3 of the Biggest Mistakes To Avoid When Hiring a VA (& How To Get Started)
Running a business is a full time job. (Multiply that by ten.)
As your biz gains traction, you have the freedom to bring a virtual assistant onboard to take some of the crazy off your plate.
When done right, hiring the right VA can be your key to less stress.
But it’s not fool-proof.
Here are three big mistakes many biz newbies make that can totally derail your work with a VA.
Mistake #1: Not having a clear idea on what you need done
Many entrepreneurs operate according to a method best described as “flying by the seat of your pants.”
But this method doesn’t translate well when you need to onboard a VA, where an unclear vision can cause mismatched expectations and communication difficulties.
That’s why it’s super important to take time to get clear on your own vision for bringing a VA onto your team. Share a concrete list of tasks, timeliness, and processes with them before signing the contract.
(Hint: if you’re struggling, an experienced VA can also help you gain clarity here.)
Mistake #2: Hiring a VA for the wrong tasks
Maybe you already know what tasks you would like to pass off to a virtual assistant.
Great!
Before you continue, ask yourself these questions:
Do I feel comfortable delegating these tasks to someone else? (If you struggle to detach yourself from the creation process, you might be looking at offloading the wrong tasks. Make sure you pick tasks that are outside your zone of genius.)
Do these tasks align with my VA’s skillset? (A good virtual assistant is direct and honest about what types of projects they take on.)
If the answer to either (or both) of the questions is “No,” head back to the drawing board.
Mistake #3: Dropping the ball on communication
The third big mistake happens after you’ve hired your VA.
The first project went well. The second went even better.
Then you notice an error.
It’s ok, it isn’t a huge deal, you tell yourself. I’ve got other things to think about.
On the one hand, worrying about minor details isn’t your thing.
But your VA might take your silence for confirmation that they’re still moving in the right direction.
Prevent this from happening by scheduling time to check in on a regular basis. This way, you have a good structure in place to review what’s working and what’s not.
Skip the mistakes. Hire the right VA with confidence.
Your relationship with your virtual assistant should be one that helps you grow in peace and clarity, so you have the freedom to refocus your energy on taking your business to the next level.
But it’s tricky knowing how to get started on this new path to success.
That’s why I’m offering a free workshop on how to hire the right VA, showing you how to grow and scale your business even faster with the strategy you need to increase your revenue WITHOUT sacrificing any more of your personal time to move the needle.
Sign up for the workshop by clicking here
I can’t wait to show you how to gain clarity in your business and move the needle forward.
Selina Johnson — Business Support Expert, solution seeker and freedom fixer — helps successful coaches, consultants, speakers and entrepreneurs from across the globe to scale their businesses, make more money and achieve faster, sustainable results without compromising their time.
Over the past 16 years, she’s supported high profile individuals like award-winning architect Dame Zaha Hadid DBE, Sunday Times Top 20 Most Influential Entrepreneurs In The UK Sháá Wasmund MBE, former Co-Director of the Serpentine Gallery Dame Julia Peyton-Jones DBE, and Russian billionaire Timur Sardarov.
Today, she teaches brilliant entrepreneurs just like you how to implement her simple methods that result in BIG wins in their businesses — including the dynamite delegation strategies, time management hacks and mindset mastery she’s used to halve her hours, double her income and ditch her commute, leaving her free to create and live the life she loves.