know what progress they have made and what needs to be improved. 

Set communication rules: you and your VA need to establish and agree on working days and hours, response time to emails and texts, communication channels, and how to deal with emergencies. 

Don’ts of Working With a Virtual Assistant

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when working with a virtual assistant:

Don’t micromanage: Virtual assistants are skilled and trained individuals, so it’s important to trust their abilities and let them work independently. Micromanaging can detract from the benefits of working with a virtual assistant and can lead to frustration on both sides.

Do not expect immediate responses 24/7: Virtual assistants have their own schedules and may not be available at all times. It’s important to understand that they are not on-demand employees.

Avoid unclear instructions: Provide clear and detailed instructions so that the virtual assistant can effectively complete the task.

Don’t ignore privacy and security: Clearly communicate privacy and security protocols to protect confidential information and comply with privacy laws.

Don’t communicate in a hostile or unprofessional manner: good communication is key to a successful working relationship, so it’s important to maintain a professional tone in all interactions.

By keeping these guidelines in mind, you can ensure a productive and positive working relationship with your virtual assistant.

How We Can Work Together

If you are looking to outsource some of your business operations?

VirtualKarette VA Services supports business owners with the effective management of the day-to-day operational activities involved in running their business so that they can focus their skills and expertise on growing.

Book a call to find out how we can support you with the growth of your business.