How to prepare to work with a Virtual Assistant

Hiring a Virtual Assistant is something many small business owners think about long before they actually take the step. When you’ve built every part of your business yourself, relinquishing some control and delegating even just a small part of your business can feel big…

But with a little preparation, working with a VA can make things feel lighter, more organised, and far less overwhelming. And it doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are a few ways that can help you get ready before you bring someone on board.

Reflect on the tasks you could delegate to a Virtual Assistant

Before bringing on a VA, it can really help to take a moment to look at what’s currently taking up the most space in your week. Often you don’t have time to think about the big strategic things because it’s the small recurring tasks that quietly take up hours.

You don’t need to arrive with a perfect list. Just pay attention to the tasks you put off, things that feel mentally heavy, and what stops you moving your business forward. Those tasks are usually where a VA can support you first.

You don’t need everything figured out before hiring a Virtual Assistant

A lot of people put off hiring a VA because they think they to be in the “perfect place”, with systems, processes or perfectly set-up tools before bringing someone in. But you really don’t.

All you need is a willingness to let someone help. Your VA will help build structure with you in a way that works for both of you. 

Starting small with your Virtual Assistant support

When you begin working with a VA, don’t try to hand over everything at once - that can feel very overwhelming and may feel like you’re letting go of too much control!. It’s much better to start with a few key tasks, master those, and get comfortable with how things work with a VA. 

As your trust in your VA builds, things will start to feel easier and you will naturally hand over more tasks to your VA. It’s always a collaborative process, so work at a pace that feels right for you.

Open communication helps your Virtual Assistant support you better

Working together works best when communication flows naturally. Make sure you discuss with your VA how works best for both of you to communicate. Think about if you’d like weekly or monthly check-ins, if you prefer to communicate via email or WhatsApp, if you’d like a shared “to-do” list. 

Remember, the relationship works best when there’s honesty on both sides. Talking openly about what’s working well, and what isn’t, helps everything run more smoothly. And it’s completely okay if something doesn’t quite fit. If you hand over a particular task and it turns out not to work as hoped with a VA supporting it, you can always adjust things or bring it back into your own remit. It’s all part of finding a rhythm that suits you and your business.

Final thoughts on preparing to work with a VA

Preparing to work with a VA doesn’t require a huge amount of planning. It’s simply about being open, communicating honestly, and recognising where you’d welcome support.

My role as a VA is to help save you time, boost your productivity and allow your business to grow. 

If you’re ready for things to feel a little easier, get in touch today to book a free discovery call.