Assess your situation.
Think about your business and the impact it has on your life. It doesn't matter if you're a sole proprietor or if you
lead a small team of dedicated staffers. Ask yourself a few questions:
lead a small team of dedicated staffers. Ask yourself a few questions:
- How are you spending your time? Is it how you would like to be spending your time?
- Are you losing potential clients because your administrative to-do list keeps growing?
- How much of that to-do list would you delegate if you knew it would be done expertly on your behalf?
- Where would you like to be in the future? Are you going to be able to get there without some support?
- Think about your current staff (if you have one). How many things can't you ask them to do because it's
simply not part of their job description? Or maybe they're overworked as it is and could use a little relief?
Partnering with a professional VA sounds like a great alternative to hiring (and training, and
providing equipment for, and finding enough work for) on-site staff.
But you're wondering if it's the best solution for you. It's like the latest technological craze – you
hear it's great and it's making lives easier, but you're unsure exactly how it works and how it
might meet some of your needs. After all, you've been getting along fine without it so far ... or
have you?
providing equipment for, and finding enough work for) on-site staff.
But you're wondering if it's the best solution for you. It's like the latest technological craze – you
hear it's great and it's making lives easier, but you're unsure exactly how it works and how it
might meet some of your needs. After all, you've been getting along fine without it so far ... or
have you?
Make a list.
Fire up your computer and make a list of things you would delegate if you could. Even if you're not sure if it could
be done away from your watchful eye, write it down anyway. You might be surprised! For example:
You're thinking about moving your business to a bigger office. If your VA is local, talk about your requirements
for a new space – square footage, price, area of town, etc. Why not let your VA make a few phone calls, do
some initial walk-throughs, and narrow down a list of possibilities for you?
Or there's a trade show coming up, and you're scrambling to track down booth requirements, order promotional
giveaways, get extra copies of materials printed, and have someone proof a PowerPoint for the presentation
you'll be giving. These are all things a VA can do for you.
be done away from your watchful eye, write it down anyway. You might be surprised! For example:
You're thinking about moving your business to a bigger office. If your VA is local, talk about your requirements
for a new space – square footage, price, area of town, etc. Why not let your VA make a few phone calls, do
some initial walk-throughs, and narrow down a list of possibilities for you?
Or there's a trade show coming up, and you're scrambling to track down booth requirements, order promotional
giveaways, get extra copies of materials printed, and have someone proof a PowerPoint for the presentation
you'll be giving. These are all things a VA can do for you.
Get a consultation.
You've decided partnering with a Virtual Assistant is exactly what you need. You need someone to be on-call for a
few hours a month to help you clear off your desk. But, where do you start?
Lucky for you, you're one click from a virtual assistant here at Rescue Desk! Get in touch and ask all the
questions you need. How does this whole thing work? Can I get help with these types of things? How long will it
take? Can you tell me more about virtual assistance in general?
There are also several resources and organizations available to folks who want to work with a virtual assistant.
Virtual Assistance has been on the business radar for about 10 years, and several associations, networking
groups, books and resources are available on hiring and working with a virtual staff.
few hours a month to help you clear off your desk. But, where do you start?
Lucky for you, you're one click from a virtual assistant here at Rescue Desk! Get in touch and ask all the
questions you need. How does this whole thing work? Can I get help with these types of things? How long will it
take? Can you tell me more about virtual assistance in general?
There are also several resources and organizations available to folks who want to work with a virtual assistant.
Virtual Assistance has been on the business radar for about 10 years, and several associations, networking
groups, books and resources are available on hiring and working with a virtual staff.
Visualize your needs.
The most successful collaborations between VAs and their clients involve one thing: clear communication.
When working with a VA, you aren't writing a job description, you're creating a business process. So, take your
list from Step 2, and think about how you would instruct someone else to do those things.
Not only will this help you visualize how and what can be delegated, it will help you determine the skills you need
in a VA. You may want someone local who stops by your office to check in once in awhile, or you may want
someone with a background in writing or design because that's where your greatest need is.
Don't just think about skill sets. Think about personality and work style – yours and your VA's. If you tend to be
high energy and live in the "critical zone," you may not work well with someone who is more relaxed. Or if it's
imperative your VA be available during "normal" business hours, find out when your VA does most of his or her
client work.
When working with a VA, you aren't writing a job description, you're creating a business process. So, take your
list from Step 2, and think about how you would instruct someone else to do those things.
Not only will this help you visualize how and what can be delegated, it will help you determine the skills you need
in a VA. You may want someone local who stops by your office to check in once in awhile, or you may want
someone with a background in writing or design because that's where your greatest need is.
Don't just think about skill sets. Think about personality and work style – yours and your VA's. If you tend to be
high energy and live in the "critical zone," you may not work well with someone who is more relaxed. Or if it's
imperative your VA be available during "normal" business hours, find out when your VA does most of his or her
client work.
| Rescue Desk Virtual Assistant Services PO Box 8882 Madison, WI 53708 Phone: 608.358.7991 Fax: 608.237.2566 Email: Info@RescueDeskVA.com |
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| how it works A virtual assistant's clientele |
