Administrative Remote Professionals: What Do They Do?

What Does an Administrative Remote Professional Do?

A virtual administrative assistant, often called an Administrative 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. Instead, you can create a role that makes your life easier and less stressful.

Many people reach out for help because they’re swamped with emails and work, and their personal life is chaotic. They’re 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.

What-do-Virtual-Administrative-Assistants-Do

How do You Design a Virtual Administrative Assistants Position for the Busy Executive?

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:

How-do-you-design-an-administrative-position-so-it-really-works-for-the-busy-executive

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 utilizing reporting tools as outlined in your processes and procedures can be a huge help to both the operations and sales teams.

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. 

Process-and-Procedure-Auditing-virtual administrative assistants

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?

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 ones to make sure to-dos, quarterly projects, and other high-priority projects actually get completed on time and on budget.

Project-management-and-follow-up (1)

Virtual Administrative Assistants 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 you for speaking engagements that could help you get clients.

What Tasks Can Virtual Administrative Assistants Perform 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.

Hiring-a-Virtual-Assistant-What-to-Expect-in-Your-First-30-Days-ft

Getting the most out of your Virtual Administrative Assistants

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!


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

Find Your New Virtual Administrative Assistants

A virtual administrative 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 virtual administrative assistants to take care of them.

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.

Now that you know what a VA can do for your job, make sure you make an accurate job description to find you the best remote professional. Not sure how to?

Start making job descriptions that make sense, so you can focus on what your business really needs from you. Learn the step-by-step instructions for writing an exceptional job description with our FREE guide

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.

Step-2-Set-Specific-Goals

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.

Step-4-Monitor-Progress

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.

Step-6-Evaluate-Results

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.

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?

Let us Help You Build The Perfect Remote Team!

Ready to take your business to the next level? Make your internal meetings with your virtual team effective and concise using our FREE one-on-one reusable meeting form to save you much time and effort.

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

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.

Ready to take your business to the next level? 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 scaling up your business, check out The Bootstrappers Podcast! Get the free advice you need to turn your vision into reality.

Remote Virtual Assistant Jobs: Are They Good For Your Business?

Is a Virtual Assistant a Good Fit For Your Business?

Are remote virtual assistant jobs a good idea for your business? When considering a virtual assistant, there are a few things to take into account. After all, hiring the wrong person or not being effective at managing that person can really put a damper on progress for in-office employees and remote workers. Questions like “What do I need this virtual assistant to do?” and “How will I effectively manage them?” need to be asked in order to determine if you are ready.

This process of asking questions and assessing needs is key, as it ensures you know exactly what you’re getting into before taking the plunge, whether it’s with hiring a virtual executive assistant, virtual administrative assistant, or an entire full-time remote team. Hiring virtual assistants can provide relief and structure to businesses but it’s essential that everyone is on the same page to make it work.

Virtual assistant having a business meeting

Remote Virtual Assistant Jobs: Processes and Procedures

With a virtual assistant as your remote professional, you can take the guesswork out of managing or training remotely. Processes and procedures are key for maintaining quality services, making sure your staff is on target, and that training sessions run smoothly, especially when working remotely. Plus, you don’t need psychic powers to get ahead – let technology do the work. Investing in virtual assistants is simply investing in your business.

With your remote professional, you’re one step closer to success. You’ll need to be extra disciplined when managing remote teams, so make sure to jot down feedback from one on one meetings and provide video tutorials or written instructions for the training. It’s also great to have someone tune into customer service calls – that way people always see the same face of your business interacting with them. We can’t encourage you enough to start writing down your processes and procedures now so that you can sit back and watch your business take off! Download our free ebook on creating processes and procedures here

Remote Virtual Assistant Jobs

If Someone is Not In-office, are You Likely to Forget About Them? 

For virtual assistants to work for the long haul and be as effective as domestic employees, you need to meet with them regularly and give them feedback. You must have scheduled meetings where you get things done. For small business owners especially, there is always a list of things to do that is a mile long, so it’s not uncommon to simply forget to check in with in-office team members, let alone someone working remotely.

Having processes and procedures definitely helps (a ton) but you still need to check in with your team or it will impact how your virtual assistants perform. Running your business will only get easier and less stressful with scheduled check-ins and accountability, whether it’s with administrative tasks, phone calls, day-to-day operations, or social media management. Even something as simple as data entry for a remote job requires focus and attention, which remote professionals will deliver on if you set them up for success.

Remote Virtual Assistant Jobs: A Mindset Shift

The idea that virtual assistants can only do remedial and super easy tasks was literally infused in our brains for probably twenty to thirty years in the United States. I don’t know how, why or what happened to create this perception, but it was absolutely a pervasive perception in the 1980s- and still is very prominent today. What influenced this false perception could have been the media, pop culture, television shows, or simply family and friends who carried these beliefs from previous generations.

The bottom line is that everyone and their mother told you for as long as you were in business that limitations existed for certain workers and there was no way to get around it. It is incredibly difficult to shift that perception after so many years of hearing it and having it ingrained in the business ethos. Remote professionals, however, are just as capable as anyone you hire in person. Remote professionals can do anything from helping you apply for a business loan to making travel arrangements, and everything in between.

Not Shifting Your Mindset is Bad For Business

You don’t want to miss out on the huge potential of virtual assistants because remote professionals will change your mind fast. They’re not just great for keeping costs low – they can bring a real, profitable gain to your team. To get the most from your employees, you’ll need to challenge them with bigger and more complex tasks. Track the progress of your remote team so that you can see their true potential. And with a remote professional in the mix, remote management becomes a breeze.

Successful entrepreneurs know that you don’t want to set up your project’s success from the start. Make sure you believe in what you’re doing and hire remote professionals that match the vision. That way, everyone gets the feedback they need to stay motivated and improve, making the process faster and easier. As with anything for your business, putting the work in on the front end will prevent setbacks and heartache in the long run.

Remote Virtual Assistant Jobs: Feedback

If you want to reap the same rewards from virtual assistants as you do from domestic employees, it’s essential to give them feedback. While it can be daunting to set up an ‘appointment’ for something as seemingly simple as feedback, making time for it is the only way they’ll progress in this remote work environment – and so will your project! And if giving feedback isn’t your strong suit, no sweat – remote professionals are used to working with employers who need some extra guidance in this area.

Feedback isn’t necessarily about telling someone they did something wrong or giving negative reviews of performance. Tell your virtual assistant what you want more of, knowing what you want more of is as valuable as telling them what you don’t want but having these conversations takes a little more in a remote setting. Successful entrepreneurs build successful teams by finding the right people and putting them in the right roles, and growth comes from attention to these details.

Will You Utilize Technology Tools?

Embrace technology means that you will get the most out of virtual assistants. Invest in phone systems with softphones so calls can be recorded and reports generated. Get a time tracking system in place to ensure your remote professional is paid fairly for their work. Video conferencing has changed how everyone communicates but with this new power comes responsibility. With video meetings, simply having the camera on, so that people can read your body language, becomes crucial to building a strong and successful team. Technology will make things easier and more rewarding, so don’t shy away from embracing it.

Whether a team is working in your office or working from home, technology in the wake of the pandemic has changed how we do everything. There is no difference in quality or performance between in-person staff and remote workers, the only difference is in how much it impacts your budget and bottom line.

Virtual Assistant choosing what technology tools to utilize.

Can You Build The Right Remote Team? YES!

Hiring a virtual assistant is no harder than managing any other employee – it just requires a few tweaks, best practices, and the right technology tools! Seeing the value they can bring to your business with those tools, and keeping expectations high – that’s all it takes to make this year awesome(ish). Don’t forget about your virtual assistants because remote professionals need love too.

Tablet displaying the Right Remote team

Will You Hire Remote Professionals – For Your Business?

Remote professionals are the key to growth in an ever-changing labor-challenging world. Every generation of business owners has been presented with challenges and opportunities and, in every generation, it’s the entrepreneurs that embrace change and opportunities that survive and thrive. So, the real question is this – are you ready to take your business to the next level of success faster than you ever thought possible, all while fulfilling your vision for your company?

Ready to grow your business with VAS? How effective is your leadership? Are you ready to take that step? Find your strengths and areas of improvement with our scoring leadership test for FREE today.

Listen to the Bootstrappers For Entrepreneurs podcast for more tips to help scale your business!