Think You Need to Delegate? Here’s a Better Way to Work with Your VA

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Think You Need to Delegate? Here’s a Better Way to Work with Your VA

If you have had trouble delegating in the past you are not alone. When it comes to delegating clients only fall into two categories:

1. Delegating doesn’t drain your energy.?
2. Delegating does drain your energy.?

Fortunately, I’ve never met a client who didn’t know which side of the spectrum they were on. This month’s newsletter is for the person whose energy is drained when delegating.?

I work with business owners who are typically seasoned leaders and who’ve built a successful business doing what gives them energy. They’ve already left successful and often very lucrative careers to venture out on their own. The risk was worth taking because it would devote their time to doing what they love. The very thing that gives them energy - not what drains their energy.?

Of course, there will be a time in your business when not all your work gives you energy. For most of my clients, if it’s not working with their clients, speaking, teaching, or creating more content it drains their energy. They come to me to hire the right VA so they don't have to have this energy-draining work on their plate any longer.?

One of the frustrations that inevitably comes up is they don’t consider themselves good delegators. When I tell them they don’t have to be good delegators, they are relieved but skeptical. Their skepticism is understandable. They’ve been told over and over again that simply delegating would solve their problem. However, no one stops to share the truth about delegating. This is when I share the truth we both can agree on.?

The measure of a true assistant, whether human or AI is the ability to anticipate your needs. This makes my clients excited and ready to move forward because delegating, let alone being a good delegator, is no longer a requirement.

I match my clients with true assistants who know how to anticipate their needs and don’t wait for the client to delegate. They are able to do this because they learn your goals, understand your workflows, and are most importantly, interested in your business. They want and have a deep desire for you to be successful!?

So how do you get to this point with your VA? How do you share what needs to be done without draining your energy? How do you take delegating off the table? You must start by reframing how you see delegating. The truth is you already have a lot on your plate and the problem is learning how to delegate is a double whammy when it comes to draining your energy.?

This is where having the right strategy is crucial. The right strategy leans into your strengths, instead of fighting your weaknesses with willpower. Something that is not helpful, let alone sustainable. At every step of the strategy, we’re going to save you time and energy.?

Leverage Your Leadership Qualities?

My clients are successful communicators. Often excelling in both writing and speaking. You’re already adept at articulating to clients, stakeholders, and strategic partners. That same skill can lead your VA, allowing them to understand your priorities, adapt to your style, and offer proactive solutions.

By openly communicating your goals, challenges, and preferences, you’ll empower your VA to step up, take initiative, and free you from the operational grind.?

Communicate How You Like

The communication strategy you have with your VA is the #1 deciding factor in how successful you will be working together. A virtual assistant can conform to your communication style, but you cannot conform and still maintain your positive energy. This means that if you want to talk, brainstorm, share documents, talk on the phone, or meet over Zoom it should be easy and natural for you. Remember you are leveraging your leadership qualities and that means you are doing what is natural for you to get the results you want.?

Build A Roadmap

Don’t confuse building a roadmap with delegating. Even if you don’t have a strategy to share with your VA I’ve never met a client who doesn’t know where they are going. Building a roadmap is simple and easy. Essentially you are sharing your vision with the VA and the VA is creating your itinerary. It’s very much like sharing with your VA where you are traveling and when. Then your VA schedules your travel, chooses your preferred seats, reserves your hotel room, schedules your ground transportation, and gives you a complete itinerary.?

Will the VA need to check in with you for updates, priorities, and preferences? Yes, of course. But that’s not you having to stop and burn energy delegating. This is you doing what you do naturally - leading.?

If you’re ready to hire the right VA who doesn’t require you to delegate, book your complimentary consultation ($300 value), and let’s get started. ===>>> https://go.oncehub.com/thepva

BEING THE RIGHT VA

To be the right VA means you must be a true assistant. You must demonstrate that you know how to anticipate the client’s needs and share examples with potential clients. Task takers are not virtual assistants because they lack the ability to anticipate the client’s needs. If you can’t separate yourself in this manner then the client cannot differentiate you from the competition.?

You must also know the strategy of what it looks like to demonstrate you are a VA who doesn’t require delegation.?

Know What Gives Your Clients Energy?

Not every client who needs a VA can be your client. When what gives your clients energy excites you, you’re off to a great start. The reason is because you have to care about their work. There is no hiding work that is done to check a box versus done to improve your client's life, business, and fulfill their mission. You must have a vested interest in your client.?

When you can match your energy with the client’s, complement one another, and both excitedly meet the goals of doing work you love you will be the clear choice for the client. Making you the right VA.?

Don’t Drain Your Clients Energy

The worst mistake you can make is making the client your assistant, not the other way around. Sadly, VAs do this every single day and then wonder why clients don’t communicate or don’t see them as a partner. If how the client communicates is not attractive to you then they are not your client. Period. There is no excuse for forcing a client to communicate in your preferred manner. That’s the tail wagging the dog. It’s one of the fastest ways for a client to fire you.??

While poor communication is the number energy-draining activity for the client, it’s not the only one. Be careful to know what you do and/or request that drains your client's energy and avoid it at all costs. Successful VAs know how to give their clients more energy - never less.

Anticipate Your Client’s Needs

We’ve established that delegating is energy-draining for clients. However, draining your client’s energy is only the tip of the iceberg. If a client is constantly delegating to you, you will never be seen as a business partner. You won’t ever achieve the working relationship with clients that successful VAs do. The type of relationship where a client could never imagine not working together any longer.?

Anticipating the client’s needs doesn’t happen overnight. You’re not a mind reader. It takes work, asking thoughtful questions, and diving into your client's mission.? It means providing options and being present. If your client has to come to you before you come to them, this is a red flag. One that clients notice.?

Interested in becoming a licensed PVA? Join the waitlist and let's see if you're a good fit. https://www.stack.expert/melissa

Melissa Smith is the Founder of The PVA, a firm that matches clients with the right virtual assistants. She is also the best-selling author of two books, Hire the Right Virtual Assistant and Become a Successful Virtual Assistant.

Melissa has been featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc., U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. News & World Report. Most recently Melissa was named Top Virtual Assistant Consultant of the Year, a Top 10 Most Inspiring Woman in Business, one of the top 100 Dynamic Leaders, and a trailblazing female entrepreneur to watch.