Listen To Full Episode

The Virtual Meeting Curse 

After the changes of the last few years, virtual everything has taken over the job market. Many people are grappling with the monotony and inefficiencies of virtual meetings, especially in these times of remote work. How did they become so exhausting? 

Without a clear agenda or structure, virtual meetings can quickly devolve into a chaotic exchange of ideas with no clear direction. Also, with the convenience of virtual meetings, it’s easy to fall into the trap of over-scheduling. Back-to-back virtual meetings can leave little room for focused work or even short breaks, leading to burnout and decreased productivity.

Lastly, virtual interaction can be exhausting as well; the term ‘Zoom Fatigue’ has been coined to describe the unique kind of exhaustion associated with a constant virtual exchange between colleagues, employees, and customers. 

But here’s the good news: we have some tried-and-true tips that can turn your meeting dread into productive anticipation. The secret is in virtual assistants.

The Role of Virtual Assistants in Meetings

Virtual assistants (VAs) can help you manage tasks more efficiently. They can schedule meetings, send reminders, help set agendas, take notes, guide the meetings, and maybe the biggest game changer is follow up on to-dos afterward. Incorporating a virtual assistant into your meeting routines can be a productivity supercharger. 

Time-saving

One of the significant benefits of using a VA is the time it saves. Instead of spending precious minutes or even hours scheduling meetings, a VA can do this for you. You simply provide the necessary details, and your VA takes care of the rest.

Virtual Assistants Can Send Reminders

Forgetfulness is part of human common mistakes; we all forget meetings, especially when we are too busy running a business or taking care of urgent tasks. A VA can help mitigate this by sending out reminders before a meeting reminding people what they were supposed to do in between meetings so that when they come back they know they will be expected to have that task completed. 

These reminders can include the meeting agenda, necessary preparation materials, expectations on what needs to be done before the meeting, reminders of the meeting subject and questions to ask, and the meeting link, ensuring everyone comes prepared and on time.

Productivity

We all have been there: it’s time for another long and exhausting meeting, and once the virtual gathering starts, no one knows what it is actually about; there is no clear guidance or purpose. 

A VA can also play a crucial role in enhancing meeting productivity. It can help determine the meeting’s objective, ensuring that each meeting has a clear goal and purpose. This provides direction and focus, enabling team members to come prepared and contribute meaningfully.

Some VAs can open a space for virtual collaboration during meetings. This could include real-time document editing, brainstorming, and other activities that will push your meeting forward.  Your virtual assistant can even help you find the perfect virtual meeting software for your company and goals. 

Structure

Your virtual administrative assistant can take care of administrative tasks, like team meeting structure. Having a well-structured meeting is vital for efficiency. A VA can assist in establishing a solid structure for your meetings, reducing time wasted on irrelevant topics and promoting focused discussions.

KPI Establishment & Follow Through

Finally, a VA can help establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for meetings, like participant engagement, meeting duration versus planned time, problem-solving time, and more, providing a measurable way to assess their effectiveness.

Moreover, they can follow up on these KPIs, ensuring accountability and progress moving forward. 

Hire Virtual Assistants and Forget all About Meeting Exhaustion

In conclusion, virtual assistants can be instrumental in transforming your virtual meetings from dreaded events to productive sessions. 

By saving time, enhancing productivity, providing structure, and ensuring follow-through, VAs can supercharge your meeting effectiveness. So, forget about dreading meetings; it’s time to embrace them with the power of virtual assistants.

If you are still looking to hire for virtual assistant jobs, don’t worry; you can still make your internal meetings effective and concise using our FREE one-on-one reusable meeting form to save you much time and effort. 

Contact Anequim today to hire your first virtual assistant.