As someone who does a lot of behind-the-scenes work for people, as someone who’s done a shit-ton of VA and OBM work in her life, and as someone who now hires and manages other VA’s, assistants, and team members…
I’d like to share something with you all about how to work with VA’s if you are an entrepreneur. Having been one myself, I think I can speak to BOTH sides of the issue…
- Compliment often. You might think because it’s business, you are not obligated to give positive feedback. And you aren’t. BUT you will get a crap ton more loyalty, responsiveness, and quality work if you acknowledge the things they are doing well. This does not mean you need to accept sub-par work. But if it’s good, don’t take it for granted.
- Don’t expect them to read your mind. It’s impossible to know your work as well as you do, so they will need guidance and explanation that will seem obvious to you.
- Look for VA’s that are responsive and timely. Skills can always be taught and trained. Good customer service is much harder to come by. IF you find someone who’s like this but isn’t great at a certain skill, teach them. You don’t realize how good it is to find someone who doesn’t ignore you, who gives regular updates, and who can be the liason between you and your clients. Pure gold.
- Make them a part of your team. Don’t treat them like the “hired” help. People who are invested in a goal, work harder than those who are detached from it.
- Pay what I call “happy rates”. Make sure your VA is happy with your rate. If they are, they are MUCH more likely to handle unforeseen changes with grace. If you are constantly trying to get the lowest price, there will be grumblings when things need revising or changes…which we know…happens all the time.
- When you find their strength, use them in that capacity. Don’t push them to do things they aren’t good at. So if you hire a VA to social media and you see he/she loves graphics, give more of that work. Consider hiring someone different for copy. Don’t force a square peg into a round hole.
- Invest in them. If you invest in them, they will invest in you. I have a VA that I’ve trained from the ground up, and has she made mistakes along the way? Yes. But she also is the most hard-working, loyal, and willing person who is always at the ready to help me.
Finally, you can judge the strength and character of your leadership…not by how many followers you have, not by how much money you’ve made for people, not by how much people ask you to speak….
but by the countenance of your team.