Hiring Virtual Assistants? Here's What You Should Remember

If running your business makes you feel extremely stressed out and exhausted, then perhaps it's time for you to hire virtual assistants or VAs. Hiring VAs is one of the most effective and inexpensive solutions if you don't have enough time and energy to micro-manage everything. Because all work and no play make Jack a dull boy, you should find someone who can take care of mundane yet essential aspects of running your business.

However, keep in mind that outsourcing is not a magic pill that will solve everything. According to experts, you shouldn't expect a plug and play solution when you hire a virtual staff. As with highly skilled professionals, take note that each virtual assistant has his (or her) own expertise. Therefore, you shouldn't put absurd expectations on your VA's shoulder when you enlist his services.

For example, if you hired someone to provide you with SEO services, don't expect that person to also do accounting or administrative tasks for you. After all, it is rare for virtual assistants trained in search engine optimisation to be also adept at bookkeeping and other similar tasks. Be as realistic as possible and avoid asking your VA to do something that is beyond his skills and capabilities.

It is also important to give your virtual staff some time to get themselves familiar with their new work environment. One of the fundamental rules of outsourcing is that you should take the time to train your VAs in your systems and processes. For instance, if you've hired a copywriter, show him previous articles so he can pick up the tone and voice of your write-ups and produce content that is similar to the ones your company has published before.

Meanwhile, vague instructions can cause backlogs and make the job of virtual assistants more difficult than usual. So be a good boss and always give clear instructions, especially when delegating a new task. Also, encourage your virtual staff to contact you and ask you questions if there is something about the project they don't understand. Always remember that clear communication is essential to the success of a project.

And finally, to ensure a strong and harmonious relationship between you and your virtual assistants, treat them as you would treat a regular employee. Take the time to get to know them better and compliment them for a job well done. Also, make sure that you pay them on time. You certainly don't want them worrying about paying their bills if their wages get delayed because it can affect their focus and work quality.