7 Practical Steps to Build A Healthy Relationship With Your Executive Virtual Assistant
- Learn to manage your expectations
- Communicate, communicate, communicate
- Be open to two-way constructive feedback
- Compensate your virtual assistant fairly
- Build trust and autonomy
- Recognize and reward
- Respect their time
Behind every successful business is a healthy and collaborative relationship between employers and employees, and working with a remote worker is not exempt from this ideal scenario.
In today’s increasingly digital landscape, with remote work blossoming from a niche trend to a mainstream reality, fostering a great working relationship with your executive virtual assistant is crucial. This intricate relationship between virtual employers and employees should be founded upon trust and communication to form the bedrock of a thriving business.
This blog will be your compass and guide in shedding light on the art of nurturing successful remote work relationships.
So, get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered because we can’t stress enough that genuinely successful working relationships are rooted in connection, trust, and unwavering dedication. Read on and learn some of our proven and tested ways!
1. Learn to manage your expectations
First of all, let us lay the foundations: we’re only humans, and we’re prone to making mistakes.
Like any work, it is crucial to be forgiving when your executive virtual assistant doesn’t get it right immediately. Give them time to correct the issue. If they apologize or seek assistance because they feel horrible about the mistake, be willing to offer guidance or help. Keep in mind that you do not pay your virtual assistants on a task-by-task basis, so an occasional error is not too concerning.
Work as a team and build your expectations from there. If the goal is for you to create a healthy relationship with your VA, strike a balance between being firm and compromising, and you will see success coming your way in your partnership.
2. Communicate, communicate, communicate
Another thing you need to remember is that your executive virtual assistant is not a mind reader.
Give your virtual assistant precise instructions. Lay out exactly what needs to be done, along with any deadlines or other requirements, to avoid delay and foreclose uncertainty and further issues down the road.
However, communication is not perfect all the time. There will be instances where communications with your executive virtual assistant can be problematic. Use communication platforms such as email or written correspondence; this might not always give the best results, but as you work on tasks together, you can fill in the gaps as you go.
Furthermore, you can also screen record if tasks need to be done in a certain way and your executive VA does not have the expertise to navigate through the software or platform you’re using.
Hence, ensure that they have everything they need to complete their tasks.
It is entirely understandable that, as a busy entrepreneur, time is gold, which is why you hire extra hands to get the job done in the first place. Subsequently, coming up with detailed instructions and guides may seem like eating up your time, but to reiterate, it’ll all be worth it.
3. Be open to two-way constructive feedback
Regularly providing feedback is vital to ensuring your experienced virtual administrative assistant meets your expectations. It is essential to offer helpful criticism to enhance their capabilities and the overall prosperity of your collaboration.
It’s common knowledge that executive virtual assistants are primarily freelancers, meaning they may provide services to numerous clients. Providing feedback on how your VA is helping you is always beneficial. Give them context by outlining the reasons for your comments, which should enable them to help you more effectively and not the other way around.
Be positive and helpful. Highlight your executive virtual assistant’s strengths and point out areas they need to work on.
So, with all this being said, you might ask yourself, ”What should I look for when hiring an executive assistant?” Our simple answer is to find someone who is not afraid to be upfront with you with their ideas and even provide feedback. This joint effort of two-way feedback will help you grow together as you navigate your way to success.
You can also check out virtual executive assistants 101 for more details on how to screen your VA.
You can always ask your VA for task or project feedback. This is an excellent way to increase engagement and make them feel valued and respected. For example, you may ask your VA for input on your current process flow or to contribute their ideas on a particular project.
4. Compensate your virtual assistant fairly
Virtual assistants are merely tools (or, worse, robots); they are people with skills, experience, and needs. Fair compensation is essential in various ways.
Compensating your virtual assistant fairly isn’t just a gesture; it’s crucial for your success. Fair compensation shows respect for their skills and effort. This ensures they feel valued and motivated to do their best on every task assigned. It further translates into increased productivity, lower turnover, and a happier, more efficient work dynamic.
Think of it this way: it’s an investment—you are investing in our relationship. You foster a mutually beneficial relationship built on respect and trust. In return, you receive dedication, loyalty, and the quality of work that propels your business forward. Invest in your virtual assistant and watch your success blossom together.
5. Build trust and autonomy
What keeps executive assistants up at night?
One of our straightforward answers will be a micromanaging employer.
Do not micromanage. For one, the main reason you outsource virtual assistant is to have someone you can depend on for support as you run your business.
Micromanaging the work of your virtual assistants implies that you do not trust them enough to get the job done. Should you decide to go down this road, your virtual assistant may eventually become resentful and unappreciated, and you do not want that.
We’re not saying to allow your executive virtual assistant to take the reins fully. What we’re trying to say is to only micromanage if necessary. Do not overdo it. If you do, this can be counterproductive; hence, try to strike a balance so you can monitor your VA without becoming too intrusive.
The best way to build trust and autonomy is to set clear expectations so you will know what is expected of one another.
6. Recognize and reward
Virtual employees want to feel valued, too.
According to an online survey about perceived value at work, three influential facts were drawn from it: feeling valued by an employer was correlated with (1) better physical and mental health; (2) increased job satisfaction, motivation, and engagement; and (3) reduced an employee’s desire to look for another job.
Thus, break free from being the conventional employer to your executive virtual assistant. Be more appreciative of the work and effort of your VA, even in your little way. The more your VA feels valued and appreciated, the more they will put in their best effort and the more loyal they’ll be to you and your business. It gives them confidence and motivation to do their best in everything they do and engage whenever their ideas or feedback are needed.
Isn’t it comforting to have someone you can trust and rely on for your business needs?
7. Respect their time
The independence that comes with their position is one of the primary reasons your executive virtual assistant enjoys what they do. You should not expect your VA to be available around the clock if you’re not. You must set ground rules and boundaries for you both from the beginning to build a lasting relationship. This entails being aware of and considerate of their working and non-working hours.
If you want to avoid the grueling task (plus save time and effort) of sieving through a sea of prospective executive virtual assistants, look no further. Virtual Assistant Talent has devoted the last 13+ years to providing only the best talent match that meets client requirements at an affordable cost. With our comprehensive and rigid hiring process, you can be assured that you’ll only ever collaborate with seasoned experts committed to offering fantastic support.
Contact us today to hire an executive virtual assistant, regain control over your schedule, and focus on what truly matters.
Resources:
https://boldly.com/blog/the-surprising-bond-you-build-with-your-execitive-assistant/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-tips-successful-relationship-your-virtual-assistant-christine-1e/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/art-building-healthy-relationship-your-virtual-assistant-linqcs/