How to Leverage Your VA
I don’t want to brag or anything but … I kinda know a thing or two (or trillion) about virtual assistants. Not only do I have one of my very own – Hello, Cameron! – but the impetus for BELAY was founded on that exact notion: A virtual assistant can literally make anyone’s life easier. Better, even.
And I’m not just talking about professionally.
Sure, a virtual assistant can help you with all things business, entrepreneurship and work, but by design and default, they also make your life better.
It’s time – in my humble-but-passionate opinion – that you embrace the life-changing, life-affirming wonder that is a virtual assistant.
I can see you’re hesitant. Dubious, even. Not to worry. This isn’t my first virtual assistant sales pitch rodeo so hold on tight: It’s going to be a wild ride.
3 Ways To Leverage A Virtual Assistant
Listen. Be forewarned: I’ve got a lot of experience extolling the virtues of virtual assistants, and even more passion about it so this list, though extensive and comprehensive, only scratches the surface of what I would scream from the tops of mountains if I could.
But before we delve into the ‘what’ of leveraging, there is, of course, the small matter of ‘how.’
Because look – I feel like I know you. Because I was you. You’re a business owner with too many things to do, too few hours in the day, and just enough moxie to convince yourself you can do it all. And until now, you probably have. But there is one seriously critical element to master – or at least attempt – before you can properly and effectively leverage your VA: delegation.
And I know. It can feel scary handing over your veritable ‘baby’ to someone else. From a tiny seed, you grew an idea that became a living, breathing thing – and you’re not just about to hand it over to just anyone.
But hear me out. There is a rule – but really more like a guiding tenet – to help you determine what’s yours and what you can hand over: the 70-percent rule.
It explains that ‘ … if the person you’d like to perform the task can do it at least 70 percent as well as you can, you should delegate.’ And the rest? The rest is all yours because you’ve determined that only you can do those secret-sauce things.
So now that you’ve determined what you are willing to delegate, get ready to have your mind blown. Seriously. Consider yourself warned. Your virtual assistant can handle …
Personal Assistant Services
‘We’re all probably acutely aware of all of the administrative tasks we handle every day that can be outsourced to a virtual assistant – arranging travel, replying to email, managing your calendar et al – but there are also so many other ways a BELAY VA can make your life easier. More organized. Better.
‘If you’re dubious, we (probably) know what you’re thinking: ‘I don’t have eight hours of work for someone.’
‘And it’s true – most tasks may only take only a few minutes. But when you add several dozen of them up, they consume hours. Maybe even days. So you resign yourself to drowning in an endless avalanche of adulting.
‘But you know the intense, full-body rush you feel when you cross something off your to-do list? A VA can give you the ability to start crossing more of these items off your lists, one giddy pen stroke after another.
‘So if you’re feeling a little frisky, check out some of the less conventional ways you can use your BELAY VA to get your giddy groove back.’
All Administrative Tasks
‘If you’ve ever considered hiring a virtual assistant – AHEM. We’ve only provided a veritable tome of convincing literature on the subject, after all – but still need more reasons, LOOK NO FURTHER.
‘Because if you Google ‘reasons to hire a virtual assistant,’ you’ll be inundated with other people, industries and businesses shouting their praises from the cyber rooftops.
‘So here, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most compelling benefits of finally hiring a virtual assistant once and for all!
Unconventional – And Often Unexpected – Administrative Tasks
We’re talking …
‘Bookkeeping. As we’ve discussed before, your virtual assistant can do your bookkeeping. Take a second with that – pretty amazing, right? We’re going to go out on a limb here and say that there aren’t many small business owners who actually enjoy bookkeeping. But with a virtual bookkeeper, you can outsource your bookkeeping to highly qualified people anywhere in the world – and at affordable rates.
‘Content. This article? It could’ve been written for you by a virtual assistant. And not only does content help grow your overall business presence and position you as a thought leader in your industry, but it also helps with organic searches and SEO. Such a constant stream of content leads prospective customers to find your article in a sea of search engine results, get them to click on the link for valuable information, and convert them.
‘Social Media. For any business – from solopreneur to Fortune 500 – having a social media presence is a non-negotiable. From scheduling posts on several outlets every day to responding to comments and messages to growing your following, a virtual assistant can help. And for more ‘classic’ social pursuits, like writing holiday cards or sending thank you notes, a virtual assistant can take care of that, too.
‘Current Industry News & Trends. You don’t know what you don’t know – but a virtual assistant can change that. With their fingers dabbling in everything – social media, research, emails and more – they can not only uncover but keep up with industry news and even inject interesting developments into conversation with customers and prospects, helping you shine as an in-the-know industry thought leader.’
‘But … Tricia,’ you interject. ‘All of that sounds wonderful but none of this seems industry-specific. How can I know that a virtual assistant is right for my line of work?’
Great question! And the answer? A virtual assistant is right for nearly every industry. And I only say ‘nearly’ to be conservative as truth be told, we have yet to find a person or industry who wouldn’t benefit.
But OK. I’ll play along. Check out how a VA could help your church here, here and here. You’re a creative type? We’ve got you covered here. A real estate professional? Check this out. Lawyer? Peep this.
Tip of the iceberg, people. Tip of the iceberg.
Because if you’re still not satisfied and still want to learn even more about all things virtual assistants? Then A.) It sounds like you’re ready for our next dinner party since we love to talk about them and B.) Don’t fret; this isn’t the end. Oh no. Not even close. We’ve got a library of resources written on just about every facet of virtual assistants.
The Bottom Line: Work-Life Balance Is More Than A Buzz-Worthy Phrase
While wearing every hat and juggling every ball may work for some, it doesn't necessarily work for every entrepreneur, gig contractor, business or employee.
Why? Because life, that’s why.
Some of us want to be able to pick up our kids after school every day or make every game and recital. Some of us want to be free to do that which we were called to do – and that was decidedly not managing an inbox. Some of us don’t have the bandwidth for bookkeeping but are good at making the money that requires the aforementioned ‘books’ to keep.
So, riddle me this: What’s going to be your reason for reclaiming your life?
But wait – there’s more!
I know firsthand how difficult it is to delegate. I know it takes time to set up systems and processes and to get to know someone so well they can answer emails as if they were you. I know it takes time to build trust and let go.
As a former EA, I also know how difficult it is to be an assistant to high-achieving leaders who are so busy that they don't want to slow down long enough to delegate. I know how hard it is to watch them suffer from over-scheduling and over-promising. No amount of proactiveness can overcompensate for the lack of delegation.
So my book, Rise Up and Lead Well: How Leveraging An Assistant Will Change Your Life & Maximize Your Time, seeks to address that very dynamic, as viewed from both sides of the desk, so both leaders and assistants can maximize their productivity and strike the work-life balance they both deserve. Eliminate the uncertainty and get a clear plan for how to effectively use an assistant. This isn’t fluff, theory, or pure inspiration. These are battle-tested tactics that work.