We all have aspects about our customers that we don’t like. You interact with clients whether you’re a lawyer, a grocery cashier, or a massage therapist. Clients are people, and people have a lot of flaws. As a Virtual Assistant, you may work with a variety of customers, including Real Estate Agents, Financial Advisors, Graphic Designers, and others. Only email, phone, and Skype are used to communicate with them. Because you encounter customers or even supervisors on a daily basis if you work in an office, it may be simpler to address them face to face. When you converse in methods other than face to face, though, things may become a bit sticky.
Some Virtual Assistant customers just do not know how to communicate. Some customers don’t respond to emails. This may be a significant issue if, for example, your customer requires a fast turnaround. They don’t always communicate all of their requirements for a particular job. So, what do you do as an assistant if you need more information? Of course, you pose a query. Unfortunately, the customer may not be able to respond right away. In fact, it’s possible that they won’t respond for a few hours. This makes completing the job very tough. It would be very beneficial if customers made it a practice to check their email at least every thirty minutes after handing out a job. Otherwise, the customer would get irritated if the job is not completed.
Some customers may be obnoxious and unpleasant in their communication. It is critical to communicate with your helpers in a kind and professional manner. Condescending language does not sit well with assistants. Put a little sweetness in your voice if you want your Virtual Assistants to get the job done. You don’t have to be excessively nice or anything; all you have to do is show respect. Your VA is there to make your life simpler, so just ask for what you need in a courteous manner. Some customers are prone to losing their cool, which isn’t ideal. It is critical that the customer and his or her VA collaborate to complete the task. If a customer is disrespectful or screams at their assistant, it may have a bad impact on the relationship. That’s when things start to become a little uncomfortable. So, even if your VA is two thousand miles away, keep in mind that they are people, too.
Some customers are spoilt and want things to be done right away. Please keep in mind that your VA is just one person and has other clients. He or she has a schedule and is eager to do your duties, but he or she may not be able to do so as fast as you would want. What is the answer to this problem? Ask about their schedule or the days and hours they can spend to you when you initially employ your VA. Then simply keep in mind to stick to that timetable. If your VA is unavailable on Fridays and you have a job that must be finished by Friday, assign it to them early enough in the week so that it may be completed by Thursday. It’s a good idea to tell your VA what you need and be honest about your requirements when you initially employ them. In exchange, the VA will be upfront about what they can do for you. It would be unreasonable to expect chores to be completed in twelve hours if your VA says they can offer you a twenty-four-hour turnaround time. Also, if your VA says they are not accessible on weekends, keep that in mind and don’t assign work to them on Friday afternoons expecting them to be completed by Monday morning. It’s all about communication, and patience helps as well.
Meetings between VAs and clients are common. Some virtual assistants even take notes during client-colleague sessions. When meetings are canceled at the last minute, it is very challenging for the VA. We realize that crises arise from time to time. However, if it is 11 a.m. and you learn that your 2:00 p.m. meeting has been canceled, please notify your VA immediately. Because VAs are frequently on busy schedules and have children, send them an email or a short SMS. It is very beneficial to be notified as soon as a meeting is canceled. Please be considerate of the VA’s time.
Clients typically communicate their needs to virtual assistants through email. Even in the office, email is the most common mode of communication in today’s society. Because you won’t be able to see your VA in person, unless you use Skype, make sure to include all of your instructions in your email. You should also be receptive to inquiries and make it clear to your VA that they may come to you with them. Make care to read and reread your email with the assignment before sending it, and double-check for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Then consider, “Are my instructions clear?” Will this help me achieve my goal?” When an email is full of errors and confusing, it may be extremely irritating for the VA. It’s much more difficult when the directions are unclear. When their customers are approachable, VAs enjoy it. It’s a lot simpler to get clarity on a job this way.
Some customers, not all, but some, like micromanaging their virtual assistants. However, keep in mind that VAs are the kind of individuals that function best on their own, which is why they work remotely in the first place. It’s a good idea to offer your VA some autonomy when you first start working with them. Tell them what you want done, then step back and let them handle it. Allow us to demonstrate that we do not need micromanagement. It is not necessary for you to check in every few hours. There’s nothing wrong with instructing your VA to contact you at a certain time, such as halfway through the job. However, there is no need to micromanage. If you have a virtual assistant, the most essential things to remember are respect, honesty, and communication. These factors will contribute to a successful working relationship.
