In the last video I gave some tips on working with remote staff but this time I am going to address directly working with a Virtual Assistant.

Again much (if not all) of this is transferable, so without further ado here are 5 mistakes to avoid when working with a VA: 

1.     HIRING A VA FOR THE WRONG REASONS

Don’t hire a virtual assistant just because you have read the Four Hour Work Week and it is part of your destined path to success.  

Think carefully what you want top get out of using a VA. What do you want to get off your plate and what do you want to concentrate your valuable time on in order to grow your business.

Do an audit of your time, like this one, to help you figure it out. 

2.     LOOKING AT PEOPLE LIKE COSTS 

A very successful businessman once told me the reason behind his success was simply because he passed on all his knowledge to others and he taught his employees to do the same. 

I found this utterly inspiring and refreshing to hear and I think it is a good lesson when working with others. 

For this reason, rather than thinking of people as a cost, you should look at them as an investment. They will help you to grow and your business to grow.  

Of course companies come to us and hire a VA, and part of the reason is cost-based, however your mindset will dictate how much you empower someone and consequently how much you can get out of them. 

3.  FAILING TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR VA 

Micromanaging is likely to have the opposite effect to the intended, so give your assistant as much freedom as is feasible for what they need to accomplish. This will reduce your workload and make the process of delegation more successful. 

Sure, it makes sense to start slowly with simple admin tasks, but you should also explore more creative tasks for your VA to do. Find out how to get the most out of him or her. 

4.      FAILING TO PREPARE DOCUMENTATION 

Do document tasks and procedures you want your VA to carry out and then let them know if they should also do the same. In this way you are passing on knowledge and building for the future.

For more information check out:

5.      NOT COMMUNICATING WELL ENOUGH

Don’t restrict your communication to a flood of emails. Use WhatsApp, Skype to actually speak. This helps clarity and avoids misunderstandings.

Good communication is of paramount importance for a healthy working relationship so be specific in your explanations and expectations.

A regular video call is a nice way to clear up questions and set the tone for the week. And, using a project management tool will greatly help your organisation. Yes, you might need to learn how to use it, but remember you are investing in yourself and your business.

We mostly use Asana, Trello and Slack. 

Author: Thomas Smallwood is an outsourcing specialist. Having worked in companies around Europe, from the support desk to the boardroom, he founded bizee.co to help small businesses grow through efficient delegation to skilled virtual assistants. He is an award-winning blogger and a passionate advocate for mental health awareness.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.