How a Proactive Virtual Assistant Can Help You Stay on Track
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times, “Great Entrepreneurs are Proactive!” But did you ever give much thought to the reason behind this saying?
When I became a Virtual Assistant, the first 3 lessons I learned were:
1. create value
2. be an expert problem solver &
3. be a genius at idea generation
Why were these lessons so important?
Because as a Virtual Assistant if I’m not being proactive and moving clients in the direction they want to go, the partnership quickly goes south. I can’t sit around and wait for clients to tell me what to do next. I must work proactively using my intuitive skills to ensure clients are headed in the right direction and that business goals are being met.
Not too long ago, one of my favorite clients ran into some technical glitches as the result of a website transfer. This glitch not only impacted marketing and promotions, but also halted the work we had carefully planned. I did not mind the opportunity this created for me to have some down time but as a proactive Virtual Assistant, I knew that was not an option. I had two choices:
- sit back and relax because, after all, it wasn’t my fault that the website transfer wasn’t complete OR
- be an expert problem solver and asses the real impact this had on my client, her customers, and newsletter subscribers
I, of course, chose option #2 and suggested that we send an email to her customers and newsletter subscribers letting them know what was happening and exactly what to expect next. This small, yet powerful gesture, would maintain the consistency she’d worked so hard to build.
Client’s Response: “You are so right, that’s a great idea!”
Being proactive allowed us to maintain consistency by keeping everyone (customers/newsletter subscribers) in the loop and prompted my client to reflect on the business lessons she had learned. The following is an excerpt from the actual article she wrote as a result of my being a proactive Virtual Assistant.
- Patience – As the saying goes, the lesson will repeat until you learn it. I’m learning to accept the things I can’t change and that are out of my control.
- Allow for glitches – Maybe if I had built into my timetable some leeway for possible glitches, things would have worked out differently.
- Have a Plan “B” – When Plan “A” doesn’t work out, it’s always a good idea to have a Plan “B”. If I’d had a Plan “B”, I would have already been prepared to send the article in another format.
Are you being proactive? Are you doing what you need to be doing to grow your business, service your clients or enhance your products OR are you just going along for the ride, not sure where you’ll end up?
Solution: Take time every day to proactively look ahead, create a plan for getting where you want to go, and then take action. If it seems too overwhelming to tackle on your own, contact me today and learn how to get your business back on track, for FREE!
About the Author:
Katrina Chesney is Founder & President of Portable Hands, a Virtual Assistance firm that provides leverage for small businesses.
