There is always room for improvement and development.
That is the mantra many of us should be following. And if you are a freelancer – a “solopreneur” as they call it – what’s the next step in your career journey? Surely, that would be stepping up from going solo to managing a team and providing a range of virtual assistant services.
Many of us dream of owning and building our own business, of being our own boss (technically we are our own boss while we’re working solo, but it’s far more complicated and more of an improvement if and when we decide to build and lead a team). This dream begins with you taking remote jobs or work from home jobs. Soon, you feel that you can escalate the gigs and offer a wide plethora of virtual assistant services. Next thing you know, you are out to hire a virtual assistant yourself, with the end-goal of expanding and becoming one of the up-and-coming virtual assistant companies out there.
Have all these in mind? Do you have what it takes to take that next step, from being a freelancer taking remote jobs or work from home jobs here and there, to managing a whole team? Here are four key moves you need to take:
- Hire a second in command
As they say, you cannot build an empire if you are not a good leader. And you cannot call a team of one an empire. If you are seeking to expand your business, you need to hire a second in command – an operations manager, a vice president, or even a simple project manager that can handle the nitty-gritty of things. As your business expands, you cannot just micro-manage everything. Responsibilities need to be divided among people.
Here at proximityplacements.com, we specialize in helping you hire a virtual assistant, especially if it’s your first time. We can hire a VA for you that can help you with your expansion plans, and lighten the growing load managing a team eventually entails. A placement agency that specializes in hiring remotely, our team can find the perfect person who can really change your life and help you steer your new team.
- Trust and empower your team.
After finding someone who can help you manage the team, the next thing is, of course, find the people who will comprise your group! A VA from the Philippines can surely fit the job, as most Filipino VAs are known throughout the world for being one of the hardest working and most dedicated staff.
However, the work doesn’t end with finding the right people to comprise your team. As a leader, you need to empower them and ensure that they can make decisions for themselves. Again, do not micromanage! Apart from being a tad bit insulting, micromanaging sends a signal that you do not trust your team members. Let them handle the minute details, and free yourself. Instead, devote time to improving the business. Trusting and empowering your team members not only boosts morale but also leads to increased productivity!
- Develop a seamless system for communications and operations.
Let’s say you are already done hiring remotely or tapping a trusted person as part of your team. You already have your team The next step is providing organization – this is the backbone of any successful operation. When you are managing a team, you need to develop a seamless system of steps to accomplish tasks. With the advent of communications and digital technology, there are several nifty tools that can help you develop such system, such as creating a Facebook group for your team or using productivity and collaboration apps like Trello. Instituting a smooth-flowing system does not only entail the workflow. You should also consider payment schemes that work for your team and your workflow.
- Invest in your business and self-development.
When you’ve set up your team and work process, you can’t just sit tight, relax and let the business go on passively. Yes, because of the team, you have relegated tasks that were once your responsibility, giving you free time. Use it wisely! Invest this precious new-found free time in self-development, especially if it’s your first time to take a leadership position. The next reasonable step is for you and your team to take stock learning about management, leadership, and business development.
May the odds be ever in your favor!
Want to hire a VA? Do not just get drawn to any virtual assistant companies, root for the best! Head to proximityplacements.com for details!
