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Hello ,

Wow, so far 2012 has been crazy…good crazy. We’ve welcomed two new clients in January. Met some wonderful women at Ladies Small Business Network. Diligently working on a product launch for Spring. And I’m very excited to attend Be the Change 2012 next month.

Best,

Kathy

The VA/Client Relationship –
Managing Expectations

I’m often asked questions like, “do you work in your pajamas?”, or “how do you organize your time?”, and “is it hard to stay focused on one task and/or client at a time?” I do believe there can be a misconception about people that work from home and how exactly the VA/Client relationship works. I’m hoping to clear the air a little bit.

To start, no I don’t work in my pajamas! Working from home requires a lot of self discipline and for me it means waking up each morning and getting ready for work the same as if I were leaving the house.

Organizing time and staying focused go hand in hand. The relationship you have with your VA must be based on realistic expectations. Your VA has to carefully organize her time to be able to accommodate your work as well as other client work.

When you decide to work with a VA you are most likely given the option to choose the amount of hours each month your VA will be working on your business. A 10 hour retainer is a common start for you and your new VA. But keep in mind if you’re on a 10-hour retainer, 10 hours a month equates to working only one day per month in the corporate world! So be sure to carefully decide what to delegate to your VA.

Be sure to delegate the task and not necessarily the process. An experienced VA has been doing this sort of thing for awhile–procedures and processes are a part of our efficiency. Unless you must perform a certain task in a very specific way, I suggest allowing your VA to do what she does best and enjoy the benefits of a job well done.

Your VA most likely has specific days of the week that she is working on your projects. Last minute or urgent request may not even be seen by your VA until she has finished working on other client work. For instance, when I’m working on a job for you, I don’t answer my telephone or check my email. This allows me to focus on just your work until the job is done. Having to deal with an urgent request I find in my email or voice mail means the work I had next on my schedule needs to be rearranged. You wouldn’t want your work to have to be put on the back burner for someone else’s emergency.

As a VA, I have a host of products and services at my fingertips. If you are looking for something, I’ll most likely have a referral for you. Although I might love the product and be excited about you possibly using it, it is a still referral and you are responsible for the final decision.

Remember your thoughts and ideas need to be communicated to your VA. Communication is key.

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February 14 – Sunny Side Up networking

February 16 – LSBN networking

February 7, 14, 21 – JV Mastermind group call

I’ve been in the administration and management fields for over 20 years; and for most of those 20 years I knew I wanted and needed something more. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs I always had an eye on the future and the possibilities of owning my own business, but I knew my dreams of being my own boss would not be fulfilled until I found my niche. In 2001 I came across AssistU.com, after some very thorough research I dove in and began the intense 20 week course. And in 2002 I launched Kathy McHenry-Your Virtual Advantage.

One of my favorite parts of being a Virtual Assistant is working with different clients on different projects—my days are never boring! A bit more about me here.