Over the past 5 years the Virtual Assisting industry has almost tripled. With companies and entrepreneurs alike looking for ways to save on overhead expenses or simply not having the resources to hire full-time staff many have taken to the internet to get the support they need causing the demand for Virtual Assistants to sky-rocket. To meet the demand some have been drawn to the VA industry with thoughts of being able to work from the couch while enjoying their favorite day time talk show. Boy were they in for a rude awakening! Yes, virtual assistants do in fact work from the comfort of their own homes however more often than not it is anything but relaxing. The working space of a VA must be furnished with modern equipment, containing the latest technology,high speed internet access and comfortable furniture for long periods behind the desk. Having the ability through technology to connect with clients around the world in various time-zones typically the VA’s work hours surpass the the standard 40 hour work week.
Good client/VA relationships are built on communication and trust. Communication is key to establishing expectations, goals, objectives, and resolving issues. The client is responsible for effectively comunicating to the VA relevant information related to the project so that the VA has everything needed to complete the project on the agreed upon deadline; poor communication is often the cause of missed deadlines. The most important factor in the client/VA relationship as with any relationship is trust. The client has to trust that although the VA is not in the same physical location that they will perform their work on time and in excellence. In many cases the VA will have access to important information related to the clients business and personal lives with the expectation that the VA will always uphold behaviour that is ethical and moral at all times. The end result is after meeting the clients expectations the VA has to trust that the client will uphold their end of the relationship an pay for services rendered in a timely manner.
Finally let’s dispose of the notion that VA’s are glorified “Receptionists” or “Secretaries”. The successful VA has to have the capabilities of a project manager, office manager, bookkeeper, customer service rep, IT specialist, marketer, business manager, and the list goes on. The VA must be able to not only effectively manage their time but often be responsible for maintaining their clients time and calendar as well making excellent time management skills a must have of any VA. In many client/VA relationships the VA is the first point of contact for the clients business making a professional, pleasant personality a non-negotiable. A far cry from stuffing and sealing envelopes huh?
