Imagine with me for a moment, what it would be like to have a personal assistant by your side at all times. You have access to someone who, in an instant, could be available to take care of business tasks, however critical or menial they may be. What’s more, because they are so intricately involved in making your business a success, they are offering solutions to issues that you did not even know existed. Does this sound like something you would like to and desperately need to experience? Can you feel the stress begin to diminish? Welcome to the world of life with a Virtual Assistant.
Many Coaches feel the push and pull of being self-supportive and self-sufficient. Everything rests on your shoulders. You must not only satisfy your client obligations, but also perform everything from data entry to Internet research, from contact management to website management. Although many need help, hiring an employee is nearly impossible. After sitting down and tabulating a budget, who can afford the overhead and the employee downtime? This is when the Virtual Assistant concept fills a very real need.
VA’s, as they are commonly referred to, are independent contractors, freelancers if you prefer, who assist in taking care of the administrative, executive and technical aspects of your business. They assist businesses, entrepreneurs, and home-based professionals on a contractual basis from a remote location. Most prefer to work on a retainer basis. This serves both parties best because as the VA gets to know the Coach and their business (and vice versa), the resulting synergy allows for advanced and successful teamwork.
Virtual Assistants are not the stereotypical home-based secretaries. Before setting up their practices, most have held prominent positions in the corporate world. Qualified VA’s can assist with everything from general administrative tasks to writing, editing, marketing and website design, as well as a plethora of other duties.
Scott Stratten, President of Un-Marketing.com highlights his experience this way, “One of the main functions of a business coach is to get our clients to best utilize their time and to leave the rest to other skilled people. I used to preach that, and then I actually practiced it and started to use a VA company to do just that for me. My only thought has been, ‘Why didn’t I do this a few years ago?”
Denise Corcoran, CEO of The Empowered Business emphasizes, “Since I began working with my Virtual Assistants, I have noticed increased energy in both my personal and professional life. My VA’s provide me the time I need to better serve my clients as well as creating more time for me to be with my family.”
The Virtual Assistance industry is very new in terms of profession. While the exact inception is hard to trace, the source of the term was coined around the mid 1990’s by the late Thomas Leonard, founder of Coachville. Leonard being busier than ever, yet deciding to travel
When choosing a Virtual Assistant, one must carefully seek out an individual or firm that will best fit the needs of their business. Whether it is coaching or another profession, each business has strengths in certain areas. The best VA for any business will compliment that business’s strengths. For instance, a coach that wants to focus on increasing his or her own client base, but yet desperately needs someone to keep up with contacting current clients and marketing efforts, would want to search for a VA with some amount of administrative, advertising and design background. Having that foundational fact in mind, here are a few other tips to guide you in the search:
· Check out their website. This may sound rudimentary, but one can learn a tremendous amount by looking at a VA’s website. Look for certain “red flags” such as spelling and grammar errors, confusing wording, and little or no work samples. Their presence on the web is an indication of their image. If a VA cares little about their presentation and work, then it is a sure sign that they are not the ones to trust with your business.
· Contact them personally by the phone. How is their phone voice? Do they use proper English? Consider this especially if you wish for them to conduct your correspondences. Keep in mind that no one can answer the phone each and every time, however you should be able to reach your VA consistently.
· Find out what their niche is or in what areas they have expertise. Do they coincide with what you need? It is easier on you and cheaper in the long run if you do not have to “train” a VA to service your business type.
· Do you like their personality? Personality, at times, can have little to do with work performance, but remember - when dealing with a VA, you will be working closely together. It is important that you be able to get along in a professional manner.
· Always ask for references. Remember, they’re partnering with you, and you want the best. They should be a reflection of your business identity.
Choosing the right VA for your business is critically important and extremely rewarding, although sometimes it may take some initial adjustment. Denise Brouillette, President of The Innovative Edge, explains, “I love working with a Virtual Assistant. After searching for and interviewing VA’s, I was excited to finally find a firm that possessed not only administrative ability, but also the desired technical savvy. With a VA, I enjoy the one-stop shopping experience. This way I don’t have to go here and there to get the things I needed yesterday. However, it can be difficult to let things go, especially when you are so used to doing things yourself. It is a learning process every step of the way.”
As Coaches and other professionals begin to realize that their increasing load of work is more than one person can handle, the Virtual Assistance industry will assuredly become the knight in shining “business” armor. The corporate battle can be exhausting, but allowing a VA to help might just be the best and the most rewarding decision you’ve ever made.
About the Author:
Dale Noles is the President of Virtual Accuracy "Assistance For Coaches". He also coaches and mentors Virtual Assistants through VA Training.
Copyright Virtual Accuracy 2004
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