How Long Can I Expect My Virtual Assistant To Stay With Me?
What to do when your virtual assistant is on the verge of quitting? That's usually a question that catches many employers off guard and unprepared for. The good news is, it's not difficult to keep top performers happy and at their best, but there are a few things you should consider first.
First of all, take stock of what's happening in your company: Do you have any major initiatives going on? How many employees are leaving or have left recently? Is morale low due to unresolved problems at work? Have you been promoting from within as much as possible? These are just some of the factors that will affect how long your VA will stay with you.
At River Grove, Illinois-based Kizmet Solutions, Tom O'Connor explains that hiring a VA at the beginning of a project is a great time to pick up strong candidates. "I've found that my VAs are much more likely to stay with me if the project is going well," he says. "It's also easier for them to see their value when they're seeing results on the ground."
Kristi Carpentier, a Ph.D. candidate in management who works for Chicago-based Ethos Consulting agrees: "It's important to hire generalists early on in a project, as many of them end up staying with you much longer than they would have otherwise. A variety of skills is very helpful for VAs in these cases."
Some VAs say they like the stability that comes with knowing their position is secure. Julie Lee, a former virtual assistant from Reno, Nevada, who now works as a manager for firms in the San Francisco Bay Area says: "I love being able to continue working with the same clients and products as when I started. That said, stability isn't the only reason why I chose to be a VA. I wanted flexibility and autonomy – it encouraged me to take on contract work that helped me grow as a professional."
One way to prevent your VA from finding another job may be to give him or her full creative control over projects. Take the example of Demi Harris from San Jose, California. She started her work as a VA as a way to make some extra money on the side, but soon realized it was more than she had initially expected. "My first contract was for 30 hours a week, but I loved it so much that I ended up working 40 and then 50 hours a week," she says."
Now an employee of Efficient Systems, her company, Harris spends her time helping her clients manage their finances and organize their lives in order to reduce stress. "I believe that the reason I can stay with my clients for so long is that they trust me to make the right decisions regarding their systems," she explains. "I'm not just someone who's there to do a job – I'm there to help change their lives."
Philip Maxwell, President of Maxwell Systems — a technology consulting firm in Santa Ana, California says: "It's important for me to stay on top of industry trends, which is why we encourage our VAs to go through ongoing training and education. This way, they feel more confident and prepared when dealing with our clients."
O'Connor agrees: "It's important that my staff understands that we're working together toward common goals. That's why we offer regular training and conference calls, where all my VAs can ask questions about what's happening in our projects."
It's important to remember that your VA has a real life outside of the office. For example, if the VA has family or friends who are also being assisted by your company, he or she may be unable to keep working with you for long periods. On the other hand, if they have no commitments at all, they may be able to work longer hours than expected while on contract. "We love when our employees use their spare time to work on voluntary community projects," says O'Connor. "It shows that they're dedicated. We also make sure they have time to relax, go to movies and spend time with their friends."
Ultimately, how long a VA stays with you is up to him or her. However, there are various steps you can take to maximize the probability of them staying for a long time. First of all, make sure your company offers ongoing training and development opportunities. It will keep your employees feeling valued and satisfied in their work. Enabling them to work from home is another great idea – not only does it reduce your costs, but it also gives them the freedom they need to be productive for as many hours as possible each week.
Conclusion:
This article is only a brief explanation of the topic and it's not intended as a replacement for hiring a professional. It's recommended to get help from professionals - either other virtual assistants or experts in the field.
It is important to consider all possibilities about how long you can expect your VA to stay with you. The main point is to keep your VA happy and focused on work. They can be really helpful when they are motivated, dedicated and enjoy their job for what it means. So, don't be too quick to fire them from your company if they decide that your project/company isn't interesting enough for them.