As we reach the end of another year my thoughts often turn to gratitude. I’m grateful to my clients who enable me to live this lifestyle, to be available for my daughter every day rather than having to ship her off to daycare, and generally be more relaxed about work. I’m also grateful for my husband and daughter, and our wonderful friends.
But it’s interesting how many don’t display any amount of gratitude at all.
Working with a VA is a two-way street. It’s important that clients remember that their VA should be viewed as a member of their team – a partner in their success – and not as an employee. If a client views the VA as an employee it’s easy to understand that they may have less gratitude about the relationship. A typical employer attitude would be “Well they get paid don’t they? They should be grateful to ME”.
But the VA/client relationship is about so much more than that and clients run the very real risk of a VA sacking THEM if they feel the relationship and their efforts are not appreciated.
Fortunately I’ve not had to sack clients for a lack of gratitude. All of my clients are very aware of the value that I bring to them and their business. And whilst there are times during the year when you do feel slightly under-valued, it’s never enough to think the partnership isn’t working.
I have, on the other hand, sacked clients whose working style didn’t sync with my own and/or who just could not get their head around the virtual working relationship. In those instances working with a VA was probably not for them, at least at that time. And I can tell you that there was no small level of surprise when I told them things weren’t working out and I’d find them alternative support!
Gratitude is something we should all practice every day. And feeling appreciated is important to everyone. If you’re in partnership with a VA a short note every now and again – even if it’s once a year at holiday time – will go a long way towards strengthening the mutual respect you have and, by extension, your partnership.
Holiday greetings to you all!
Award-winning virtual assistant, Lyn Prowse-Bishop, MVA ASO CAVB PVAA is owner/manager of Executive Stress Office Support (eSOS), specialising in medico-legal digital transcription, virtual author support and executive personal assistant services for clients around the world.
One of Queensland’s most respected and well known virtual assistants, Lyn is also founder of the Australian Virtual Business Network, serves as Australian representative on international committees looking at standards and certification for the VA industry, and is a foundation steering committee member of the annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. She hosts Australia’s first internet radio show/podcast for the VA industry – Virtual Business Show – and is Queensland representative on the Board of Independent Contractors Australia.
How can you spend less time in the office and more enjoying life? Visit her site or email lyn@execstress.com to find out.