Is Your Virtual Assistant Letting You Down: Sound Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs

Hiring a virtual assistant or VA is like any relationship. At first, you’re both feeling the love and everyone is happy. But after a few months you may start noticing tasks slipping through the cracks or that you have to spend as much time tracking your assistant’s tasks as you used to spend doing them yourself.  This is something no busy entrepreneur should have to worry about.

Nobody likes to be disappointed, especially when you’re investing in someone who is supposed to make your life easier.

And no one likes to feel like a meanie.  So, what do you do when you’re no longer feeling the love but still footing the bills for your virtual support team?

Here are three respectful, yet powerful tips on how you can nip an assistant problem in the bud, without losing sleep or feeling like you’ve suddenly turned into a raging diva.

Tip #1 Stop Making or Accepting Excuses for Your Assistant’s Performance

Sure, anyone can have a bad day but if you find yourself saying, “Well, I know she’s…busy/not feeling well/taking care of family issues/etc.” more than once in a short period of time then you’re making excuses for your assistant’s poor performance. Excuses create cracks in your sense of self-worth and personal power. Instead of excuses you’ll need to…

Tip #2 Have A Courageous Conversation

Let’s say your VA failed to get a task done when promised, despite having plenty of notice. Give her (or him!) a call and simply ask, “I noticed this wasn’t done on time, what happened?”

What follows next is critical! Does your VA own up and take responsibility for missing the mark or does she make an excuse or try to shift responsibility to someone else? What you’re looking for here is a sense of accountability and a valid reason for the missed deadline, one that isn’t likely to take her off track again.

Follow up by asking, “What needs to be done so this doesn’t happen again?” Listen for specific actions and commitments, not conciliatory promises.

Tip #3 Making a Request Doesn’t Make You a Diva

Complete your conversation by making a clear request that you need to have your time table for tasks met, without fail. Let your assistant know that it’s better to under promise than to under deliver. Make sure she’s connected to the fact that what may seem like a small task slipping through the cracks actually has a bigger impact on you, making it more difficult for you to focus on growing your business.

But Should You Really Have Such High Expectations? Yes! Here’s Why…

Listen ladies, as a business owner you’re in an amazing position to not only make a big difference for your clients but for all of the people your clients impact as well. Add to this the impact your business success has for your family and your loved ones and you start to see that if you allow anything (or anyone!) but the best into your life, it’s not just you that will be impacted.

So please, give yourself permission to set high standards. Believe me, there are plenty of assistants who will love and champion you by providing extraordinary service. Besides, when you expect the best, you often get it!