When you’re intending to outsource work to a Virtual Assistant, the easiest way to be sure that you have the best possible experience is by being specific about:
- What you want done.
- How you want it done.
- What sort of person you want to work with.
Naturally, one of the most important things to do is be specific in your instructions. By that, I mean that if a detail is important to you, then make it clear to your Virtual Assistant.
For example: You have a document you want formatted.
If you just want it to look good, and be professionally compiled with consistent styles – then it’s quite OK to say “just format it”.
However, if it’s important that the text is in 12pt Times New Roman, with the main headings centered in 18pt Arial and subheadings left aligned in bold 14pt Arial – then you really need to give your VA that direction.
So before you start outsourcing, you need to think about the things you need done and how they need to be done. If you’ve got policy and procedure manuals, send them to the Virtual Assistant. If you don’t have them, maybe you should consider asking the Virtual Assistant to create one as they learn. They don’t have to be huge documents, but it’s always useful to have documented standards.
It’s not only a procedural issue though. You also need to consider how you like to work.
- Do you like to give an instruction and expect the task to be done?
- Would you prefer to monitor the workflow more closely?
- Do you want someone who will take initiative?
- Is it important to have query run by you?
What do you want to achieve by hiring a Virtual Assistant?
- More time?
- Someone to handle the administration?
- An administration professional to take control of that area of your business?
- Somebody to help with a specific project?
The more clarity you have about what you want and what you need; the more chance you have of finding a Virtual Assistant who best suits your needs.
If you just need help with a one off project which requires basic administration skills – in the end it probably won’t matter who you hire to do it. But if you’re looking to find a Virtual Assistant who can work with you, finding someone who you like working with and who suits your style is imperative.
Right at the start is the best time to be specific about what you want and you can really only do that if you’ve taken the time to think about what it is that you’re looking for.
It may take a little work in the early days, but it is worth it when partnering with a professional Virtual Assistant who will be working with you for your business success.
If you’d like some more ideas, check out my previous Working with a VA posts
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