Working with a Virtual Assistant for most people will be an entirely new concept. So it's really important to set a few realistic expectations about what happens when you start working with one.
Allow a settling-in period, the same as you would if you had a new employee join. Your VA will need to get to grips with how you work and learn any new systems and processes.
Plan ahead! if you're a last-minute person, you will need to plan for the tasks you plan to give to your VA so they can plan their working week.
A Virtual Assistant is an independent business, it's not possilble for you to set priorities for them in terms of their working week. Most VAs have more than one client they need to consider, so it's unrealistic to expect a quick turnaround on everything, as you might get with a full-time employee. Your VA should have this set out in their terms and conditions.
Communication is key. Be clear when you communicate what you would like done, and ensure you have given them the tools they need to do it.
Deadlines are essential things to work efficiently and sometimes it's easy to underestimate the time it takes to get tasks completed. Try to be realistic about the time frame in which you are asking for things to be done.
VA's are not on call 24 hrs a day (unless this is something that has been agreed prior). The reality is some VA's are not available during normal business. They might choose to work evenings and even weekends instead. This flexibility is one of the many reasons why they have chosen to work independently.
If you want to be able to call, text or email at any time of the day, this needs to be made clear from the beginning during the onboarding process.
Ultimately, a VA has a vested interest in your business, however, you must remember they are fellow business professionals and not an employee. Therefore they're able to set their own rules of how they want to work with their client base.
If you're thinking of hiring a VA but you don't know where to start, send me an email to get the ball rolling on lee@adhocbusinesssolutions.co.uk
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