How to work with your Virtual Assistant: How to delegate

Working with a Virtual Assistant can revolutionise the way you manage your business, providing invaluable support and allowing you to focus on your core tasks. However, effectively delegating to a VA can require careful planning, communication, and above all, trust. 

We’re back with the next in our series on how to work with your Virtual Assistant to get the most out of your partnership. We’re talking about delegation. Sometimes a scary concept, but when done effectively, delegation is central to scaling your business.

Define your goals

When you start working with a Virtual Assistant, it’s a good idea to discuss your main goals and objectives, not just for your business, but for your VA and how the two interplay. Where do you want your VA to focus? What will a successful working relationship look like? Are there specific working standards that need to be met?

Choose your tasks (right ones!) 

Give your VA clearly defined tasks, and make sure they are the right ones! The right ones for the VA’s skills, but also the right tasks for you – how can you deploy your VA to make sure you are getting the most out of them? Are there tasks that are going to make a big impact to your day if they are off your desk?

Effective communication

Let your VA know how you prefer to communicate, the deadlines they need to meet and give them any how tos and guidelines they might need. They will set up any task management tools and check in meetings that you need.

Trust

It can be tough to hand over your business tasks to someone new, especially if they are working remotely, but it’s really important that you trust your VA and don’t micromanage them. They are experts in their field, they’ve worked with many businesses before. And just because it’s not the way that you might do something, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Maybe it’s better.

Questions

Encourage your Virtual Assistant to ask questions: about their tasks and projects, about your business more widely and about ways of working. If you’re open to questions, even if you need to set up a specific container for them, it will help to avoid mistakes and miscommunications. 

Constructive feedback

Make sure you give feedback regularly, honestly and constructively to your VA. And be open to them give you feedback in return.

Regularly review

Take a regular moment to review and reflect on your VA and the tasks and projects they are working on. Be it monthly, quarterly or yearly, think about what’s working well, where improvements could be made and whether you’re delegating the right tasks. Does your Virtual Assistant have skills and experience you’re not currently using? 

Working with a VA can be a game-changer for you and your business when done right. By embracing the power of delegation and following our tips to do it effectively you can use the full potential of your Virtual Assistant.

If you’re looking for a game-changer VA to join your team, or would like more advice on how to work effectively with your Virtual Assistant, speak to Caroline.