What is Virtual Assistance?
Virtual Assistance is the professional support provided by a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant who work remotely from their home office to support their Clients’ businesses.
Who is a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant (VA/VAO) is an entrepreneur who provides professional administrative assistance support services from their remote home office.
Are Virtual Assistants/Virtual Office Assistants Employees or Independent Contractors?
Virtual Assistants/Virtual Office Assistants are NOT employees of their Clients’ businesses but Independent Contractors.
How can a business owner “partner” to work with a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant to grow his/her small business?
A business owner can “partner” to work with a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant to grow his/her small business by delegating those business tasks, activities and/or job functions that is too time consuming to focus on.
When I delegate my business tasks, activities and/or job functions to a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant will I still be able to be hands on in my business?
- Yes you can still be hands on in your business when you delegate your business tasks, activities and/or job functions to a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant.
- Delegating your business tasks, activities and/or job functions to a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant does not mean you loose control of your business.
- Delegating your business tasks, activities and/or job functions to a Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant simply mean you temporarily transfer a part of your legitimate power and authority to your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant to act on behalf of you and your Company for the duration of your business relationship and according to the provisions set out in your contract agreement.
How much of my legitimate power and authority do I need to delegate to a Virtual Assistant?
- The amount of legitimate power and authority you transfer to your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant will depend upon the services you contracted your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant to provide.
- In terms of these services, your Virtual Assistant/Virtual office Assistant can be granted loose control or tight control to act on behalf of your Company.
What do you mean by loose control and tight control?
- Loose control and tight control refers to the degree of freedom you allow your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant to have when making decisions for and/or on behalf of your Company.
- The level of responsibility you give to your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant will determine the degree of authority your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant has to act on behalf of you and your business.
- For example, if your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant is allowed to make decisions for and/or on behalf of you and your Company without first consulting with you, then your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant has loose control or wide freedom in the decision-making process in relation to his/her tasks and activities for your business.
- On the other hand, if your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant has to obtain feedback from you at every step of the decision making process before acting for and/or on behalf of your Company, then your Virtual Assistant/Virtual Office Assistant is said to have tight control or little freedom in the decision-making process in relation to his/her tasks and activities for your business.
