Collaborating can be hard sometimes. 1 + 1 = 2… until it doesn’t!
Working with a VA should be harmonious and productive. It should be one small business collaborating with one expert VA to create a great partnership.
But sometimes, the simple equations don’t add up as they should.
Make sure you have the right mix for successfully collaborating with your VA by following our top 10 tips.
Check them out here:
1: Form A Partnership
Worried about “handing work over to a VA”? Then don’t do that at all. Rather than viewing it as relinquishing control of your tasks to a third party, consider the working relationship with your VA as a partnership.
By working in partnership, you will both be coming together to achieve collective goals. Your VA will become a key part of your business, integrated into your systems and processes. By having the support of an expert VA, you’ll be able to achieve things in your business that you couldn’t do before.
2: Communication
Just like in any relationship, communication is key. But it’s not just about being open and honest. It’s about establishing the communication style that works for you both. There is no point in having your VA call you if prefer to communicate via email.
As you’ll likely be operating from two locations, you can’t pop down to the water cooler for a chat. But there is any number of ways that you can stay in touch:
- Set meetings times on Zoom, Teams or Google Meet
- Slack or Teams channel
- Whatsapp messenger chat
- Project Management Software like Trello or Asana
- Even a good old-fashioned phone call!
In your initial discussions, decide on a communication style that will work for you. Don’t be afraid to check in and modify it if needed, though.
3: Clear Expectations
Things run smoothly when everyone knows what to expect. So, setting clear expectations for what you will both do will help you to make the most of the partnership with your VA.
You need to be clear on the tasks that you want help with, how they should be done and when they should be completed by. In turn, your VA will need to be clear on their availability, capabilities, and how they will deliver the work to you.
Discuss both of your intended working hours and how they might cross over. Set times for when you’ll both be available to chat if something pops up. If both parties know exactly what to expect, then it avoids the risk of conflict and removes a whole lot of worry!
4: Values Check
When you first start working together, it is a good idea to discuss your business values with your VA so that they can connect with them too. Share your goals and what you want to achieve with your business so that your VA can join you on your mission to success.
If your values don’t align, then don’t be afraid to wave each other goodbye and find a VA that is more your vibe.
5: Lean Into Their Expertise
Your VA is a little bit like Liam Neeson. They will have a very particular set of skills. And they can use those skills to help further your business.
Listen to their advice on how you can do things better in your business. They will have seen it all before and can provide recommendations for streamlining and efficiency. Lean into their expertise, and you will have a very productive collaboration!
6: Use The Power Of The Cloud
Technology is at your fingertips in the modern world, so utilise it by working collaboratively with your VA. Use the power of the cloud to create shared records that you can both access at any time and anywhere.
By utilising resources like Sharepoint, Dropbox or Google Drive you can keep all your documents and records in one easy-to-find place. It also makes it easier to ensure you are both working on the most up-to-date version of those records too.
7: Get The Right Systems
These days, there is software for just about anything. But there is no point in using software for the sake of using software! You want to make sure you pick the right systems for your needs.
Also, you want to ensure that your VA has collaborative access to the relevant software so that you can share tasks and information.
8: Build A Connection
Just because you have a business relationship with your VA, it doesn’t mean you have to be ALL business. Take the time to connect personally and learn a little about each other. A friendly rapport can help you connect on a meaningful level.
Having your VA feel connected to your business will help them to feel part of your overall mission. That way, they will be able to work within your values and strive for your common goals.
9: Be Realistic
For collaboration to work successfully, both parties must be realistic about what is achievable. That means understanding what can be done in a set amount of time, what resources are required to complete the tasks well, and what kind of brief is provided.
A lot of confusion can be avoided if the right conversations are had. Being open and honest about remuneration, deadlines, expectations, and scope is beneficial here. That way, everyone will have a realistic view of how the working relationship will operate, and there won’t be any disappointment.
10: Choose The Right VA
The biggest part of a successful collaboration is choosing the right VA to work with. You need to find one that you have confidence in, one you can trust, and one that you can communicate with effectively.
It is worth checking in with a few different VAs to see which one you are most comfortable with. You also might want to research the kind of VA you’d like to work with.
Here at Admin Army, we wage war on the admin tasks you don’t have time for. We have a wide variety of VAs with a huge set of combined skills to tackle all your business tasks. Get in touch with our team today to see if we’d be a good fit for your business.