When was the last time you got off work at 5 pm?
It’s weird to think that entrepreneurs want to be self-directed and have freedom over their time when in reality, most actually don’t.
From bookkeeping and email marketing to content creation, there’s always something left to do in the office that needs immediate attention.
We get it; TIME IS MONEY — and time wasted can never be found again.
As a fledging business owner, you can’t do every day-to-day task in your company, despite thinking that you’re probably the most efficient person to do them.
It might seem to work at first, but in the long run, it will only keep you small. You need to see the potential of your business to grow, and learning to delegate tasks to someone else will help you do just that.
Bringing in a virtual assistant is taking a step toward saving hours of work and increasing productivity, giving you more resources to focus on high-priority projects.
But in order to maximize these talents, there’s one important step that you need to do.
Let’s learn the things you must discuss with your VA, including the best way to communicate with a virtual assistant.
It’s no surprise that many business owners and entrepreneurs want to work with virtual assistants.
Adding a VA to your team reduces cost, saves time, increases productivity and provides access to a wider pool of knowledge. But of course, all collaborations are still highly dependent on your ability to efficiently manage your time and talents.
As you plan and prepare your venture for success, there are important things you MUST discuss with your virtual assistant.
Perhaps, you’re adamant about sharing information with your virtual assistant. But did you know that the more open you are to your VA, the more meaningful and productive your relationship with them will be?
Remember, your team plays a huge role in helping you achieve that end goal, so it does make perfect sense to share your vision with them.
Sharing goals and visions for your company helps them understand what role they play in the grand scheme of things and how their work can tie back to your vision. This could lead to a more engaged and robust working relationship.
Here’s how you can effectively share your vision with your virtual assistant:
Once they understand what they’re working towards and how they can help you achieve your bottom line, they’ll be more devoted to the role and strive even harder.
Once you’ve made it clear to your virtual assistant what you want from them and for your business, you need to set up a working schedule.
You can start off by answering these questions:
Afterward, you need to consider these factors when determining a schedule that works.
To allocate best your time and resources, you need to identify which tasks are more urgent and higher valued.
Don’t overcommit and end up hurting the quality of work. You must realistically determine how much time is needed for a certain task to be completed.
Everything is subject to change and that includes your working schedule — you must set your time with that in mind.
What makes having effective communication in the workplace so vital is that it encourages engagement, boosts morale and increases productivity and satisfaction.
It is the ultimate key to having a successful collaboration — driving better individual, team and organization results.
When working with a virtual assistant, good communication provides the best possible service and successful events
You can set up a strong channel of communication with your VA by knowing the following.
Do you prefer emails? Or do you find it easy to use collaboration tools like Trello or Google Drive? What about video conferencing?
When deciding which one to opt for, think about what works best for your day-to-day routine.
There are so many communication platforms out there with distinct features and benefits. For sure, there’s one that suits your preference.
The thing about not understanding communication style is that it can lead to misunderstandings. By knowing, you can hold genuine conversations and have more control over the delivery of these important messages
Some people are aggressive communicators who tend to be loud and upfront. Others might be assertive and choose to state their views clearly with one sentence or a word.
Because they know these things about you, you wouldn’t feel the need to go around your way to make an effort when that response already sufficed.
Glad, you asked.
Well, the best way to communicate with a virtual assistant is to make use of collaboration tools.
And here’s the thing, there are a variety of these platforms you can use with different perks for you to consider.
Below are some of the most popular tools today.
This tool is built to be user-friendly. It’s very simple and easily adaptable. It allows you to manage tasks and communicate with your virtual assistant at the same time.
You organize projects into boards and fill them with to-do’s, what you’re working on and tasks that are completed. It automatically updates, keeping everyone on the same page.
A popular project management tool best suited for communication and task management.
You can delegate tasks to members, create a timeline, track deadlines and add followers and files. It also uses a calendar format, giving you a better view of your priorities.
If you’re into seamless face-to-face interaction, Zoom might be preferable for you.
It’s a tool that allows video and audio conferencing, chat and webinars. Even better, it supports both mobile and desktop users.
Now that you’re acquainted with some good collaboration tools, we take a look at how and what to communicate with your virtual assistant.
Don’t be afraid to emphasize information and give more details. It’s part of your job to be inquisitive about the requirements of a project.
Be specific about your needs — describe and give examples if you can. You can even sort them by value.
That day will come when your virtual assistant will ask too many questions, so be patient. If they’re seeking more information, it’s a clear sign that they want to do a great job.
Okay, email is perhaps the preferred communication tool, but you can also use Trello or Slack.
Just keep in mind to choose platforms that have excellent security and massive storage so you can keep and secure records and any sensitive information.
When introducing your virtual assistant to the organization, it’s commendable to discuss not only their roles and their responsibilities but the processes in the company as well.
Then, you might want to consider the possibility of them making suggestions and improvements to those processes.
Are you okay with it? How do you feel about streamlining new processes to boost productivity and time management?
These are some matters that you should express thoroughly with your VA as part of building teamwork.
Employees are a company’s most valuable asset and biggest investment. We say this because their knowledge and productivity contribute a huge chunk of the overall output.
Understanding your virtual assistant’s preference allows you to promote a trusting and respectful working environment. Though this will prove a challenge, considering “preference” varies for each person, success in doing so, can lead to better productivity, engagement and teamwork.
What is the best way to use a VA?
To know, you must never forget why you hired your virtual assistant in the first place.
Most entrepreneurs do, to free their time so they have more to invest in the important tasks that lead to actual growth.
However, to build a functional relationship with your VA, you need to go over certain things; vision, schedule, processes, preferences and the best way to communicate with a virtual assistant.
If you can make it happen, then you’re already half the battle. Hire a virtual assistant today and make the difference between “okay work” to a great one!