HOW CAN A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT HELP ME?
Deciding whether or not to outsource some of your business tasks can be a tricky ask. You feel like you need help, but maybe you just need to work harder or figure out better systems?
You love the idea of having more time and less stress with someone helping you manage your essential business tasks, but perhaps you’re nervous about jumping the gun?
Here are some signs to watch out for that indicate that the next financial year will be better with a Virtual Executive Assistant on board:
1: YOU’RE BURNT OUT
Do you struggle to take full days off without logging in to sort out business tasks at least once or twice? Don’t remember the last time you’ve had a vacation?
Business ownership is hard, but it shouldn’t completely burn you out.
2: YOU’RE NOT AMAZING AT EVERYTHING
Are there aspects of your business that make your head explode? You can’t be great at everything you do, and trying to handle tasks that you don’t fully understand can cause even more problems, plus be time consuming.
If there are vital business tasks that are holding you back, an experienced virtual assistant can help and save you a lot of time.
3: YOUR TO-DO LIST NEVER SHRINKS
How often do you get through your to-do list, if ever?
If it feels like for every task you cross off, two more appear, this is a good sign you are overwhelmed and need to start delegating or outsourcing those tasks.
4: YOUR TIME IS MOSTLY SPENT ON ADMIN TASKS
Your business needs you to spend more time ON it than IN it.
If you spend too much time on administrative tasks, you won’t have time and energy to focus on growing your business.
5: YOU WANT TO SCALE
Do you have big ideas to scale your business next financial year? You’ll likely need some help to do that. Scaling up without building the right foundations is a recipe for disaster.
Hiring a VA can help you set up the systems and processes needed to grow while freeing you up to focus on the next phase of your business.
WHAT NOW? HOW TO CHOOSE GOOD VIRTUAL SUPPORT.
So, you think now is the perfect time to add a virtual assistant to your team, but what next? How to choose the right VA to support your business growth in the next financial year?
CLARIFY WHAT YOU NEED
It’s a good idea to get clear on what exactly you’d like help with. Do you need a general admin assistant, someone experienced with bookkeeping, or maybe a social media savant?
Review your list of tasks and decide what you’d like to outsource; this will help you know what kind of expertise you need.
CREATE A JOB DESCRIPTION
Now that you’ve decided which tasks you’d like your VA to handle, it’s helpful to write a job description to keep you on track as you do your research. What qualifications or skills would you like your assistant to have? Are there any digital tools or equipment you’d like them to use? Do you have language or availability requirements?
ASK FOR REFERRALS
Do you know any other business owners using VAs? Ask around for recommendations. You could try posting to your social media to ask people for any leads to get you started.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
It’s time to hit Google and do a bit of research. Check out the websites and/or social pages of potential VAs to find out what they offer. Make sure you read customer reviews and check they have the skills you’re looking for.
CONSIDER “FIT”
You’ll likely be working closely with your new VA, so it is important to make sure you click, personality-wise. You can get a general sense of their brand and personality online, but a discovery call is a great way to get a better feel for who you might be working with.
CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW / BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.
By now, you should have a shortlist of your top virtual assistants. Now is the time to reach out to each for a discovery call or interview. Make sure you have your top questions ready and be transparent with your needs and requirements.
