Giving Up Control – Learning to Trust Your VA

Hiring a Virtual Assistant sounds great doesn’t it?

I mean, who doesn’t want to take some of the responsibility off their plate and gain more hours? You get to hand off some of the smaller tasks and free up your time to do the things you REALLY love about your business.

But I get it. It’s not easy to hand off sensitive and confidential information. It’s even harder when you’ve been in charge, and in control, for so long.

You may have thoughts running through your head like, “What if she shares my personal information and passwords?” or “What if he doesn’t do a good job?”

But every savvy entrepreneur needs someone who will support them and forever be in their corner. And while it may take some getting used to, and some faith and trust, hiring a VA can be the best business investment you make.

So how can you learn to really let go and trust your VA?

Here are some ideas:

#1 Go with your gut

I’m a huge believer in going with what feels good. And when something doesn’t feel right, I trust that feeling.

When looking for a VA, it’s important to go with your gut. Connect with people online first. Chat with them, do a Zoom call. Get to know them, at least a little bit, before making a hiring decision.

#2 Have a contract in place

So you’ve picked someone! Now what?

The first thing you need to do is have a contract. While a piece of paper isn’t going to stop everyone from any wrongdoing or shadiness, it is a really good place to start. Contracts are legally binding, adds a layer of protection to your partnership and can help put your expectations right there on the table. Or on a piece of paper.

Before starting to work with an type of contractor, have a contract that includes the scope of work, what is expected, what will happen if you don’t agree on something, confidentiality and anything else that is important to you.

Your potential VA might actually have a contract that he or she uses, in which case, it’s fine to use that as your legal agreement. Just make sure you read through it carefully. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes in the contract if needed.

#3 Share passwords wisely

Passwords can be a touchy thing. Some people freely share them, others like to guard their passwords closely.

But there are so many tech tools available, it’s no longer necessary to actually hand over your passwords.

Password managers allow you to save your passwords and share it, while keeping the actual passwords safe, secure and secret.

Check out options like:

LastPass   

Dashlane  

1password   

Eventually, you do want to get to the point where you don’t have to even worry about masking information like your password. Which leads me to the next tip …

#4 Take baby steps

You don’t have to dive all in when it comes to sharing confidential information. It can be given in pieces. If you’re feeling uneasy about giving away information, start by giving your new VA confidential information that isn’t going to make or break your business (or your life).

Perhaps you decide you don’t mind giving out your Pinterest password to so your VA can manage social media. But you still aren’t comfortable letting her take over your bank account reconciliation. That’s okay. Start where you’re comfortable and grow together as your new VA continues to prove herself and the trust increases.

#5 Guide and teach, don’t do it for them

If you want something done right, you do it yourself right?

Wrong! This is beauty of hiring a VA. You don’t actually have to do everything yourself. Of course, if you have been, it can be hard to give up control.

My best advice is to jump in, but making sure you teach your VA to do things the way you want them to.

While VAs are skilled professionals and great at what they do, they cannot read your mind. If you need something done a certain way; let it be known. Give guidance and instruction when handing out tasks. Be detailed. Trust me, your VA will thank you for the extra information.

#6 Communicate!

Communication is essential … from both you as the business owner and from your VA. Have weekly, bi-weekly or monthly meetings to discuss the progress of the projects you’re giving your VA. Don’t be afraid to bring up anything you are unsatisfied with. Unless you speak up, things will never change!

Alternatively, it’s important for your VA to be open and honest as well. Set the tone for the relationship early, and let your new assistant know that honesty is valued and communication is appreciated.

Like any relationship, trust within an assistant/client relationship takes time to build. If you’ve been a solopreneur for a long time, handing off tasks that you’re used to doing by yourself can be a little nerve wracking. But if you trust your gut, take precautions, go slowly, guide your VA and ALWAYS, ALWAYS communicate, you may find a VA relationship that not only frees up your time, but also one that helps your business thrive.