*** Getting a Strong Start with a Virtual Assistant

There are many important things to know when moving into a new relationship with a Virtual Assistant. Here are some of the most important things to think about to help you get a strong start.

* Know what you're getting into

Recognize that this isn't a transactional relationship like the one you have with your dry-cleaner. Your VA will be someone you deeply bring into your business and life so that she can make strong contributions to your success. You should want to interact with her daily in some way, collaborating on things, brainstorming, handing off tasks and projects and things for her to create and/or manage for you.

This relationship is not something you enter on a whim. This is something you enter because you've realized you're not getting where you need to be by yourself, and you want someone else with an administrative skill-set to do the pieces you shouldn't be dealing with on a consistent and ongoing basis. It took you a while to get overwhelmed; be willing to take some time finding the right VA to help you end it.

While it's true that you might only have a few hours of ?stuff? that need doing each week, the relationship isn't one that only exists a few hours a week. Your VA is there for you, all the time. And you need to want that kind of partner (in the relationship sense, not the legal) before you move forward into looking for a VA.

* Get a strong start before you agree to work together

The foundation for your relationship will begin with your interview process. Be aware that as you are interviewing the VA, she's also interviewing you. The fit has to be there for both people, or the relationship will never be successful. Don't be offended when she behaves as your equal and a business owner in her own right. She is your equal, a business owner in her own right, and deserves to be treated with the same respect you do.

In the interview, go beyond the "What can you do for me" kinds of questions. Be willing to talk as many times as you need to to delve into deeper topics that would tell you whether you are a good match for one another. An example of one of those topics would be: How do we communicate being upset?

If you tend to yell a lot, or if your VA tends to blame, aren't those things you should know about each other before you agree to work together?

Think about your values. Think about what bothers you. Think about who you are in a relationship and who your complement would need to be. Come up with discussion topics about them. The VAs you interview should have their own that they'd like to discuss as well.

While this lengthens the interview process, if what you really seek is a partner for your success, it's time well spent.

* Go into the relationship wholeheartedly

In the corporate world, employees generally begin with a period of evaluation or probation . While it's commonly known that the employee can be let go anytime within that period, that fact isn't focused on. Rather, the employee is made a part of the team, given substantial work to do, and the assumption and hope is that the employee will be around, long-term.

It's much the same way with your new relationship with your VA. While either of you can end it at any time (based on whatever agreement you might create), don't go into it thinking about that. This shouldn't be something or someone you're "testing out." Go into the relationship assuming that this is going to be one of the best professional relationships of your life, and treat it that way. If it's not, you'll find out quickly enough; usually 30 days is enough for you to learn how right your decision was to work with that particular VA.

* Freely share your expectations and listen to those of the VA

It's important to communicate what you want and expect, and to listen to and respond to the wants and expectations of the VA you work with. She's likely to have Policies and Procedures for her practice that she'll ask you to read and sign. Take the time to do that. If there's something she expects that you don't agree with or can't do, tell her so. Perhaps there's a way to work around things like that, or perhaps you'll both conclude there's no fit for you. But don't go into a relationship without dealing with this.

* Expect to communicate frequently

Especially at the beginning of the relationship, the two of you should overcommunicate. It will shorten the learning curve for you both.

* Let the VA guide you about working together

Remember, VAs are professionals in working this way. Let your VA share with you how she runs her practice, what processes and systems she thinks might be helpful to you, how things could be run more simply or more efficiently. While you get to make the decisions about what, if anything, gets implemented, be open to having new ways of working suggested, especially if you're one who leans toward the "I've always done it this way" mode of operating.

* Together, you'll create your own 'best practices' for the work you do together

No two VAs are identical — nor are the businesses they own. Each has her own way of managing time, organizing and prioritizing, choosing equipment, software, and services. Some of what you use in your own business may be interesting to your VA. Some of what she uses might be interesting to you. Remember, you don't have to use the same work tools to efficiently or effectively work together.

* Expect and be ok with mistakes — until the world perfect automatons, people will make errors

In fact, if you purposefully let your VA know it's ok to be human and make mistakes, you'll likely see very few. The more energy and attention you put on flawless performance, the more likely you are to find the performance flawed. What you want, however, is someone who will readily admit to mistakes made, have a willingness to correct them quickly, and who learns from them so they don't have to be repeated.

* Let your VA contribute fully

Take the time to learn about your VA, both personally and professionally. You never know what skills and talents may be available to you beyond what you would naturally expect. The more you let your VA contribute all she can, the more value she'll create in your business, and possibly your life.

* Be flexible and open to change

Just because you've always done something a certain way doesn't mean it's the best way to do it. Be open to the suggestions your VA makes for improvements to processes, products, vendors--anything and everything that touches your business. Remember, great VAs have their information tentacles everywhere, and they're constantly learning about new things and ways of doing business that might just translate into higher productivity and/or greater cost savings for you.

* Trust — don't micromanage

Trust is built by each partner doing what s/he says, all the time. Additionally, it's propelled forward by each person taking a risk, seeing a favorable outcome, and feeling safe to take another. If you aren't feeling very safe within 30 days of working with your VA, reconsider the relationship. While you may be a person who just needs more time, it also may be that you're in the wrong relationship. We find the vast majority of clients have no trust issues after the first month. If you do, pay attention and at least have a conversation with your VA about it. Perhaps there will be a path forward, and perhaps you'll need to move on, but the conversation is the first step.

Once you trust, don't micromanage. Remember that your VA is a business owner, too, and she stands to gain nothing by doing less than she's agreed to. Assign work, collaborate with her, then let her do her thing. It makes sense, too, that the more you do this, the faster you'll build trust together, and the more you'll get accomplished.

One last thought about micromanaging. Ostensibly, you're working with a VA to help you tackle things that don't need your time and attention. If you have to add micromanaging your VA to your tasks each day, you're not really seeing any value from the relationship, because you'll have replaced what you've given her to handle with overseeing what you've given her to handle.

Working with a VA can be one of the best things you'll ever do for your business. I encourage you to take your time forming the relationship so that it will long-lasting, and continue to serve you well into your business' future!