Work flow and delegation
February 29, 2008 by Kylie Short · Leave a Comment
I’ve been thinking a lot this week about work flow and processes. How do things get done around here? Is it the most efficient way or can we do it another way? Why do I do ‘things’ that way?
Personally, I’m a highly visual person and visual learner. For this reason I used to find it hard to read online and process what I’ve read because I’m also a paper person and needed to write the concepts out for myself. I love my paper. But I also love trees and technology more so I retrained myself (ooh a post for another day…). Because I am visual, I’ve been mapping out how we do things around here and it’s been an immense help when explaining processes to my team. It’s right there in front of them and they get it. Ta dahhhh….
I love collaboration because I get to hear other people’s ideas and to be quite frank, I love to talk. In mapping out my processes, I’ve been able to see where commonalities are, what could be done better and where I could delegate. I don’t need to do EVERY little thing in and for my business and so I hired myself an employee and retained associate VAs to help me. In delegating tasks I get to do the fun stuff. I get to do the talking and as I do the talking I have this amazing team behind me to help me get the work done. What could be more awesome then that?
So how do you leverage your people assets and do you map out your work flows? How do things get done at your place and is there a better way to do it?
Savvy VA Award
February 25, 2008 by Kylie Short · 1 Comment
I’m honoured to have been awarded the Savvy VA award by Erin Blaskie of The VA Coach.
In Erin’s own words:
The VA Coach wanted a way to honor those virtual assistants who are particularly savvy. Those who demonstrated the following qualities:
- Uniqueness to the Virtual Assistance Industry
- Leadership Qualities
- Sharing and Generous Spirit
- Professional Quality in Website Appearance
- Consistent Business Brand
- Super Savviness (the most important quality!)
Thank you so much Erin for the recognition. I love to do what I do and it obviously shows.
Why do you need to commit to your personal development?
February 21, 2008 by Kylie Short · 2 Comments
As small business owners we wear a lot of hats. We are the bookkeeper, the marketing manager (unless of course you have a VA) and the ‘boss’ among others. We start our business with passion, enthusiasm and energy but as time goes by how do you remain enthusiastic about your business? How do you keep ahead of the competition in your industry?
You do all this by continuing to learn and grow as a business owner and as an individual, ie personal development. It’s important to recognise that we all don’t know everything there is to know about being a business owner and this is where training, research, further education can assist.
Making a commitment to your personal development is not hard. Decide that growing and learning is important to you and then make it a priority. Attend tele-seminars, conferences, training courses, listen to podcasts or read about a particular topic pertinent to your industry and to your business. The idea is to learn something new about integrating technology into your business practices. Undertake coaching. Whatever it is you decide to do, make a decision and then stick to it. You won’t regret it, you may get extra work out of it and your customers/clients may even thank you.
So what’s your plan for your personal development for 2008 and what does it include? Mine includes studying at TAFE for certification in Website design (to reinforce and show what I already know) and attending the Business Mums Conference in July and the OVIAC in May.
Communicating via Email
February 13, 2008 by Kylie Short · 1 Comment
Over the weekend I received an email from a potential client asking me about my services. GREAT! What was even better was that they came through my IVAA.org listing. Perfect!!
So why this post?
In talking with this potential client she told me that she had emailed 4 other VAs in Australia from the same directory and I was the only to respond to her. I was stunned. How often do we get a hot lead like this through our websites?
So my question is, if you receive an email from a potential client, how quickly should you answer it?
I believe that even if your client roster is full you need to answer the email and let them know. Who knows, maybe you know another VA who’d be perfect for that potential client and in making the connection for them your VA friend will thank you and the potential client will remember your willingness to help them find someone else. So when it comes time for them to refer a friend, who are they going to send them to?
Business to me is about building relationships. Relationships between your and your clients. Relationships between you and your colleagues including other VAs. Relationships between you and your suppliers. You need these relationships to be able to manage and grow your business.
Educating the wider business community about the value and professionalism of Virtual Assistants happens on an ongoing basis and I still get a blank look when I tell people I am a Virtual Assistant. It’s important that we treat our email habits as professionally as possible. Especially if you are like me and communicate mainly by email.
February is “DOING BUSINESS IN YOUR BATHROBE” Month
February 5, 2008 by Kylie Short · 1 Comment
One of the great things about working from home is the flexibility you have in your daily schedule, work schedule and of course clothing LOL. Now that I have an assistant, I have to get dressed in the morning but for me, celebrating ‘Doing Business in your Bathrobe’ month is about celebrating the flexibility of working from home.
If I was to count the hours spent marketing my business, networking with other business owners, doing my own Admin (although Beckie is doing a lot more of this for me these days) AND hours spent doing client work, I work about 40 hours a week. Beckie averages about 15 hours a week and is about to go to 25 hours a week. If I was in a JOB it would simply be impossible. I have three small children and I know that I wouldn’t cope working outside the home - been there and done that!
My biggest fan (my 7 year old son) said to me “mum, I’m so glad you’re here with me after school and that you don’t have to go out to work like dad”. How can I not celebrate working from home with a fan club of 3?
“Doing Business in Your Bathrobe Month” is an initiative of the Business Mums Network www.businessmums.com.au to support entrepreneurs everywhere who are taking their work and pay cheques into their own hands. Visit the Business Mums Network website today and participate in the Scavenger Hunt - there are some great prizes on offer!