Bringing a new virtual assistant into your day-to-day workflow can be a daunting experience.
Where do you start and how do you know if the VA is supporting you and your own unique way of doing things, rather than just systematically going through the motions?
When possible, try to work with new or prospective virtual assistants on a test-basis. Doing so will allow you to see first-hand how they handle projects, how they communicate, how they work, etc. You'll learn quickly whether or not he or she is capable of supporting your end-goals. If they aren’t a good fit, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble and risk by testing first.
Here are 3 simple ways to find out if your virtual assistant is a good fit:
1. Take the plunge: Delegate it to your assistant:
Go ahead, delegate it. You will never know what your virtual assistant can do for you unless you learn to “let it go” and let him/her drive a task from start to finish. Resist the urge to step in and take the wheel, and you will be rewarded with knowing either way whether your VA can actually handle it, or whether he/she needs further training.
2. Get on the phone with your virtual assistant:
So much of today’s communication revolves around a keyboard. However, your VA is a real, live person with whom you’re going to have to develop a relationship in order to drive your business forward. Getting on the phone is a great way to give immediate feedback and see how receptive your VA is to your coaching. If he or she doesn’t make the appropriate adjustments based on the preferences you voice, then you know that your VA won’t be a sustainable source for reliable support in the long-run.
3. Ask your assistant for their advice:
A good virtual assistant will be an expert in the productivity field. If you don’t know how to best schedule your meetings, or how to organize your CRM so your contacts stop falling through the cracks, see if your VA has any suggestions. If they come back with solid productivity tips based on their best practices, then you know you’ve found someone who is going to provide a meaningful contribution to your business.
You want your VA to be a thought partner, someone who is aware of your preferences and your needs and who thinks for you rather than someone whose robotic inclinations allow for only strict inputs with direct, unwavering outputs.
The good news is if your virtual assistant is a good fit, you’re set. The bad news is if they aren’t a good fit and you’ve hired them through a freelance site such as odesk.com or freelancer.com, you’ll have to go through the entire hiring process all over again; unless of course you’re working with a managed virtual assistant company like Prialto.com.
At Prialto we are careful to match our trained and experienced VAs with your needs and requirements to help us be successful with you from the start. We also make sure that we document everything we do for you so that if your initial PA does not work out, you are not left having to repeat yourself to bring the right person up to speed.