Guide to Managing a Virtual Assistant

Small business owners and entrepreneurs hire virtual assistants for a variety of tasks. Having the option to get a remote employee has many benefits too, especially in the current circumstances. But those who are new to the practice hesitate thinking that remote employees will be hard to manage. There are also some assumptions that a virtual assistant won’t meet the expected work quality. Yes, managing a virtual assistant does take time and practice. But, once you get over the preconceptions, you’ll find that a virtual worker is just as efficient as a regular employee, and at a fraction of the cost!

What is the right way to manage a virtual assistant?

Business owners and entrepreneurs looking for a way to delegate non-essential tasks shouldn’t worry about hiring a virtual assistant. Here is our guide on how you can manage a remote employee so that you’ll get the expected performance and results.

·         Evaluate performance using measurable metrics. You need to gauge your virtual assistant's performance using objective metrics. Performance indicators that will yield numerical data are the best way to determine if they're performing as expected. The good thing is, there are plenty of tools available that makes it more efficient for an entrepreneur to track a remote employee as well as to measure their output.

·         Resist the urge to micromanage. Micromanagement is a common problem for employers with remote workers. When you hire a virtual assistant, you need to set clear guidelines, expectations, and goals. As such, you should be able to allow them to work independently and measure their performance based on those expectations. You don’t need to check up on their work all the time, since micromanagement does not foster a healthy professional relationship between you and your employee.

·         Schedule meetings and daily updates. If you want to check on the progress of your Virtual Assistant, you can always schedule daily meetings. Use video-conferencing tools such as Zoom in case you need to give them updates or would like a rundown of what they are expected to complete for the day. Communication can be done in other ways too such as group chats and other similar applications.

·         Require weekly submissions and reports. A weekly report will help you gauge if your virtual assistant is still on track. If possible, provide a template on what information you want to see included in the report.

·         Make feedback a part of your work culture. Working with a virtual assistant requires trust. As such, you need to encourage open communication and feedback-sharing. Ask your virtual assistant for their input on certain matters that involve their work. Be open to their suggestions as this will have a mutual benefit for you and your employee.

In conclusion, managing a virtual assistant requires steady communication and setting expectations. A remote worker is also more efficient when there are specific tasks and goals to be met. Also, you can maximise using virtual tools to monitor performance and schedule adherence. With these tips, you should be on your way to a productive professional relationship with a virtual assistant. 

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Created on Feb 1st 2021 09:44. Viewed 318 times.

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