Psychological Safety In The Workplace and Expectations

Psychological Safety To Grow Your Business 

Have you ever heard of psychological safety? This is an important part of any workplace environment, especially when we are dealing with remote teams. It refers to a state where employees feel comfortable expressing themselves freely without fear of retribution or negative consequences. 

In this Bootstrappers podcast, Jeremy and Gwenn explore the benefits of psychological safety for your organization, like building creative and responsible teams that work on the business and not in the business.

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What Is Psychological Safety?

Psychological safety It’s about creating an environment where ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes can be openly discussed without any fear. It means employees feel comfortable and cared for. 

For remote teams, psychological safety is especially crucial. When team members are scattered across different locations, it’s easy for misunderstandings and communication gaps to arise. Psychological safety helps bridge these gaps by fostering an atmosphere of trust and open communication. 

Psychosocial safety in the workplace not only boosts team morale but also encourages innovative thinking and risk-taking, leading to improved problem-solving and productivity.

Listen to the full episode.

What Happens When Your Team Has No Psychological Security?

When psychological safety is absent in a team, the consequences can be noticeable in performance. Let’s take the infamous Wells Fargo case: In this instance, employees were pressured to meet unrealistic Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which ultimately led to the creation of fake accounts and a massive public relations crisis.

Lack of psychological safety can lead to stress and anxiety among employees. According to research, a psychologically unsafe environment can result in decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover rates. 

Employees may feel abandoned, unsupported, and isolated, which can significantly lower morale and hinder their ability to perform. 

Moreover, creativity and innovation, which are vital for any organization’s growth and success, can also take a hit when employees are constantly living in fear of their managers or losing their jobs.  When employees are scared, they tend to avoid taking risks or sharing new ideas, stifling innovation and growth.

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How To Maintain Psychological Safety

So, how do you build and maintain a safe space for your team and your overall organization? here are some of our key steps to foster a safe workplace: 

Follow Up with Your Employee; How Do They Feel?

Regular follow-ups with your employees are an essential part of maintaining psychological safety. It shows that you value their input and are committed to improving their performance. 

These follow-ups can also provide encouragement, reinforcement, and recognition, which can boost morale and productivity2.

Active Listening

Active listening involves showing genuine interest in what the other person is saying, asking insightful questions, and providing thoughtful responses. This communication style fosters trust and respect, making employees feel heard and valued.

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Trustworthy Environment

A trustworthy environment is one where employees feel comfortable coming to you with their work problems. Make sure to create a space where issues are addressed openly and everyone takes accountability, like a daily team meeting or regular one on ones.  This way, you will build a culture of trust.

This level of trust assures employees that their concerns will be addressed appropriately and without negative repercussions.

Positive Space

Maintaining a positive space is crucial for psychological safety. Negativity can breed fear and resentment, hindering collaboration and productivity. By promoting positivity, you cultivate an atmosphere where employees feel safe to express their ideas and opinions.

Open to Feedback

Lastly, Being open to feedback is a key component of psychological safety. When leaders show openness to receiving feedback, it encourages employees to voice their ideas and concerns. This not only promotes continuous improvement but also makes employees feel valued and safe.

By implementing these elements, you can foster an environment where trusts become the fule for employee productivity and satisfaction. 

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Implementing Psychological Safety in a Digital Age

In addition to keeping up with tech trends like AI tools, it’s critical to pay attention to the emerging trends in workplace culture, particularly psychological safety. 

In the context of remote teams or teams that heavily rely on digital communication tools, psychological safety plays an even more significant role. It helps bridge communication gaps, encourages open dialogue, and fosters an atmosphere of trust.

Remember, a happier, safer team is often a more productive one. 

Make your internal meetings effective and concise using our FREE one-on-one reusable meeting form to save you much time and effort. 

Virtual Assistant Performance Plan

Get Results with a Virtual Assistant Performance Plan

A virtual assistant performance plan is how you improve results with your remote team. Hiring and overseeing Virtual Assistants (VAs), also known as Remote Professionals, can present its own set of challenges, especially when they’re not physically present in your location. 

Keeping up with their performance and offering helpful feedback can be a bit tricky.

That’s why discussing creating Performance Improvement Plans for VAs is valuable. Over time, it’s become clear that having a plan tailored to the VA’s particular needs can greatly boost its performance.

Virtual Assistants Performance Improvement Plans

Why You Need a Virtual Assistant Performance Plan

Handling VAs can feel like a lot, especially if it’s new to you. So, we’ve put together an easy-to-understand guide to help you build a plan that works well for both you and your VAs.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through creating a Performance Improvement Plan for your VAs, step by step. This guide should help you feel more comfortable managing your VAs and be useful in enhancing their performance.

Remember, overseeing VAs requires time and effort, but with the right strategy, you can guide your VAs to perform at their best and deliver the results your business needs.

Step 1: Identify the Problem

The first step in creating a performance improvement plan is to identify the problem. This can be a challenging task, particularly when working remotely.

However, it is crucial to take the time to understand the issue and what is causing it. You may need to speak with the VA to gain a better understanding of the problem and to identify any underlying issues that may be contributing to it.

Step 2: Set Specific Goals

Once you have identified the problem, the next step is to set specific goals for the VA. These goals should be measurable and achievable and should be aligned with the expectations you have set for them.

Be sure to communicate these goals clearly to your VA so that they understand what is expected of them.

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Step 3: Develop a Plan

Once you have set specific goals, the next step is to develop a plan to achieve them. This plan should be specific to the VA and should include steps that they can take to improve their performance.

It may also include resources that they can use to help them improve, such as training materials or online courses.

Step 4: Monitor Progress

Monitoring progress is an essential part of any performance improvement plan. This involves regularly checking in with the VA to see how they are progressing towards their goals.

You may need to adjust the plan if progress is not being made, or if the plan is not working as intended.

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Step 5: Provide Feedback

Feedback is a critical component of any performance improvement plan. It is essential to provide your VA with regular feedback on their performance, both positive and constructive.

This feedback should be specific, measurable, and actionable, and should be given in a timely manner.

Step 6: Evaluate Results of Your Virtual Assistants Performance Plan

Once the performance improvement plan has been implemented, it is important to evaluate the results. This involves assessing whether the VA has improved their performance and whether they have achieved the goals that were set for them.

If the plan has been successful, it may be necessary to create a new plan to continue to improve their performance. If the plan has not been successful, it may be necessary to explore other options, such as terminating their contract.

Creating a Performance Improvement Plan for your Virtual Assistants/Remote Professionals is a critical part of managing their performance, particularly when working remotely.

Running a team of virtual assistants (VAs) can be tough. It’s hard to check if they’re doing their best, and it’s not always easy to give them the help and feedback they need to get better.

But, there’s a way to make things better. Creating a special plan that fits the VA’s needs can really help improve how they work.

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Final Thoughts on Virtual Assistant’s Performance

By following the six steps I’ve outlined in this blog post, you can create a plan that works for you and your VA, and help them improve their performance and meet your expectations.

Remember, managing VAs takes effort and patience, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. When you see them performing at their best and delivering the results you need, it’s a great feeling.

If you have any questions or need further assistance in creating a Performance Improvement Plan for your VA, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always here to help and share my experience with others who are managing Virtual Assistants.

Do you want to create an excellent customer service experience for your clients? Download your free customer performance improvement checklist to see incredible improvements and results HERE!

To get even more amazing tips, tricks, and techniques for scaling up your business, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.

Virtual Administrative Assistant: What Do They Do?

What Does a Virtual Administrative Assistant Do?

A virtual administrative assistant, often called a Remote Professional, can really change things for a business. But it’s important to make sure this job is set up right. If it’s not, it could add more stress to a busy workplace.

After setting up many roles for administrative and executive assistants, there are a few helpful tips to share. These can stop you from wasting time, money, or energy on a role that doesn’t work.

Many people are looking for someone to help them get organized, manage their day, and handle tasks that aren’t worth their time. 

These are all good reasons to hire an administrative assistant.

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How do You Design a Virtual Administrative Assistant Position?

Many times when we are consulting with an overwhelmed executive about the administrative professional role, what we find is that the executive is doing operational tasks they should not be doing, such as accounting tasks or customer service tasks, and designing a position that takes care of those things in an operational way really is what will relieve the stress the most. 

When that is not the case, we still try to find some operational tasks that the executive assistant can do that need to be accomplished directly by the executive.

Some tasks that should not be done in the operation but have an operational component include:

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Quality Control

Creating a system where when problems happen, someone researches the issue, finds out the cause of the problem, and determines if it was the processes and procedures.

If a problem needs to be fixed, the root cause needs to be identified first. Procedures that are unclear should be redrafted so they can be followed correctly.

If it is a training issue, the person executing the procedure should review the relevant documentation and make sure it is done properly in the future. If there is a flaw in the process or workflow, this should be added to the leadership team’s agenda for further discussion on how to resolve it.

Quality control is an ideal task for executive assistants when they are not performing their normal duties.

Sales Team Auditing

Sales teams are notorious for not following protocols or taking notes.

This can oftentimes lead to operational issues because the operational side of the business gets blindsided when the sales funnel operates in the dark.

This creates tension between sales and operations. It has the potential to create crisis situations on the operations side if they cannot fulfill the business coming in. 

Having your executive assistant audit the sales pipeline and enforce rules for follow-up and utilize reporting tools as outlined in your processes and procedures can be a huge help to both the operations and sales teams.

Anequim team helping small business owners find virtual assistants

Process and Procedure Auditing

Clean processes and procedures end up always being a moving target if you are growing really fast. Sometimes the processes and procedures don’t scale with the business and have to be reworked.

Any new introduction of software means a change in the documentation and the workflow of the operation, and it seems like to be successful, they have to be constantly audited, organized, and managed.

This is often a part-time job and has to come from leadership which makes it the perfect operational task for an executive assistant while there is a lull in personal tasks or while their workload in other areas wanes. 

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Financial Auditing

Leaders should be asking questions such as:

  • Are salespeople taking unnecessary days on the road and charging the company?
  • Is the SEO vendor doing what they’re supposed to?
  • Is the Google Ad money leading to good leads?
  • Are sales commissions reasonable?
  • Are all the HR personnel necessary?

However, due to a lack of time, leaders may not have the opportunity to look into these queries themselves. This is where an executive assistant can help. They can act as the leader’s eyes and ears in the company. They can ask the important questions and get answers that could lead to greater profits than last year.

Research

As executives, it can be difficult to do the research necessary to make informed decisions.

Questions such as:

  • What is the competition doing?
  • Are there any new technologies we should consider?
  • What are CTOs at XYZ company like?
  • Is this coaching program any good?
  • What about XYZ vendor?
  • Can we reach out for additional references?
  • And what is being said on the Facebook user group about their experience?
Between a Virtual assistant vs freelancer article what's the difference?

All require time and effort, which some leaders may not have. An executive assistant can help with all of these questions, providing thorough research and making sure that the team makes sound decisions.

Project Management and Follow Up

Big projects make or break progress at all organizations.

Your executive assistant can follow up with the people charged with these projects, get status updates, see if there are roadblocks, set up meetings where things are not moving fast to figure out why and do something different.

They can be the one to make sure to-dos, quarterly projects and other high priority projects actually get completed on time and on budget.

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High-level Reporting

If you have investors, silent partners, etc. you probably have to provide reports on a regular basis. You may want to have a company-wide meeting on the state of the industry or your company on a regular basis.

Your executive assistant can do the heavy lifting, and you can verify the information and present it.

Do it with them the first time, create a procedure for what they need to look for and how to get the data that is relevant to the audience, and then have them create the reports from there on out.

Manage speaking engagements, podcasts, award applications, and other PR functions.

Do you want to get more earned media for your business or yourself?

Have your executive assistant apply for awards. Have them reach out to podcasts and propose you as a guest. Additionally, you can have them propose speaking engagements that could help you get clients.

What Can a Virtual Administrative Assistant Do for Your Personal Life? 

An executive assistant can save you a lot of time and hassle with your personal life, freeing you up to focus on other important tasks. Here are some examples of what they can help with:

  • Sending birthday and holiday presents
  • Keeping your family’s sports and school calendars up to date
  • Booking vacations and travel
  • Paying school fees and buying supplies online
  • Booking appointments for the whole family (orthodontist, cosmetic, doctor/dentist)
  • Arranging home maintenance
  • Booking teacher conferences
  • Organizing after-school activities and filling out all necessary forms
  • Booking summer camps

As a working mom, I know that I wouldn’t be able to do both my job and daily family activities without my executive assistant, who helps make sure all deadlines are met, that all necessary activities are signed up for, and that my kids make it to their events on time.

With such a valuable team member helping out with the form front, I can have peace of mind knowing that my family will stay on track.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Virtual Executive Assistant

Managing a virtual executive assistant can be a great way to streamline your workflow and free up time for more important tasks. Here are some tips on making the most of your assistant:

  • Think through the role clearly before hiring an assistant, and consider if it’s necessary to create separate roles for specific operational tasks.
  • When designing the position, include operational and repeatable tasks that make a real impact on your business goals.
  • Have clear expectations about what you want from the assistant so they know exactly how to help you achieve those goals.
  • Make sure communication is consistent and that both parties are on the same page about their roles and responsibilities.
  • Successfully fulfilling the needs of a busy executive requires careful planning and design.
  • And finally, trust your assistant to do the work!
Virtual Administrative Assistant

With good communication, clear expectations, and trust in their abilities, you’ll get the best out of your virtual executive assistant.

Final Thoughts

A virtual assistant can be a valuable asset for businesses that need help with administrative tasks, phone calls, and social media management from a remote location.

However, designing the position correctly is crucial for success. It’s important to identify tasks that are time-consuming and take up valuable office space and hire a virtual assistant to take care of them.

An executive assistant can help with tasks such as quality control, sales team auditing, process and procedure auditing, financial auditing, research, project management and follow-up, and high-level reporting.

With these pointers in mind, you can hire a virtual assistant who will be a great addition to your team, make your life easier, and reduce stress.

Don’t waste time or money on a position that won’t work for you – design the role for success and enjoy the benefits of having a virtual assistant company on board.

Download your FREE reusable form for creating an impactful strategic planning meeting HERE!

To get even more amazing tips, tricks, and techniques for scaling up your business, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.

Anequim's Bootstrappers for entrepreneurs podcast

Employee Appreciation Gifts: Reward Your Virtual Assistant

Employee Appreciation Gifts: Show your Virtual Assistants You Care

Employee appreciation gifts are the the best way to show your remote employees you care. As business owners who manage virtual assistants and remote teams, we understand the importance of recognizing even in the distance. 

So, let’s dive into some tips and tricks for offering bonuses and gifts to your virtual assistants. Effective reimbursement methods can ensure that they are properly compensated for their hard work.

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Our Story with Employee Appreciation Gifts

We have had the privilege of working with a variety of virtual assistants over the years. Offering bonuses and gifts is a great way to motivate your team.

In fact, one of our company’s most successful virtual assistants was people who went above and beyond their job duties. They often took on additional tasks and stayed late to ensure that projects were completed on time.

To show our appreciation, we surprised them with a gift basket. It was filled with their favorite snacks and a handwritten note. The note thanked them for their hard work.

We showed our virtual assistant appreciation and recognition, which in turn encouraged them to strive for excellence in their work.

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As a small business owner or team leader, it can be hard to show your remote employees appreciation.

However, with careful consideration, ingenuity can be used to create a productive atmosphere in the workplace. This atmosphere can also be cooperative and encouraging throughout the organization.

The Importance of Employee Incentives

Offering employee incentives such as bonuses, gifts, and reimbursements is an excellent way to show appreciation. This demonstrates that you value the hard work and contributions of your virtual assistants.

These incentives can also help to improve employee morale and job satisfaction. This can lead to increased productivity, better business outcomes, and an improved company culture.

Virtual assistants play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of your business by handling administrative tasks. Tasks include but are not limited to: email management, calendar scheduling, social media, and data entry.

They also help you to focus on more critical tasks, such as business strategy and client management. Therefore, it’s essential to show your appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

Anequim Virtual Assistants

Types of Employee Appreciation Gifts

When it comes to offering incentives to virtual assistants, there are several options to choose from. The most common types of incentives include monetary bonuses, gifts, and reimbursements.

Monetary Bonuses

Monetary bonuses are a popular choice for rewarding virtual assistants for their hard work. You can choose to offer bonuses based on specific goals. Goals such as completing a project within a set time frame or meeting specific performance metrics.

Alternatively, you can offer performance-based bonuses. Such bonuses can include a percentage of the revenue generated by the project or a flat rate for exceptional performance.

The amount of the bonus will depend on your budget and the virtual assistant’s hourly rate. It’s essential to communicate clearly with your virtual assistants. This communication should include criteria for earning bonuses. It should also include the amount they can expect to receive.

This ensures that everyone is on the same page. This also ensures that the virtual assistant feels valued and appreciated for their hard work.

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Classic Employee Appreciation Gifts

Another way to motivate your virtual assistants is by offering gifts. Gifts are a great way to show your appreciation and can be tailored to each person’s interests and preferences.

Consider offering personalized gifts. For example, a gift card to their favorite store or a subscription to a magazine you think they might enjoy. These can be both cost effective and a great reward.

By tailoring your gifts to each individual team member, you can demonstrate that you value their unique contributions. This can help to create a positive work environment and foster a sense of camaraderie among team members.

Reimbursements

Virtual assistants often work from home, which means that they may incur expenses related to their work environment. Offering reimbursements for these expenses is an excellent way to show your virtual assistants that you value their hard work. It also shows that you want to support them in achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Some common expenses that virtual assistants may incur include home office equipment, internet and phone bills, and professional development courses. By offering to reimburse these expenses, you can help your virtual assistants to create a comfortable and productive work environment.

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Effective Reimbursement Methods

Here are some effective reimbursement methods to consider:

  • Consider setting up direct deposit for your virtual assistant’s payments if they work for you full-time. This will make payments more convenient and efficient for both you and your assistant. This eliminates the need for physical checks to be mailed or delivered.
  • Prepaid Cards: Another option to consider is providing your virtual assistants with prepaid cards. This allows you to set a spending limit and control the types of purchases they can make. Prepaid cards are also a great option for reimbursing virtual assistants who work on an hourly basis. You can easily load the card with the amount owed.
  • PayPal: PayPal is a widely accepted payment platform that can be used to reimburse your virtual assistants. This method is especially useful when you have a virtual assistant living in a different country. You may need to pay them in a different currency.
  • Expense Reporting: If you have a team of virtual assistants, you may want to implement an expense reporting system. This allows your virtual assistants to submit receipts and documentation for any expenses they have incurred while working for you. By keeping track of expenses in this way, you can ensure that your virtual assistants are only reimbursed for legitimate expenses.
  • Mileage Reimbursement: If your virtual assistant is required to travel for work, you may want to consider offering mileage reimbursement. This can be calculated based on the number of miles driven or a flat rate per trip.

By using one or more of these reimbursement methods, you can ensure that your virtual assistants are properly compensated for their hard work and any expenses they incur while working for you.

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Final Thoughts on Virtual Assistant Employee Appreciation Gifts

As we come to the end of this blog post, We hope you have gained some valuable insights into how to recognize and reward employees, remote employees, or remote teams for their hard work.

Remember, bonuses and gifts don’t have to be expensive or extravagant – they simply need to show your appreciation and demonstrate that you value your team members.

At Anequim, we have found that offering bonuses and gifts, as well as effective reimbursement methods, not only motivates virtual assistants to work harder but also improves their work-life balance and overall job satisfaction.

When team members feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to stay engaged and motivated long-term, which benefits your business.

Does your remote team feel motivated? How effective is your leadership? Find your strengths and areas of improvement with our scoring leadership test for FREE today.

To get even more amazing tips, tricks, and techniques for scaling up your business, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.

Social Media Virtual Assistant: What do They do

Why Virtual Assistants Are the Secret to Social Media Marketing

A social media virtual assistant will change the way you view digital marketing. Business owners like us don’t have the luxury of extra time, which is why virtual assistants have been a game-changer for how we manage social media marketing!

It’s important to have a strong online marketing presence to reach and engage with customers. However, managing multiple social media accounts can be time-consuming and overwhelming.

You’re likely trying to do everything for your business yourself, including creating and scheduling social media posts, responding to comments and messages, and analyzing performance metrics. It becomes too much and we struggle to keep up with the demands of running the business.

Social Media Virtual Assistant

Hire a Social Media Virtual Assistant to Manage Your Channels

Hiring a virtual assistant, or remote professional as we refer to them, is a true game-changer for small business owners. You can find an experienced social media manager or digital marketing virtual assistant who is just as capable as any ‘in-person’ employee but at a fraction of the cost.

Remote professionals will fully understand your business’s needs and help you create a social media marketing strategy tailored to your target audience. With their help, you can free up time to focus on other important aspects of your business.

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What is Social Media Management?

Social media management involves creating, scheduling, and posting content on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It’s essential to have a consistent social media presence to engage with your audience and stay top-of-mind.

Social media tasks can also include responding to comments and messages, analyzing performance metrics, creating social media profiles, blog posts and developing a social media strategy.

Why Hire a Social Media Virtual Assistant?

Let’s face it; social media management is a full-time job. We think that we can do it ourselves because we spend enough of our personal time on social channels, but effectively managing a social media marketing strategy is completely different. Managing just one social channel is challenging enough, but most businesses are on an average of 6 different social platforms. That means it takes 6X the amount of time to manage (time that you already didn’t have to spare).

Hiring a social media virtual assistant can help save time and improve your social media strategy. They are trained in social media marketing and can help you manage your platforms and create engaging content. A virtual assistant can also help you keep up with the latest social media trends and best practices, which can be hard to maintain and track on your own.

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Social Media Virtual Assistant Can Manage Multiple Accounts

Managing multiple social media accounts can be overwhelming, but there are tools that can help. Social media management tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social can help streamline the process by allowing you to manage all your social media accounts in one place. These tools also allow you to schedule posts in advance, which can save you time and ensure consistent posting.

Scheduling out your posts and video content is one half of the equation, while the other half is responding and engaging with your tribe. Think of each social platform as a digital storefront for your business. Each represents your company, which means that each must have full-time attention dedicated to it.

Creating Engaging Posts with a Social Media Virtual Assistant

Creating engaging social media posts is key to attracting and retaining your audience. Social media virtual assistants can help you create relevant content that is tailored to your audience’s interests. They can also help you incorporate multimedia elements like images and videos into your posts, which can increase engagement.

The algorithms are always changing, but today they are based on one simple metric: engagement. If your posts are not getting likes, comments, and shares, social channels like Facebook and Instagram will not put you in front of more people. This means that you must dedicate the time and resources to creating truly engaging content that your target audience wants to see.

For most businesses, hiring a virtual assistant is the best option for quality content that fits their budgets.

Social Media Virtual Assistant

Developing a Social Media Strategy

Developing a social media strategy is crucial for the success of your social media efforts. Your strategy should target your audience and be aligned with your overall marketing goals. It should also track the success of your efforts, so you can make adjustments as needed. Social media virtual assistants can help you develop a social media strategy tailored to your business’s needs.

Tracking metrics is the only way to know what types of content is working for your digital marketing. Consider the first 6 months as merely data collection. Trial and error, testing different lengths of videos, styles of videos, graphic content vs video content, etc. is the only way to discover what your specific audience wants more of – so that you can deliver that to them for ultimate social media success.

Hiring a Social Media Virtual Assistant

Hiring a social media virtual assistant is the most cost-effective way to improve your social media marketing efforts. Virtual assistants are experienced in social media management and can help you with a variety of tasks like creating content, scheduling posts, and responding to comments. They can also help you stay up-to-date on the latest social media trends and best practices.

What About A.I.?

Artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT, Google’s ‘Bard,’ and a long list of other options look like a perfect solution for small business owners at first but they often don’t deliver the results your business needs. A.I. platforms are merely tools; they are not humans.

Google, along with every other social media platform, weights quality content as the highest value with the biggest rewards for your marketing. People engage with quality content. A.I. platforms aren’t yet able to connect with, resonate deeply with, or relate to human beings because they aren’t people.

Should you use A.I. platforms to streamline certain aspects of your business? Absolutely! However, marketing is not one of those areas for one big reason: Marketing is all about feelings. People decide to hire your business based on the emotional connection they have. Do they trust you? Do they like you? Will they remember you?

Robots (Artificial Intelligence) are incapable of feeling, so how can we expect them to know how to connect with people on an emotional level? This is just one more reason why virtual assistants are the true game-changer. Remote professionals are actually affordable for small businesses and their budgets. However, remote professionals are still people. They are highly skilled, highly trained, and know how to connect your marketing with your target audience.

Anequim Virtual Assistants

Virtual Assistants Are The Answer For Your Business

Hiring a social media virtual assistant can be a game-changer for your business. With their help, you can create a social media strategy tailored to your target audience and save time on managing your social media accounts. They can also help you stay on top of the latest social media trends and best practices, so you can focus on other important aspects of your business.

I can personally attest to the benefits of hiring a social media virtual assistant. Since I hired a virtual assistant for my own business, I’ve been able to free up time to focus on other areas of my business.

With the help of my virtual assistant, I’ve been able to create a consistent social media presence, engage with my audience, and grow my online following. They’ve also helped me to track and analyze my social media metrics, which has helped me to make data-driven decisions about my social media strategy.

Anequim Remote Professionals For Your Business

If you’re looking to hire a social media virtual assistant, it is important to do your research to find a remote professional with experience in social media management and a proven track record of success. Fortunately, Anequim does all of that research for you, and they make the entire process seamless, from searching for top talent to making the final hire.

Anequim also has proven processes and procedures to help you clearly communicate your goals and expectations and work together to develop a social media strategy tailored to your business needs. With the right virtual assistant on your team, you can take your social media presence to the next level and grow your online presence.

Give your remote assistants the best tools. Create an excellent customer service experience quickly with our FREE Service Guide. Start Providing the best experience for your customers now.

To get even more amazing tips, tricks, and techniques for your social media virtual assistant and business-related topics, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.

Freelancer and Virtual Assistant: What’s The Difference?

Virtual Assistant or Freelancer: Which One is Better?

The difference between freelancer and virtual assistant can be confusing. As someone who has been in the business of managing virtual assistants and freelancers for several years, I know firsthand how daunting it can be to find the right person for the job. 

It wasn’t until I had my own experience with a virtual assistant that I truly appreciated the value they can bring to a business.

I struggled to keep up with the administrative tasks bogging me down and taking me away from the more important aspects of running my business. That’s when I decided to take the plunge and hire a virtual assistant.

Between a Virtual assistant vs freelancer article what's the difference?

Entrepreneurs Are Now True Believers in Virtual Assistants

So many entrepreneurs have become firm believers in the power of virtual assistants to help businesses run more efficiently and effectively. And that’s why I’m here to share my expertise and help you understand the key differences between the two. 

Whether you’re a small business owner looking for extra help or curious about the world of virtual assistants and freelancers, read on – I’m confident you’ll find this blog post helpful.

What's the difference between a Virtual assistant vs freelancer article

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant (VA) is a remote worker who can fulfill the tasks of any role that can be done behind a computer, making them a valuable asset for small businesses. Virtual assistants are a perfect fit for nearly any type of business, as they can do the same quality work as any in-person employee can, just remotely.

Virtual Assistant companies will find the perfect person for any role you need to be filled, from data entry and customer service to accounting, bookkeeping, administrative and executive assistant positions, marketing, graphic design, and everything in between.

Virtual Assistants have run entire companies and organized major conferences and events remotely, so anything is possible for your small business needs!

The Advantages of Hiring a Full-Time Virtual Assistant:

  • They are invested in your company’s success
  • They can be held accountable just like any other member of your team
  • They can be trained, mentored, and elevated to essential roles within your company
  • They are loyal to your business because they have a stake in its success
  • They become an integral part of your team-building for future growth
Virtual assistant vs freelancer article blog

What is a Freelancer?

A freelancer is also an independent contractor who offers specialized skills to businesses, but they work differently than a virtual assistant.

Freelancers work on their own and offer their services directly to clients. They can work on a variety of projects but they are not full-time members of your team like a remote professional is, and they provide specialized skills like web design, content writing, or graphic design.

When hiring a freelancer, business owners can expect to work with someone with specific expertise in a particular area. Freelancers tend to compete against each other for the lowest price, but cheaper isn’t always better (in fact, it rarely is).

The Risks of Hiring a Freelancer:

  • They are not invested in your company’s mission, vision, and growth
  • It is harder to hold freelancers accountable since they can exit at any time
  • Freelancers have many other clients, which means your business is not their main priority
  • With multiple clients, freelances are dividing up their talents, and quality can suffer
  • Freelancers can leave you high and dry at any time, which is a risky investment for any business
Freelancer and Virtual Assistant

Difference Between Freelancer and Virtual Assistant

The main difference between virtual assistants and freelancers is the type of services they offer and the way they work.

Virtual assistants are typically full or part-time employees who work for, and report directly to, you and your business. They are not tied to any other clients or companies like freelancers are. Remote professionals are just like any in-person employee, the only difference being they work remotely.

Freelancers often work independently and usually offer only one kind of service, like web design or writing. They can work on many different projects at once and work for many different clients, which means they are dividing up their time, talents, and quality of work.

When deciding whether to hire a virtual assistant or a freelancer, it’s essential to think about the type of work that needs to be done.

The best way to sum it up is this: Virtual Assistants are invested in your company’s long-term growth and success just like any other member of your team. Freelancers are invested in their own success since they are their own companies separate from yours.

Freelancer and Virtual Assistant

Both virtual assistants and freelancers have different roles and responsibilities that can help your business grow; however, a full-time virtual assistant will offer far more consistent benefits for your company.

With a virtual assistant, you have someone full-time who you can train, mentor, and integrate into your current team. Accountability is another major benefit for Virtual Assistants because you can hold a full-time remote worker responsible for your company’s standards and requirements. A freelancer cannot be held as accountable as a full-time virtual assistant.

Freelancers will also not be as invested in your company’s mission, vision, and long-term success. Virtual Assistants are just like anyone else on your in-person team, except they work remotely. As a part of your team, they will have a stake in your company just like the rest of your team.

Business owners should carefully consider their needs before deciding whether to hire a virtual assistant or a freelancer. It’s important to research options and pick the right one for the business.

Between a Virtual assistant vs freelancer article what's the difference?

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Unlimited PTO Policy: Does it Work for Virtual Assistants?

How To Manage Your Remote Worker PTO And Holidays

Does an unlimited PTO policy work for virtual assistants? With more and more businesses offering remote worker options, it’s becoming increasingly common for employees to work from home or anywhere remotely.

While there are many benefits to this arrangement, there are also some new challenges with managing a remote team—one of the biggest challenges is managing your remote worker’s PTO and holidays.

In this blog post, I’ll give you some tips on managing your remote worker’s PTO and holiday in a way that is fair to your employees and compliant with the law.

How to manage your remote worker PTO and Holidays

What is Paid Time Off (PTO) For a Remote Worker?

PTO allows employees to take time off from work without loss of pay.

There are two types of PTO: accrued PTO and unlimited PTO.

Accrued PTO

With an accrued PTO policy, employees gradually accrue paid time off based on the number of hours they work. For example, if an employer offers 2 weeks (10 days) of vacation per year, an employee who works 40 hours per week will accrue 5 days of vacation per year (2 weeks / 40 hours = 0.05). This type of policy is common in the United States.

Unlimited PTO Policy

Unlimited PTO policies are less common in the United States, but they are becoming more popular as companies seek to attract and retain top talent. With an unlimited PTO policy, employees do not accrue vacation days; instead, they can take time off as needed, subject to approval from their supervisor. This type of policy is more common in Europe and other parts of the world.

What is paid time off for your remote worker?

Time Off Requests For a Remote Worker

If you have a remote team, you’ll need to have a process in place for employees to request time off.

The process should be simple and straightforward, and it should be clearly communicated to all employees.

One way to do this is to use an online tool like Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar. These tools allow employees to submit time off requests online, and they also allow you to keep track of who is out of the office and when.

Another option is to use a paper-based system. This can be as simple as creating a form that employees can fill out and submit to their supervisor for approval.

Time off requests for remote workers

Parental Leave as Part of a Remote Worker’s Benefits Package 

Parental leave is another important consideration when managing your remote team’s PTO and holidays.

In the US, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for parental leave (maternity, paternity, or adoption), caring for a sick family member, or dealing with one’s own serious health condition.

Parents working in Europe are entitled to paid parental leave ranging from 4-8 weeks, depending on the country. Ensure you are aware of and compliant with the parental leave laws of your employees’ countries if they work remotely.

How Employees Accrue Time Off with a Remote Team

As I mentioned earlier, there are two types of paid time off: accrued PTO and unlimited PTO policy. With an accrued PTO policy, employees gradually accrue paid time off based on their work hours. With an unlimited PTO policy, employees do not accrue vacation days but can take time off as needed, subject to approval from their supervisor.

If you have a remote team, you may want to consider implementing an unlimited PTO policy. This type of policy gives employees more flexibility, which can be especially beneficial if your team members are in different time zones. It can also help reduce distractions caused by frequent requests for time off.

Before implementing an unlimited PTO policy, consult an HR expert or attorney to understand all the legal implications.

How a remote worker can achieve healthy life balance Unlimited PTO Policy

Ways To Help Remote Professionals Achieve A Healthy Work-Life Balance

Encouraging your remote team members to achieve a healthy work-life balance is important. There are several ways you can do this:

  • Set clear expectations about working hours. Avoid scheduling conference calls or meetings outside of regular working hours if possible.
  • Encourage breaks! Just because someone works remotely doesn’t mean they shouldn’t take regular daily intervals. Encourage your team members to step away from their desks for a few minutes throughout the day to recharge and refocus.
  • Hold virtual lunch dates with co-workers. This allows remote workers to build relationships with other team members, even if they are not in the exact physical location.
  • Prioritize communication and collaboration tools. Investing in quality tools can help make it easier for remote teams to collaborate and stay connected, even when they are miles apart.
  • Allow employees to work flexible hours. This allows employees to manage their own schedules to fit in time off as needed without disrupting their productivity.

Unlimited PTO Policy: Legal Compliance and Training for Remote Workers

It’s essential to be aware of the legal requirements of managing a remote team, especially concerning PTO and holiday policies. You should consult with a lawyer or HR expert and ensure you understand applicable laws in your jurisdiction before implementing any policies or procedures related to managing remote workers’ time off.

You should also provide training and education about these policies so that all team members know how things work and what is expected of them. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding taking time off.

Anequim Virtual Assistants

Remote Worker Unlimited PTO Policy & Holidays

Managing a remote workforce requires some unique considerations due to its distributed nature; one is how best to handle paid time off (PTO) and holidays for your team members.

By understanding the different types of PTO policies available, putting processes in place for requesting time off, providing training on parental leave policies, investing in communication tools, allowing flexible working hours, and understanding applicable legal requirements, you can create an environment where your remote workers can take time off while still meeting expectations.

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Virtual Assistants: What Do They Do for Your Business?

What Do Virtual Assistants Do?

Virtual assistants, otherwise referred to as Remote Professionals, can be game changers for any business.

However, it’s important to design the role for success because it is also a job that if not done well can stress out already stressed-out professionals.

After years of designing Administrative assistant and executive assistant roles, I have some pointers so you don’t waste time, money, or stress on a position that won’t work and design the positions so it gives you exactly what you need to make your life easier, happier and less stressful.

Virtual Assistants Are The Answer For Business Owners

Most people who call us asking for an administrative or executive assistant do so because they are overwhelmed with their email, their life and their business.

They want someone to help them organize their life, their day and take the tasks that are below their paygrade off of their to do list. These are all great reasons to get an administrative assistant.

Virtual Assistants: How To Design The Right Position

Many times when we are consulting with an overwhelmed executive about the administrative professional role what we find is that the executive is doing operational tasks they should not be doing such as accounting tasks or customer service tasks and designing a position that takes care of those things in an operational way really is what will relieve the stress the most. 

When that is not the case we still try to find some operational tasks that the executive assistant can do that need to be accomplished directly by the executive.

Some tasks that should not be done in the operation but have an operational component include:

Virtual Assistants Help With Quality Control

Creating a system where when problems happen someone researches the issue, finds out the cause of the problem and determines if it was the processes and procedures.

If a problem needs to be fixed, the root cause needs to be identified first. Unclear procedures should be redrafted so they can be followed correctly.

If it is a training issue, the person executing the procedure should review the relevant documentation and make sure it is done properly in future. If there is a flaw in the process or workflow, this should be added to the leadership team’s agenda for further discussion on how to resolve it.

Quality control is ideal for executive assistants when they are not performing their normal duties.

Remote Professionals Can Do Sales Team Auditing

Sales teams are notorious for not following protocols or taking notes.

This can oftentimes lead to operational issues because the operational side of the business gets blindsided when the sales funnel operates in the dark.

This creates tension between sales and operations. It has the potential to create crisis situations on the operations side if they cannot fulfill the business coming in. 

Having your executive assistant audit the sales pipeline and enforce rules for follow up and utilizing reporting tools as outlined in your processes and procedures can be a huge help to both the operations and sales team.

Virtual Assistants Help With Process and Procedure Auditing

Clean processes and procedures end up always being a moving target if you are growing really fast sometimes the processes and procedures don’t scale with the business and have to be reworked.

Any new introduction of software means a change in the documentation and the workflow of the operation and it seems like to be successful they have to be constantly audited, organized and managed.

This is often a part time job and has to come from leadership which makes it the perfect operational task for an executive assistant while there is a lull in personal tasks or while their work load in other areas wanes. 

Remote Professionals For Financial Auditing

Leaders should be asking questions such as:

  • Are salespeople taking unnecessary days on the road and charging the company?
  • Is the SEO vendor doing what they’re supposed to?
  • Is the Google Ad money leading to good leads?
  • Are sales commissions reasonable?
  • Are all the HR personnel necessary?

However, due to a lack of time, leaders may not have the opportunity to look into these queries themselves. This is where an executive assistant can help. They can act as the leader’s eyes and ears in the company. They can ask the important questions and get answers that could lead to greater profits than last year.

Remote Professionals Assist With Research

As executives, it can be difficult to do the research necessary to make informed decisions.

Questions such as:

  • What is the competition doing?
  • Are there any new technologies we should consider?
  • What are CTOs at XYZ company like?
  • Is this coaching program any good?
  • What about XYZ vendor?
  • Can we reach out for additional references?
  • And what is being said on the Facebook user group about their experience?

All require time and effort which some leaders may not have. An executive assistant can help with all of these questions, providing thorough research and ensuring the team makes sound decisions.

Project management and follow up

Big projects make or break progress at all organizations.

Your executive assistant can follow up with the people charged with these projects, get status updates, see if there are roadblocks, set up meetings where things are not moving fast to figure out why and do something different.

They can be the one to make sure to-dos, quarterly projects and other high priority projects actually get completed on time and on budget.

Remote Professionals Can Do High-level reporting

If you have investors, silent partners etc. you probably have to provide reports on a regular basis. You may want to have a company wide meeting on the state of the industry or your company on a regular basis.

Your executive assistant can do the heavy lifting and you can verify the information and present.

Do it with them the first time, create a procedure for what they need to look for and how to get the data that is relevant to the audience and then have them create the reports from there on out.

Manage speaking engagements, podcasts, award applications and other PR functions

Do you want to get more earned media for your business or yourself?

Have your executive assistant apply for awards. Have them reach out to podcasts and propose you as a guest. Additionally you can have them propose you for speaking engagements that could help you get clients.

How Can an Executive Administrative Virtual Assistant Help With Personal Tasks?

An executive assistant can save you a lot of time and hassle with your personal life, freeing you up to focus on other important tasks. Here are some examples of what they can help with:

  • Sending birthday and holiday presents
  • Keeping your family’s sports and school calendars up to date
  • Booking vacations and travel
  • Paying school fees and buying supplies online
  • Booking appointments for the whole family (orthodontist, cosmetic, doctor/dentist)
  • Arranging home maintenance
  • Booking teacher conferences
  • Organizing after-school activities and filling out all necessary forms
  • Booking summer camps

As a working mom, I know that I wouldn’t be able to do both my job and daily family activities without my executive assistant, who helps make sure all deadlines are met, that all necessary activities are signed up for, and that my kids make it to their events on time.

With such a valuable team member helping out with the form front, I can have peace of mind knowing that my family will stay on track.

Getting the most out of your Virtual Executive Assistant

Managing a virtual executive assistant can be a great way to streamline your workflow and free up time for more important tasks. Here are some tips on making the most of your assistant:

  • Think through the role clearly before hiring an assistant, and consider if it’s necessary to create separate roles for specific operational tasks.
  • When designing the position, include operational and repeatable tasks that impact your business goals.
  • Have clear expectations about what you want from the assistant so they know exactly how to help you achieve those goals.
  • Ensure communication is consistent and that both parties are on the same page about their roles and responsibilities.
  • Successfully fulfilling the needs of a busy executive requires careful planning and design.
  • And finally, trust your assistant to do the work!

With good communication, clear expectations, and trust in their abilities, you’ll get the best out of your virtual executive assistant.

Virtual assistants and what do expect in your first 30 days

Remote Professionals Are Your MVPs

A virtual assistant can be a valuable asset for businesses that need help with administrative tasks, phone calls, and social media management from a remote location.

However, designing the position correctly is crucial for success. It’s important to identify tasks that are time-consuming and take up valuable office space and hire a virtual assistant to take care of them.

An executive assistant can help with tasks such as quality control, sales team auditing, process and procedure auditing, financial auditing, research, project management and follow-up, and high-level reporting.

With these pointers in mind, you can hire a virtual assistant who will be a great addition to your team, make your life easier, and reduce stress.

Don’t waste time or money on a position that won’t work for you – design the role for success and enjoy the benefits of having a virtual assistant company on board.

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The Property Management Mastermind: All You Need to Know

The Property Management Mastermind Conference

At the Property Management Mastermind Conference, Anequim attends as a company that was born out of a real pain point that most property management companies face because it was conceived to help our founders’ own property management company. 

Today, Anequim is the leading virtual assistant partner for property management companies, providing highly skilled virtual assistants to property managers across the country. While Anequim has grown, so has our fondness for conferences like PMM Con, serving a vital need for the property management industry.  

The-Property-Management-Mastermind-Conference

Why Attend the Property Management Mastermind Conference

Anequim has attended the Property Management Mastermind conference since its debut many years ago, and it has always been a rewarding experience to build relationships and network within the property management industry we know and love so much. 

Every year we look forward to attending the conference and Gwenn Aspen’s opportunities to speak, present, and join panel discussions to help other property managers learn and grow their companies. 

Conferences-Are-Learning-Opportunities- Property Management Mastermind

Property Management Mastermind

The conference focuses on building in the Mastermind Idea. Masterminds are not a new concept, but they are stronger today than ever before because of how effective they are at growing businesses. 

This unique approach encourages small group interaction, which helps us learn better. We exchange ideas, share experiences, and find solutions together. A combination of big-name speakers and breakout sessions strikes the perfect balance of networking, education, and relationship-building for a strong and vibrant property management industry.

The mastermind concept truly unlocks our potential for success.

Masterminds-Learning-from-Industry-Leaders

Conference Are Learning Opportunities 

It doesn’t matter which city PMM Con is held in; the opportunities for learning and growth are always apparent and obvious to attendees.  Founded by Brad Larsen of RentWerx, PMM Con has evolved into one of the country’s top-tier Property Management conferences year in and year out.

With a range of topics, from digital marketing to tenant management and legal updates, there’s always something new and valuable to learn. Business owners are information seekers who naturally want to solve real-world problems. 

Knowledge workers, as they’re often referred to as, will always be in demand.  In an industry like property management, where margins and markets are traditionally challenging just like many industries today, problem-solving becomes the pivotal decider between those property management companies that succeed and those that do not. 

Opportunities like PMM Con are tremendous for entrepreneurs in the property management industry because they are centered on learning, growth, and networking among peers. 

The conference format building ensures that attendees make the most of their time there.

Property-Management-Boosting-Our-Business

Connecting with Like-Minded Professionals

One of the most significant benefits of attending the Property Management Mastermind Conference is the small group interaction. Our founder and CEO, Gwenn Aspen, has had the privilege of both speaking as a keynote addresser and leading small group discussions and panels – both being high-value aspects of the PMM Conference. 

These sessions provide a comfortable space for us to connect with other property management professionals. Call it a “safe space” for property management employees, leaders, owners, and team members to ask real questions, have real debates, and learn in very tangible ways.  

Asking the right questions is the only way to get the answers business owners need to learn in order for them to build successful and profitable companies for the future.  These small group interactions and breakout sessions are of a sizable value to attendees who leave the conference armed with everything they need to take their businesses to the next level. 

It’s amazing how much we learn from each other and the friendships we’ve made along the way.

Property Management Mastermind: Learning from Industry Leaders

The mastermind concept brings industry leaders to share their knowledge and experiences with us. Masterminds are unique in the way that they bring together some of the top leaders, shakers, and movers in a given industry, and property management is no different. 

These experts offer practical advice and insights that we can apply to our property management businesses. It’s like having personal mentors guiding us toward success.

Hearing from, having discussions with, and collaborating alongside the titans of the property management industry is a truly rare experience that is alone worth the price of a ticket to attend. Learning directly from the most successful names in the property management industry is the opportunity for unprecedented individual, personal, and professional growth by all attendees.

PMM CON: A Memorable Experience

Each year, our team is filled with anticipation to discover where PMM Con will be held next.  From Las Vegas, Nevada, to Nashville, Tennessee, the Property Management Mastermind Conference never disappoints in its latest home city. 

Brad Larsen and his team at RentWerx will likely tell you that the birthplace of PMM CON is based in Texas, where he and his team are based out of, but the true home for the Property Management Mastermind Conference is in the hearts of each and every attendee. 

Property Management: Boosting Our Business

Attending the Property Management Mastermind Conference has helped us boost our businesses in many ways. We have built many relationships that last to this day and have had the opportunity to help so many other property management companies who are in desperate need of our highly skilled virtual assistants. 

We’ve gained valuable knowledge, expanded our networks, and discovered new strategies for managing tenants and marketing our services. It’s an investment that pays off year after year.

If you’re in the property management industry, we highly recommend attending the Property Management Mastermind Conference. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, there’s so much to gain from the experience.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn, grow, and network with the best in the business.

To get even more amazing tips, tricks, and techniques for scaling up your business, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.

Entrepreneurial Operating System: Why you need EOS

How EOS Can Transform Your Business

Accountability is possible with an entrepreneurial operating system (EOS) that Anequim has implemented, like many other successful businesses today.

As business leaders, we have all been through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, which means we know firsthand how challenging it can be to grow and maintain success in a competitive market.

That’s why implementing an approach like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is helping so many businesses thrive.

EOS The Entrepreneurial Operating System

The Entrepreneurial Operating System: A Game Changer

Created by Gino Wickman, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is a set of simple concepts and practical tools that have transformed the way thousands of businesses operate.

For you, as a business owner, the benefits of implementing EOS are impressive and impactful from the start. EOS will help you and your team clarify your vision, instill focus and discipline, and create a healthy leadership team.

EOS is designed specifically for busy entrepreneurs like you. It addresses the six key components of any business:

  • Vision
  • People
  • Data
  • Issues
  • Process
  • Traction

By strengthening these components, EOS helps solve issues at their root cause and gain traction toward your business goals.

Vision: Uniting Your Team Under a Common Goal

One of the most powerful aspects of EOS is its ability to help everyone in your organization get 100% on the same page about where you’re going and how you plan to get there.

For many business owners, it often feels like their team was constantly pulling in different directions, struggling to align your efforts toward the same end goal. EOS will help you clarify your vision and unite as a cohesive unit, all working towards the same goal.

In Gino Wickman’s book, Traction, he describes this process as “letting go of the vine.” Imagine yourself hanging from a cliff and clinging to survival by literally clinging to the root of a vine protruding from the dirt wall. 

It appears as though you will fall to your demise if you let go of the vine, but the same is true for any chance at making it to the top of the mountain if you don’t let go.  Progress can’t be found when you’re simplifying ‘treading water’ to keep yourself from drowning. 

As with being stuck in any old routine, letting go is actually the only way to progress forward.  We must first let go of the ‘old ways’ that we are clinging to in order for us to embrace new ideas.

Vision-Uniting-Your-Team-Under-a-Common-Goal-entrepreneurial operating system,

People: Building a High-Performing Team

EOS emphasizes the importance of having great people in your organization, from top to bottom. 

This is an example of what happens far too often with many businesses: The best salesperson on your team is great at their role, so you promote them to sales director. 

When they are sales directors, they are not a good fit for this new role at all.  Why did this happen? Was this their fault or yours? 

The key to building a high-performing team is ensuring you have the right people in the right roles. When we moved the hypothetical ‘greatest salesperson’ out of a role they were excelling at and into a completely new role, it was not their fault they didn’t succeed.

By helping you identify the right team members for your business, EOS ensures you have a talented, motivated, and dedicated workforce.

Finding out what an individual’s strengths and weaknesses are is a start, but clearly identifying the expectations of each role and defining what measurables (Key Performing Indicators) are equally crucial.

People-Building-a-High-Performing-Team

Think of each role in your company as a seat on a bus, with the bus being your business. Placing the right people in the right seats is what will eventually set up your bus for ultimate success.

Teams utilizing EOS, they’ve seen how investing in the right people can transform a business and propel it toward long-term success.

Data: Getting a Grip on Your Business

As business owners, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by emotions, opinions, and personalities.

EOS cuts through the noise and focuses on the data that truly matters.

By boiling down your organization to a handful of objective numbers, EOS gives you a clear pulse on your business’s health and performance.

Issues: Solving Problems Once and for All

Before adopting EOS, most businesses and their leadership teams often address symptoms of problems without addressing their root causes.

Cultivating a supportive environment where issues are openly and freely discussed, debated, and solved, is the only way you’ll eliminate the same problems from arising again and again. 

With EOS, businesses have learned to tackle issues head-on, setting them up, knocking them down, and ensuring they don’t resurface.

Anequim Virtual Assistants

This proactive approach has made a world of difference in the smooth operation of countless businesses today.

Process: Creating Consistency and Scalability

EOS encourages businesses to identify and document the core processes that define how they operate. It is not reasonable to have the steps to doing something “all in your head.”

There is no opportunity for a business to grow and scale without having systems in place that allow for it. The first step in this systematizing of your business is creating processes and procedures for everyone on your team to follow. 

Systemization helps create consistency and scalability, ensuring everyone is on the same page and following the essential procedural steps.

This allows your business to maintain high quality while expanding and growing to new heights that would not be possible without these processes and procedures in place. 

We don’t go to the grocery store without a list or want a doctor operating without a procedure to follow. We wouldn’t want someone building our house without a checklist and plan to follow. Why would we assume our businesses are any different? 

As you will find with your own business, developing a standardized process can be invaluable in managing your remote professionals effectively.

Process-Creating-Consistency-and-Scalability

Traction: Turning Vision into Reality

Finally, EOS brings focus, discipline, and accountability into your organization. Every successful business is a metrics-based business.

This sounds fancy, but it is merely having measurables to hold yourself, your team, and your business accountable. 

By assigning specific goals and numbers to each team member, EOS helps ensure that everyone is working together to turn your vision into reality.

This is a level of accountability that is crucial for maintaining momentum and achieving consistent results.

The-Importance-of-Employee-Incentives-for-virtual-Assistants

Success Stories: How Entrepreneurial Operating System has Transformed Businesses

There are so many businesses today that have experienced the transformative power of EOS.

One notable example is a property management firm that was struggling with inconsistent processes and a lack of accountability.

After implementing EOS, they saw a significant improvement in their team’s cohesion, streamlined operations, and experienced substantial growth.

Another success story comes from a small business owner who felt overwhelmed by the demands of managing a growing team.

EOS helped them establish clear roles and responsibilities, ensuring that everyone was working towards a unified vision.

As a result, the business saw a boost in productivity and efficiency, allowing the owner to focus on long-term strategic planning.

Anequim Virtual Assistants

The Role of the EOS Implementer

An EOS Implementer is a valuable resource for businesses adopting the Entrepreneurial Operating System.

These trained professionals guide business owners and leadership teams through the EOS process, providing support and expertise to help companies gain traction and achieve their goals.

Implementers can seem like a scary investment at first, which is understandable considering that many startups and small businesses are already operating on a ‘shoe-string’ budget. 

However, EOS implementers are most often times a very sound investment considering the ROI that they bring to your company. 

Self-implementation of EOS is always a very respectable and more affordable option as well.  It starts by simply reading Gino Wickman’s book ‘Traction’ and then working through the process with your team.  

The biggest challenge with self-implementation has the discipline to be accountable in installing this new system of accountability. 

If you believe you need some extra accountability for yourself and your team or if you want to ‘go all in’ and do it right the first time around, then hiring an EOS implementer is a sound investment into your company’s future. 

Achieving Long-Term Success with Entrepreneurial Operating System

Business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who have implemented EOS have seen firsthand the impact that EOS can have on a company’s success.

Applying the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to your business can bring undeniable benefits.

It provides a simple yet comprehensive framework to improve management, challenge your status quo, and take your organization to new heights of growth and success. 

Whether you are just starting out or pivoting for long-term success, you will find that EOS offers valuable insights and processes to guide you forward.

The bottom line is that accountability from the top to bottom and every person on your company’s team is crucial to its success and viability overall. 

Accountability is a scary thing for many entrepreneurs, but it is truly the only path forward to accomplishing those “big, hairy, audacious goals” we dream about. 

By taking all of these key components into consideration and taking action on them, you will be able to make valuable changes in the near future.

EOS is truly a game-changer for businesses, and if you decide to move forward with implementing it yourself or through a professional EOS implementer, the truth is that you will not be disappointed!

Accountability is a requirement for your company’s success, but with that comes a vow to discipline and commitment to a process that can appear daunting and intimidating at first. 

After Entrepreneurial Operating System

Once you do commit to EOS, however, it will undoubtedly be one of the best decisions you can make for your business today. 

Anequim connects entrepreneurs, property managers, and small to midsize businesses with highly skilled, bilingual, full-time virtual assistants, who we refer to as Remote Professionals.

To get even more amazing tips, tricks, and techniques for scaling up your business, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.