When we think of outsourcing our administrative tasks, what first comes to mind are the basic, day-to-day things, like travel arrangements, events, calendar management, transcription and document creation.
The truth is though, if we run a productive company, we need to outsource more than the obvious, and we need to do it at every opportunity! Doing this frees you and your team and allows everyone to focus on their BEST contributions to your business, what they're roles are supposed to be - and it gets everyone focused on the real goal, your bottom line.
But how do you determine WHAT to hand over to a great virtual professional? Ask your team to list two things: The work they don't enjoy and the more mundane or routine tasks that take up more than five hours of their work week.
Don't be afraid to do this.
We all want our careers to be something we find challenging and enjoyable.
No one wants to go to "work" every day and feel like they're on a treadmill - exhausted and uninspired.
So work that your team hates isn't only annoying, it's distracting.
Removing those tasks from their plate will inspire them and demonstrate that you value their work and their role in your company.
When you're trying to determine what to outsource, be bold.
Consider more than just your day-to-day mundane tasks (like customer service and answering the phones - yes, they can do that virtually!).
Project-oriented assignments might not seem like something you can outsource.
Spend a little time analyzing the amount of time your staff spends researching projects or preparing reports.
Handing those assignments to a team of outsourced, skilled, virtual professionals is one of the best business decisions your firm can make.
These assignments are often a virtual professional's strong suit, and delegating them will pay your business exponentially in ROI.
VA's also often have administrative and office management backgrounds.
So they're fast, efficient, detailed and responsive to deadlines.
The trick is to find one that's a good fit for your company, your needs and your corporate culture.
So what are some of the great assignments that you might not currently be doing that a virtual professional could bring to the table? * Revamping your website (yes, you CAN avoid the expense of your web team on this one!) * Creating and writing your blog (remember, you should be blogging at LEAST once a week) * Creating or updating your online social networking profiles * Creating a great PowerPoint presentation about your firm (you can put one on LinkedIn now!) * Writing and printing marketing materials or writing and distributing press releases * Corporate and EMAIL newsletters * Developing teleseminars and webinars in your area of expertise * Video email and building your YouTube presence (consider a tip of the day) * Building an AMAZING social networking presence and following Remember, take finding a VA very seriously.
Use a professional organization to get bids on your work (IVAA.
org for instance).
Get and CHECK references.
Invite them to participate in a team meeting and contribute a few ideas on strategy to be sure that they get your industry.
Because whatever you choose to outsource to them, a Virtual Professional is MUCH more than a secretary.
Your VA is a one-stop-shop, hourly PARTNER in YOUR company's success story.
To your continued success, Dave Churchville ClientSpot by ExtremePlanner Software