7 Principles Practiced by Highly Effective Virtual Assistants
September 16, 2010 by KatrinaChesney · Leave a Comment
Filed under: virtual assistance
Tags: virtual assistance, virtual assistant
Filed under: virtual assistance
Tags: virtual assistance, virtual assistant
Highly effective Virtual Assistants practice 7 basic principles to make sure clients experience Virtual Assistance at it’s finest. These 7 principles are incorporated into the daily operations of their VA practices enhancing their ability to provide top-notch VA Services.
Here’s a list of the 7 principles practiced by highly effective Virtual Assistants along with a short description of each. Use it as a resource to easily determine whether or not YOUR ideal VA incorporates the same basic principles into her VA practice.
- Professionalism – As with any business relationship, VAs should always be professional when dealing with clients. Professionalism should come across in everything your VA does.
- Connectivity – Because VAs support clients remotely via phone, fax, PC, and Internet, they will need to ensure that these systems and/or processes are running smoothly. Any breakdown in connectivity results in a breakdown in communication, which essentially results in a breakdown of services.
- Consistency – VA services should be provided with consistency. This helps clients to become comfortable with being supported remotely. Consistency in services also empowers VA business relationships and eliminates the need to be micromanaged.
- Phone Courtesy – When speaking with clients, VAs should always use a professional tone of voice. It’s understood that everyone has an occasional bad day, but it’s not the client’s fault (hopefully…). Even during those not so good times, VAs should put a smile on their face the minute they answer the phone. The ultimate goal here is a pleasant voice being heard by the recipient. NOTE: All phone lines should be set-up properly, with the correct greetings, to handle callers when the line is busy or the VA is unavailable. Because VAs work from their home offices, they should also be sure to use headsets or a phone system that eliminates background noise. What a bummer for clients to hear children playing, water running, etc., when on the phone with their VA. It doesn’t do much justice for the VA’s business image either.
- Stay Fresh – VAs should not become too lax after working as a VA for a while. They should continue to be proactive for their clients, eager to learn new things, and open to change. Why? Because times & technology change and so do people.
- Problem Solver – No one VA can do it all, but a good VA has access to a wealth of resources. This makes for a win-win situation for you and your VA, who gets the job done, whether directly or indirectly.
- Educate – This should be something every VA does on a daily basis within her VA practice and with those she encounters. VAs have come a long way and by educating, educating, educating, they are greatly influencing the public’s understanding of the Virtual Assistance industry.
About the Author:
Katrina Chesney is Founder & President of Portable Hands, a Virtual Assistance firm that provides leverage for small businesses.
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