How to Transition to working with a Virtual Assistant

How to Transition to working with a Virtual Assistant

The idea of working with someone you haven’t met and interviewed in person can be a little daunting. They are, in effect, anonymous, as this is all over phone or the internet. And that, understandably, makes it hard to just hand over tasks concerning something that you’ve taken time and effort into building. Something like your business.

Like all other new business innovations, there are a few guidelines to better your chances when hiring and getting used to a virtual assistant. It’s best to start with individual tasks and then hopefully move into working full-time by gradually increasing the workload.

Be clear

If you just need general help, then there’s really no need to dig further. That is the most common demand in the industry and most virtual
assistants provide the basic services of call answering and keeping schedules.

For more detailed tasks, it’s important to remember thatproperly allocating work on your part is also a skill you will need to inculcate. Particularly when it comes to the more complicated, computer-related tasks, make sure that instructions are detailed. First and most importantly, back up all your files. Don’t assume any previous knowledge of computers. Make sure your instructions are immensely detailed and provide screenshots whenever possible. Set clear deadlines and make sure all this is communicated properly.

Solo vs. Team

Often, as with Your Professional PA, it’s better to hire a virtual assistant who works in or with a team. This makes it easier for you to decentralise your work without worrying that it might not get done or may not be manageable by the virtual assistant. For instance, with an increase of clients, a virtual assistant with a team will be able to handle the growing traffic as there will be more than one person to answer calls and address questions.

Prompt Feedback

As most of the communication will be online or by phone, ensure that what you expect is understood. This is important to try and reduce misunderstanding and minimise starting trouble. Follow up a task with immediate feedback and if something is done well, let them know, and if it needs improvement, explain the same. Make sure to plan out the work and explain intended targets. It also helps to lay out details of expected accomplishment of the targets, other important milestones you want to achieve and so on.

With these few points in mind, it should make the transition to virtual assistants easy. There’s no worry of being stuck in an unworkable contract as most come on a monthly contract some have offers of free trials in the beginning. So take your time, experiment and find someone who can do what you need.

Priyanka Zaveri is a freelance writer, online marketer. Priyanka writes for many online publications, as well as developing content and articles for a variety of well-established websites. Her latest project is writing informative articles for the reputable online agency Your Professional PA who provide a Telephone Answering Service to small and large businesses.