This article on Philippines outsourcing will show you SPECIFIC tips you can IMMEDIATELY apply to manage your virtual assistant more effectively.
More effectively means more productivity, which of course, means a better bang for your buck!
Let's get straight to it.
8 Tips for Managing your Virtual Assistants
TIP 1: Clear objectives and goals
Be clear from the start what your virtual assistants' job is. This includes salary, working hours, and tasks (scope of work).
"Without a goal, you can't score." I think that was a football/soccer quote?
Anyway, it's true when it comes to working with VA's, or any remote staff for that matter.
TIP 2: Daily Communication
Don't get me wrong, and I don't mean micromanaging or coddling your virtual worker.
What I mean is, send a daily message to let them know you're alive! (Joke).
Message them to check-in, "Hey, how we doing?", "just checking in on.....XYZ", "let me know if you have any questions about .....".
That kind of stuff.
TIP 3: Weekly Meeting
A quick 10-15 minute weekly meeting works wonders with my virtual team.
I usually do it twice a week, Mondays and Fridays (the start and end of the workweek).
The purpose of this is to build rapport and keep that sense of being a team, instead of a collection of people working from home in their little worlds.
TIP 4: Incentives
Rewards for doing a great job are always a fantastic way to increase productivity and create a good relationship between boss and staff.
Inside your VirtualStaff.ph dashboard, you can easily send your virtual assistant a bonus. Read this article that explains how to pay your virtual assistant a bonus.
TIP 5: Train Your Virtual Assistant
This works wonders for both of you.
First of all, you get an upskilled VA and can handle more of your business needs.
Secondly, your assistant feels valued and increases their expertise which is an excellent feeling of self-improvement.
TIP 6: Accountability
This is important, especially in building a solid long-term relationship that has the life-changing impact that hiring a Filipino virtual assistant should have.
TIP 7: Hiring The Right Person In The First Place
Okay, so technically not a tip on managing your VA... but it's a way to AVOID most of the problems that are easily avoided by simply hiring the right person in the first place.
How to do it?
Hire somebody with the right personality traits and skills.
TIP 8: Make Your Virtual Staff Feel Comfortable
A virtual open-door policy is effective. Let your assistant know that they can come to you with any questions or concerns without the fear of getting their heads bitten off.
This is especially important with Filipino Virtual Staff because the culture in the Philippines is relatively sensitive.
Anyway, I do hope this has helped.
