A virtual reality – the rise of the virtual assistant
By Jo Davison, MD of @HomeAssistant
Hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) can be a simple solution for your business, so why are so many organisations still hesitant? Perhaps they don’t fully understand the value a VA can add to a business. I’d like to highlight just how worthwhile outsourcing tasks to a VA can be!
Put simply, a VA is an online employee, who can be of great value to any business if used in the right way. A VA will work tirelessly and methodically, to ensure clients reach their goals! Your success is our success, and we want to support you in achieving that success.
If you look up the word assistant, amongst its various meanings are terms such as ‘collaborator’, ‘supporter’ and ‘second in command’. I’d like to think that is how many clients have or do view me. The role of a VA is to add value to a business in a cost-effective and efficient way, helping to provide focus, clarity, and growth to the business they support. The delegation of mundane and time-consuming tasks will allow you to focus on growing your business, making you more productive, which in turn means your business will flourish.
I believe that the outsourcing of tasks or projects, be it as a one-off or ongoing process, should be a part of any business strategy.
So, here’s a short list of reasons why hiring a VA is a great idea!
- Office space – a VA has their own office space complete with equipment.
- No fixed hours – your VA can work flexible hours not necessarily full time, and across different time zones.
- Budget – a Virtual Assistant is less expensive than a full-time employee as you only pay for the hours they work.
- Business growth – by delegating the tasks that bog you down, you are free to focus on building your business.
- Time-management – let a VA free up your time. They can often complete tasks much quicker than you can, and with great efficiency leaving you with more hours in the day.
- Get organised – a VA can help bring organisation & structure into your day/week be it through diary management, filing or just helping you see the wood for the trees.
Like in any other aspect of life, the right VA for one business might not be the right VA for another. We are not a ‘one type fits all’ employee. Take the time to find out what strengths and skills your VA has to offer, and ensure that they match the gap in the workforce that you’re seeking to fill.
In 2018, businesses are increasingly moving away from office hubs and are employing remote workers. Reducing overheads whilst simultaneously recruiting people who are hard-working, self-motivated, and able to manage their time effectively, ‘virtual’ companies are on the rise, and the hiring of a VA is just part of this new wave of recruitment.
Jo Davison is the Founder and Managing Director of @HomeAssistant. Set up in 2012, @HomeAssistant offers bespoke, flexible and remote PA/admin services to individuals and businesses.
Connect with her on Linkedin or Facebook to find out more about Jo or the services she offers.