As you grow your small business or start-up, you have to make big decisions. There comes a point where the demands of the job mean you must hand over some of your tasks to someone else. But do you hire a member of staff or do you outsource it to a virtual assistant in London, this is the big question? In uncertain times, outsourcing to a VA makes a lot of sense.
There are fewer overheads and much less commitment. At Supportal, our team have many years of combined experience. We don’t just want you to delegate, we want you to delegate effectively, which is why we encourage you to get your priorities right before you start working with a VA to get the best results.
In this article, you can find out how to sort your priorities so you know which VA services will make your life easier. The plan is to make your business run more efficiently and effectively, without you having to destroy your work/life balance to succeed. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to do this right.
What is Outsourcing and Why Does it Matter?
Outsourcing means taking on external help to complete tasks. These might be dull admin jobs that take up your time and do not fill you with passion. Alternatively, they could be vital tasks that are simply not in your skillset.
Rather than tie yourself up with payroll, providing equipment, paying for sick days and holidays, investing in larger office space and so on, outsourcing to a virtual assistant in London ensures that you only pay for what you use and you are not paying to keep someone busy after they complete their tasks within their contracted time.
How to Prioritise Before Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant in London
1. Consider How Much Work You Will Take On
To know exactly how a virtual assistant will help you, you need to think about the amount of work you will take on in the forthcoming year. This is a moment where you really need to think about how much you can do alone. Has the list you have presented yourself with overwhelmed you just by looking at it?
It can be difficult to launch a working relationship with a VA when you are already swamped. You may struggle to find the time to delegate and review work, which is why planning ahead means everything. By looking ahead, you can spend more time talking to potential VAs to find out which you feel you can work with most easily.
The beauty of working with a VA is that you can start by outsourcing a small amount of work and then increase it as your business grows. By thinking about your growth strategy now, you can also ask the right questions of the VAs you talk to, about how they can scale their service to meet your increasing needs.
2. Analyse Your Skillset
In an ideal world, you would have an expert to take care of each area of your business. Unfortunately, small business finances do not work like that. When you look at the work you have coming up, be honest with yourself about how much is safely within your wheelhouse. For example, if you are comfortable with marketing your business, outsourcing that would be less of a priority than finding a remote web designer might be.
Compare the areas in which you feel most comfortable. Put those tasks that you are least proficient in at the top of the priority list and those that you can easily complete at the bottom.
3. Consider How Long Tasks Take
Now you have your list of jobs ordered by your abilities, there is another factor to consider. Time. There are only so many hours in a day so, if it turns out that you are most skilled at the most time-consuming tasks you will find that you will face a different sort of problem. You will run out of time and burn yourself out.
You can use this information to refine your priorities.
- Tasks that are outside of your skillset AND which take up the most time go to the top of the list, followed by…
- Those tasks you are not comfortable with but only take a little time
- This is followed by tasks you can complete but which take a lot of time
- Finally, tasks you are comfortable with and which are only brief
4. Search for VAs Who Can Fit Your Priorities
Armed with this information, you will have a much better idea of what you need from a virtual assistant. For example, you can find a VA that offers a full Instagram marketing program if that is high up on your list.
When you talk to potential VAs, be specific about your needs, this helps you approach the right kind of VAs but also helps them to create the perfect package for your business and give you the results you seek.
Need a Virtual Assistant in London?
Book a free consultation today to talk about your priorities and how we can help. We boast a team of industry professionals across a full range of business services, ready to take the weight off your shoulders and help you drive your business forwards.
Knowing your priorities helps you get the best value from your virtual assistant in London. For more tips on working with external professionals, take a look at our free guide to outsourcing to a VA.
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