Entrepreneurs often fall into the trap of trying to do everything themselves, leading to burnout. The solution is to build a virtual team to take over tasks. This involves identifying tasks to outsource, finding skilled virtual assistants, and training them. The result is freedom for the entrepreneur to focus on high-level strategy. They can set their own hours, work on the business rather than just in it, and regain enthusiasm. With the help of a virtual team to run operations, entrepreneurs are set up for ten more years of growth and success. The key is realizing you don't have to do everything alone. Build that support team early.
When hiring remote employees, it is important to follow standard hiring best practices. However, success in this area requires a shift in mindset. First, it is crucial to understand the fundamentals of remote work, such as collaboration tools and accountability metrics. Next, create wish lists for candidates that outline the desired skills, experience, and cultural fit to aid in the screening process. Then, decide whether to limit applicants locally or globally based on the specific needs of the role. Finally, attract qualified remote talent through online job boards, employee referrals, and by highlighting remote-friendly perks like schedule flexibility. Emphasizing mutual trust and communication helps convey that location will not affect productivity or teamwork. Define your needs: Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) can greatly reduce an entrepreneur's workload, but it is important to approach this with the right mindset. Treat VAs with respect, understanding their backgrounds and respecting their time, rather than expecting them to be available around the clock. Clearly defining tasks and expectations will lead to better output, so take the time to do this. Recognize that each VA has their own set of skills; one may excel in social media marketing but not in data entry. It is unrealistic to expect a single VA to be an expert in all tasks, just like you. Instead, delegate specific, time-consuming tasks to VAs with the right skill set. View your VAs as partners and invest in these relationships. A general virtual assistant (GVA) can be a valuable sidekick, handling routine tasks and allowing you to focus on high-priority leadership duties. While they will not replace you, the right GVA can help you manage your business more efficiently, giving you back control over your time to focus on strategic planning and seizing new opportunities. Seek a GVA who can be an invaluable business partner, not a do-it-all super-assistant. Source candidates widely: Chris Ducker suggests a practical exercise for business owners aiming to achieve freedom in their operations by identifying tasks to delegate. He advises drafting three distinct lists on paper. The first list should encompass all daily activities and operations crucial for the smooth running of the business. These include repetitive tasks that, while necessary, might not be the most efficient use of the owner's time. The second list is for mapping out projects, content creation, and other tasks that contribute to the business's growth, offering a chance to leverage others' talents for advancement. The third list is more personal, highlighting the tasks and responsibilities the owner enjoys and wishes to keep handling. This exercise not only clarifies what to delegate but also enhances self-awareness regarding the owner's strengths, interests, and priorities. It aids in understanding which aspects of the business one should stay involved in and what to offload, ensuring the tasks not listed as personal preferences are considered for delegation. This approach helps in selecting the right virtual assistants or staff that align with the owner's skill set, maintaining a balance between personal values and delegation choices for successful business management. Screen thoroughly: When building a virtual team, a common question is whether to hire local or overseas virtual assistants (VAs). There are good arguments on both sides, so the right choice depends on your specific needs and priorities. Local VAs can more easily communicate with you and understand the nuances of working with local customers. Since they are in the same time zone, real-time collaboration is easier. A local VA may require less oversight since there are fewer cultural or language barriers. Customers often prefer interacting with someone who speaks their language fluently and shares a similar cultural perspective. Building an in-person relationship with a local VA can enable long-term growth. However, overseas VAs can offer tremendous cost savings, often providing high-quality work for a fraction of what local VAs cost. Many overseas VAs come from cultures with strong work ethics and outgoing, service-oriented personalities that translate well to customer service roles. They tend to be very responsive to written instructions and FAQ sheets, meticulously following provided guidelines. Some provide truly exceptional service, being extremely loyal and hard-working since your business may be the sole income for their entire family. The cost savings frees up budget to provide periodic bonuses that incentivize peak performance. There is no universally correct choice between local and overseas VAs. The right fit depends on your budget, needs for real-time collaboration, customer preferences, ability to provide detailed guidelines and oversight, and other factors. In some cases, a blended approach works best, with local VAs handling customer-facing interactions while overseas VAs focus on behind-the-scenes administrative tasks. Assessing your specific needs and priorities will clarify the best hiring strategy. Onboard properly: When building a remote team, it can be effective to start with virtual assistants on a project basis before transitioning them into part-time or full-time roles once you establish a working relationship. Common roles for marketing and business growth include a general virtual assistant, web developer, graphic designer, SEO specialist, content writer, video editor, and app developer. Average monthly compensation ranges from $500-900 for a general VA; $600-1500 for a web developer or graphic designer; $600-1000 for an SEO specialist; $400-700 for a content writer; $800-2000 for a video editor depending on services; and $1000-2500 for an app developer. There are several options for finding remote workers - outsourcing companies, job posting websites like Elance and oDesk, freelancer websites like Freelancer and Fiverr, and virtual assistant recruiting services. When posting job descriptions, key details to include are the job title and hours, time zone needs, required skills, reporting and accountability expectations, compensation, daily work and recurring tasks, and future skill needs. Concise yet comprehensive job descriptions help attract qualified applicants for remote roles.
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