Kendall SummerHawk’s latest article is titled “Is Your Virtual Assistant Letting You Down: Sound Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs”. [Article]


Kendall SummerHawk’s latest article:

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, youâre 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 assistantâs 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 youâre 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 youâre 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 youâve suddenly turned into a raging diva.

Tip #1 Stop Making or Accepting Excuses for Your Assistantâs Performance

Sure, anyone can have a bad day but if you find yourself saying, âWell, I know sheâsâ¦busy/not feeling well/taking care of family issues/etc.â more than once in a short period of time then youâre making excuses for your assistantâs poor performance. Excuses create cracks in your sense of self-worth and personal power. Instead of excuses youâll need toâ¦

Tip #2 Have A Courageous Conversation

Letâs 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, âI noticed this wasnât done on time, what happened?â

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 youâre looking for here is a sense of accountability and a valid reason for the missed deadline, one that isnât likely to take her off track again.

Follow up by asking, âWhat needs to be done so this doesnât happen again?â Listen for specific actions and commitments, not conciliatory promises.

Tip #3 Making a Request Doesnât 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 itâs better to under promise than to under deliver. Make sure sheâs 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! Hereâs Whyâ¦

Listen ladies, as a business owner youâre 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, itâs 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!

Kendall SummerHawk, the Million Dollar Marketing Coach, is an expert at helping women entrepreneurs at all levels design a business they love and charge what they’re worth and get it. Kendall delivers simple ways entrepreneurs can design and price their services to quickly move away from ‘dollars-for-hours work’ and create more money, time, and freedom in their business. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for a free subscription to Kendall’s Money, Marketing and Soul weekly articles visit www.kendallsummerhawk.com.

*This news post was submitted by Kendall SummerHawk.

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