Have You Faced Any of These Problems with Your Virtual Assistant?
What are the advantages of hiring VAs?
Choosing the right virtual assistant service can put you on the fast track to achieving your business goals. However, there are a few roadblocks that you may face along the way. Let’s explore some of these and understand how to move past them.
Common Challenges Faced with Virtual Assistant Services
A remote assistant can help you stay focused and organized while saving you money and time. But sometimes, things don’t always go as planned and someone ends up dropping the ball. This is especially true if you handle a large team. Working with a remote virtual assistant can come with its own set of challenges
1. Lack of Communication
Open communication channels are essential for optimal work performance. A lack of proper communication can result in unnecessary errors and discrepancies. It is necessary to stay in touch with your virtual assistant online consistently and be clear about your requirements.
Make sure that any task you need your assistant to carry out is explained clearly so that there is no room for error. Collaborate with them often to achieve your common goals, rather than simply assigning tasks and setting deadlines. Additionally, be sure to give feedback and constructive advice if errors are made.
2. Working from Different Time Zones with Virtual Assistant Service
If your virtual assistant lives in another city or country, you may have to deal with the challenges that arise from being in different time zones. In some cases, it can lead to disagreements and disappointments if tasks aren’t completed on time.
The best way to get around this is by creating a schedule that works for both of you. In other instances, you may need to give them certain tasks in advance and schedule the date of delivery. Before you make a virtual assistant hire, discuss the time difference issue with them. This way you can agree on a schedule that works for both parties involved beforehand.
3. Cultural Differences
Like time differences, certain cultural differences can also get in the way of effective communication. For instance, your virtual assistant may compose emails that have a formal tone, while you may be used to a more informal way of correspondence. There may also be cultural differences in the way they communicate and interact with other team members.
It will require a certain amount of time and effort to iron out these differences and reach a mutual understanding. Make your virtual assistant feel like they are an integral part of your team so they are motivated to help you achieve your business goals.
4. Low Productivity
A concern that many clients who hire virtual assistants have is tracking productivity levels. They want to ensure that they are getting value for their money and that their assistant is not slacking off. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on a remote worker who’s not making the best use of their time.
Fortunately, there are several management tools available online that make working with 24×7 virtual assistants a breeze. Many of these provide periodic screenshots of your assistant’s desktop. So you can use these from time to time to ensure that they are staying on track with work. These tools are a great way to keep your virtual assistant accountable and boost their productivity.
While business owners could face challenges with virtual assistants, there are several benefits in hiring them. Listed below are a few key advantages of hiring virtual assistants.
Benefits of hiring virtual assistants for a business
Hiring a virtual assistant or a team of VAs can be an advantage for business owners, especially small and medium entrepreneurs.
Time is money: Add more hours to your day with a virtual assistant
As a business owner if you are struggling to manage and grow your business, you can hire a virtual assistant who will help you with the day to day routine business activities. In this manner, by sharing responsibility for managing business tasks and activities, the VA will add more hours to your day at work. It works especially when you are hiring a virtual assistant from a different time zone.
Can help in saving costs
Research study points out that hiring a virtual assistant can help the entrepreneur save on costs. As the name suggests, a virtual assistant will work remotely. Thus, you do not have to invest money in setting up a space in your office for the VA to work. Secondly, the virtual assistant will not use office equipment or infrastructure. This is a savings for your business. Furthermore, when you hire a VA, you can select the mode of payment. You can pay for the work they do, by the hour or a fixed monthly payment which does not include bonus and increment.
Increase in production
Virtual assistants are professionals. They are experts in their domain of experience. They are individuals who are capable of multitasking. With this being said, it goes without saying that it can add value to your business and virtual assistants can also increase business productivity.
They can work on all days
Unlike the regular workforce at the office, the virtual assistants can work on all days of the year without taking leave. They are trained to work on weekends and also on national holidays. Additionally, during a natural calamity or a man-made disaster, when the workforce is unable to make it to office and work, the dedicated virtual assistants will continue to work remotely. Thus, work will not be interrupted.
Allows you to focus on important business activities
A majority of entrepreneurs are always pressed for time. They have lots to do and very little time. However, the scenario changes when virtual assistance comes and shares the business responsibilities. It will leave the business owner with enough time to take care of business activities that are important and which require the attention of the entrepreneur.
Besides this, there are other advantages of hiring a virtual assistant for your business.
The key to a successful client-virtual assistant relationship is to identify key problem areas and work with your team to find solutions. Create open channels of communication and treat each challenge as an opportunity to grow and learn from. Whether you’re looking for a virtual assistant for small business or a virtual assistant for entrepreneurs, there are a number of great companies offering these services.
At Vgrow solution, we aim to provide you with personal virtual assistant services that will put you on the path to success. Our dedicated remote team members share your commitment to helping your business grow and thrive. We will work closely with you to understand your business objectives and connect you with the right virtual assistant online. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our best-in-class services.
