It is certainly an excellent solution that will allow you to lighten up your workload, finding time to dedicate to yourself or your business. But you have to ask yourself a very important question: will I be able to trust my virtual assistant?
Trust is also essential in the area of virtual assistance. We buy stuff online, book flights, hotels, musics, clothes, etc. We visit sites, read reviews and decide if we can trust them or not, it works the same way with virtual assistance. Trusting someone you’ve never met in person isn’t easy, but it's possible.
So, how can you find the right virtual assistant?
Make sure the relationship is governed by a contract and a privacy policy - a serious a Virtual Assistant will submit their contract to you, read it carefully. This will protect both of you and help set clear expectations for collaboration. In this activity we often have to deal with sensitive data, passwords, prices, sensitive information that requires maximum attention and confidentiality. All this cannot and should not be taken lightly.
Start gradually, giving her "trial" assignments - for a limited period of time or for small projects. The relationship of trust will be progressively built and gradually you will feel you can always trust a little more. This gradual step will help you overcome your fear.
A Virtual Assistant is a professional, she runs her business too - just like you, she knows how important it is to maintain a good reputation. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising and we all know very well that a satisfied customer will spread the word! But so will the dissatisfied customer. A Virtual Assistant knows perfectly well that poor quality or even worse, dishonesty, will terribly, and perhaps irreparably, damage her reputation and consequently her business.
Beware of Virtual Assistants who charge particularly low rates - in some parts of the world the cost of living is really low and as a result Virtual Assistants charge lower prices. This isn’t a problem, the important thing is that there’s a relationship of trust and that you are sure that there are no problems of linguistic and cultural understanding.
Request reports regularly - this way you will be up to date on what your VA is doing for you. It would be ideal to schedule a few phone calls or video calls just to check how things are going.
Never forget that your virtual assistant is human - and works with different clients, each of them with specific issues, preferences, and characteristics. She will do everything possible to meet each and every client but, specially at the beginning of the collaboration, your help is needed. Your VA will need all the information necessary to carry out the work, so communication is essential.
Finding someone you can trust is probably the thing to put the most energy into. Is critical.
The tools available to collaborate online are many. Skills can be acquired or improved. A Virtual Assistant is used to updating and learning new programs, she does it continuously.
Have you already considered collaborating with a Virtual Assistant? We would very much like to know your opinion. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment in the box below.