There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, and allowed us all to utilize technology in new and interesting ways. One of the manners in which these changes have manifested themself, is the rise of the Virtual Assistant (VA). In my last post I discussed what a Virtual Assistant does and why hiring one might be the right decision for you and your small business.
But, once the decision to hire a VA has been made, the question now becomes: how do I ensure my Virtual Assistant is correctly onboarded so they can hit the ground running? Here are a few quick tips to help you onboard your VA so that they can quickly become a vital part of my team.
5 Steps To Successfully Onboarding Your New Virtual Assistant:
Define Their Role: As I mentioned in my previous post (link here), you can hire a VA to assist you with a wide variety of tasks, from administrative work to special projects. However, like an employee, a Virtual Assistant first needs to know what is expected of them before they can become a successful part of your organization. Don’t mince words with your VA; tell them what you want them to work on, when, and how.
Provide The Proper Processes And Documentation: Take the time to explain to your VA each task you want them to complete, while providing them with the proper documentation, such as screenshots, videos, or training documents, to ensure that they have organized material they can refer to whenever questions arise early in their tenure.
Prioritize Communication: Given the virtual workplace, it can be easy to rely on tools such as Slack or email to communicate with your employees. However, while it is important to figure out what type of communication works best for your remote workplace, it is equally vital that you emphasize deeper methods of communication as well. I suggest scheduling a weekly call or video chat with your VA, in order to discuss the status of ongoing projects and the goals for the next work week, as well as to give your Virtual Assistant an opportunity to share any of their questions and concerns.
Tell Them Your Story: Even though they may be an independent contractor, at the end of the day your new Virtual Assistant is still a team member who will work harder and with more passion if they understand what you, as both their client and a business owner, are about. So don’t be afraid to talk to your VA about the goals, passion, and values you espouse as an entrepreneur, or to take the time to teach them about the culture you want to install in your remote office.
Ask For Help: As Virtual Assistants become more prominent they, like any other innovation, can be difficult to understand, especially for small businesses. If you’re new to the VA game or are just looking for guidance when it comes to team member training and onboarding more broadly, please don’t hesitate to reach out to HRTailorMade and schedule your free HR strategy session today!
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