10 essential skills every Virtual Assistant needs to master
Being a Virtual Assistant isn’t for everyone.
You might not need any particular qualifications or experience, but it does take a particular set of skills.
It’s about mastering the art of balancing multiple tasks, seamlessly supporting clients, and consistently delivering results.
So what skills do you need to be able to do this?
Whilst this list doesn’t include everything, it gives you a clear idea of what it takes to succeed as a VA.
1. Self motivation
Working on your own means it’s up to you to stay motivated and keep your business moving forward. You have no manager to keep you on track or colleagues to support you. This means you have to be able to set your own goals, create a structured work routine and have the self-discipline and commitment to show up every day.
2. Good communication
Effective communication is crucial as a Virtual Assistant. You will spend a lot of time communicating, with your clients as well as on behalf of your clients. Sometimes you might be speaking during a video or phone call, whilst other times you’re giving written updates via email, Slack, or text. It’s important to be able to understand and follow instructions effectively, as well as being able to clearly and concisely communicate information.
3. Organisation
As your own boss you have a long list of responsibilities. From meeting deadlines and supporting your clients, to managing your own schedule and business development, organisation is key. There’s plenty of tools available that can help you manage your workload, streamline processes and keep your business organised.
4. Time management
Virtual Assistants have to be experts at time management. You create your own schedule and decide when to take on projects or say yes to new clients – so it’s important you’re managing your time effectively.
5. Confidence
If you want to be a successful Virtual Assistant, you have to have the confidence and belief that you can do it. When you trust in yourself and your abilities, it’s so much easier to take action and keep your business moving forward. For some tips to help boost your confidence as a VA, click here.
6. Accountability
Whether you set yourself regular goals, pair up with an accountability buddy for frequent check ins, or even invest in a mentor, having someone to keep you accountable will help you achieve success and keep your business growing. Click here to read five ways to stay accountable and make sure your business keeps growing.
7. Resilience
Running a business isn’t easy. You will face challenges, knock-backs and probably even a few nightmare clients. Leads will go cold, people will question your price and there will be times when clients choose to work with another VA. Remember, don’t take it personally. Dust yourself off and move onto the next thing.
8. Willing to take risks
You’re going to have to step outside your comfort zone as a VA. Whether that means regularly posting on social media, reaching out to potential clients on the phone, attending networking events, or chasing a payment. There’s plenty of scary things about running a business, but if you’re willing to take the risk, you will earn all the rewards being a VA provides.
9. Tech savviness
Working virtually means you need at least basic IT knowledge. Even if you’re not offering tech services, you have to be savvy enough to run your own business and support clients with theirs. There’s no IT team to help you when emails get lost, programmes crash or files are corrupted, you have to be able to find the solution.
10. Setting boundaries
Boundaries are essential as your own boss. Sometimes they’re uncomfortable to set and it’s not always easy to maintain them, but without them you won’t be able to create the flexible business you want. Whether it be saying no a bit more, reinforcing your working hours or not answering emails on the weekend, you need to learn how to communicate your boundaries clearly to both yourself and others.
Ready to be your own boss?
Click here to download your free VA Starter Checklist for a clear and concise list of steps to follow so you know exactly what foundations you need to create a flexible, online business that will work around your life.
And if you want to achieve your dream of being your own boss quicker and easier, then just get in touch with me to find out how the VA Mentor Programme can get your VA business up and running in as little as twelve weeks.