How to outsource your first task to a VA
Tracy Franz
Giving Business Owners and their Teams more time to focus on Business Growth!
“For everything we don’t like to do, there’s someone out there that is really good, wants to do it and will enjoy it.” — Josh Kaufman, Author?
Why outsource??
Have you got to the point while running your business where there is never enough time to get everything done? Where your family almost have to book a meeting, just to get to see you?! Or everything gets done, but not to the standard that you pride yourself on? Do you know you need to grow the business, but it all feels a little scary??
If you think you are ready to take the first step towards outsourcing, take heed of that quote! Getting a Virtual Assistant on board to support you and your business is a fabulous opportunity — not only to lighten your workload— but to hand over those tasks that you really don’t enjoy doing.?
It feels hard to outsource though …?
That’s not to say that outsourcing will always feel easy — it stands to reason that you might feel reluctant to pass over any control or responsibility — after all your business is your “baby”, and you have worked hard to create it. Allowing others to take some control can be daunting: they might not do things exactly how you would like, or they might make a mistake. When, ultimately, the buck stops with you, it feels like a gamble.?
Yet, if you consider your situation from a different angle — acknowledging that there are only a certain number of hours in a day, and only one of YOU to take on all the work — trying to continue doing everything alone is likely to limit your business growth.??
And if you are feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day slog of getting everything done, it could have an impact on your energy and enthusiasm for the parts of the business where you shine, that you are passionate about, all the reasons you started the business in the first place.?
How do I find a really great Virtual Assistant??
Finding the right VA can be an easy and straightforward process. you just need a little thought and prep so you know exactly who and what you are looking for!??
You’ll need to decide which tasks you want to outsource, how you might want them to be accomplished, and also have a think about the kind of VA that would be a great fit for you.??
If you know that you are a bit of a control freak (aren’t we all!) then you want someone happy to follow your guidelines and produce the end result you are after. Conversely, you may love the idea of a VA who will make suggestions, use their initiative, and become a real part of your team. Luckily, at SmartPA, we can be wonderfully creative, but can also stick to the rules! <**insert winking emoji>??
What sort of tasks should I give a VA??
What you might most benefit from handing over will very much depend on you, your personality, your industry and type of business, and your biggest ‘pain points’. Taking the time to follow a few simple steps before you engage a VA will make the process much more straightforward, so, first things first:?
You now have your list of tasks to outsource.??
Go through it again, and break it down further.?
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Consider which are your priority to outsource, for example those that you like the least (you know, the ones that never actually seem to get crossed off the never-ending to-do list!), or those recurring, day-to-day back office” tasks that take up so much of your time.??
Those that “score high” for both simplicity and recurrence are your easiest tasks to delegate first.?
How do I get started with my VA??
Don’t be afraid to start small — remember that with each task you delegate, your VA will take time to make sure they understand all instructions or undergo any necessary training? so that they know what you want to achieve — so don’t feel you have to hand over your entire list at once!??
Once you build a relationship with your fabulous VA (or team of VAs), you can increase the number of tasks that you pass on. Let’s not forget, by increasing the time you spend on the customer-focused part of your business, the more likely it is to grow, then the more you will want or need to delegate … and so on!?
Finding ‘the one’!?
Now you know you are ready to delegate, and you’ve chosen the tasks you want to outsource, you need to find the right VA. At SmartPA, we focus on matching a client with the right VA or team of VAs to create a profitable business relationship.?
I will listen carefully to everything you need as a client and will then pair you up with a VA (or provide you with a shortlist of VAs) who I feel will be the best fit for you and your business.??
I will consider how you like to work and what your expectations are, then introduce you to VAs who complement your delegating style and business. I will match you with people you can work with and get on well with right from the very start. Simple!?
Get ready!?
Your next step is to make sure that you have everything organised to be able to pass a task to your trusty new VA. They will typically need:??
Don’t overthink this, your guidelines just need to be clear and concise, so be specific and explain why particular steps are needed. By communicating the tasks and the related goals clearly at the outset, it will save a lot of time along the way!?
Happy Ever After!?
And there you have it! With a little bit of preparation and planning (even if that seems impossible as you are so busy, but trust me, it’s worth it), taking on a Virtual Assistant can be a piece of cake. Leaving you time to concentrate on the parts of your business that make you smile, or spend time with family and friends, and, who knows, perhaps even kick back and enjoy a piece of cake!?
Top Ten Tasks that people outsource to a VA??
… in my experience anyway!!?