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Partnering With a Virtual Assistant
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Top 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Virtual Assistant
By VAnetworking member Kara
Wierzbowski
Because the Virtual Assistance industry is growing
so rapidly there are now thousands of VAs to choose from. And because
clients work so closely with their VAs it is very important to find
one that is a perfect fit for you. The task can be daunting. However,
if you ask yourself the right questions and respect your answers you
will be on the right path to choosing your perfect VA. Here are just
a few questions to ask yourself when choosing a virtual assistant:
- What is your personality type? Are you a
Type A that works well with other Type A personalities or do you need
a more laid back person to work with? Or are you relaxed and need
a Type A personality to keep you on track, on time and organized?
Think about what type of person energizes you and consider a VA that
has a compliments that.
- What is your communication style? Are you
a quiet person who doesn’t like to talk every day? Or are you
better served by a daily or weekly phone call to connect? If you are
chatty, don’t partner with a VA that prefers to be less-than-chatty.
Neither one of you will be happy.
- How often do you like to communicate? Do
you like to email 5 times a day, once a day, once a week? How much
communication do you want from your VA? Do you like to chat on the
phone? Do you hate the phone and prefer email? It’s important
to find a VA that matches that style. Trust me; you don’t want
to receive 20 emails a day from an “in touch” VA if you
prefer less but more focused communication. It will drive you both
crazy in no time.
- What kind of commitment do you want? Do
you have a ton of on-going projects and want a retainer agreement
where you and your VA commit to a predetermined amount of hours per
month? Or at this point in time do you have small projects that you
need minimal help with? Save yourself time and determine this up front
so you can skip the websites that claim they don’t offer project
work or vice versa.
- How involved do you want your VA to be in
your business? Do you want her to brainstorm marketing ideas with
you, rehash your business plan? Or do you have a preference for someone
who will simply submit your work on time and keep your business admin
tasks completed? Don’t partner with a VA that has involvement
in mind or you’ll find yourself unhappy. Likewise, don’t
ask a VA whose preference is to simply complete projects and email
them to you to collaborate on an advertising campaign.
- What kind of work style do you prefer? Do
you prefer a more structured work style? Do you like pre-determined
meeting times? Or can a spur-of-the moment phone call work for you?
You’ll be much happier to partner with a VA that has the same
work style as yourself.
- How important it is for you “click”
with your VA? Ideally, we all click to a degree with the professionals
we hire, such as our accountant, lawyer, etc because we want to give
our money to someone we trust and like. However, it’s crucial
to really click and connect with your VA because she’ll become
a partner in your business. Depending on your arrangement and needs,
you could expect to talk with her daily. Some people prefer to have
the expertise the VA offers and can manage without a personal connection
and other business owners need the connection first and realize the
VA can learn the skills necessary. Think about what would work best
for you.
- What kind of importance do you give certifications
and associations? Do you want your VA to have a long list of official
certifications or belong to a list of associations? If that’s
important to you, there are many VAs who hold several certifications
and belong to many associations. Not holding a certification doesn’t
mean a VA isn’t qualified and professional but it might be something
you want to consider.
- Do you mind if your VA subcontracts to
other virtual assistants? Many VAs make it a common practice to subcontract
work out, but if she does, you should be ok with that. Do you prefer
just one person to work on your projects? Do you care if other people
manage your projects so long as your VA gives it the final approval
before sending it on to you?
- And last, but certainly not, least –
do you trust your gut? Easier said than done when you start your VA
search as there are now thousands of qualified, professional VAs running
businesses. But once you talk to someone, communicate with them several
times, get the responses you are looking for – then see what
your gut tells you and go with it. You’ll be on your way to
a successful relationship with your new virtual assistant.
Just a few simple questions can prevent a lot of misunderstanding
and wasted time. Take your time with your VA search. If it works out
perfectly, you’ll have a partnership that will benefit your business
for years to come.
Stop by the Virtual
Assistant Networking Assocation (VAnetworking) today and find that VA you’ve
been looking for. They are waiting, ready to assist you with all your
business needs.
***
*Source: Virtual
Assistant Networking Association
The ever popular, friendly, informative, educational & resourceful
network for successful and aspiring "IN THE KNOW" Virtual
Assistants and Achievers globally that everyone online is talking about.
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