Speaking of Relationships

Being an AssistU graduate has many benefits. One is the ability to take classes with Stacy Brice. I recently took a graduate class regarding consultation practices and am implementing a new consultation process that involves (gulp) more than one call with a potential client.

I have put together some assessment questions and added a call to the consultation. This is to help both the potential client and myself make darn sure we are a good fit and that I won’t gloss over any warning signs or trigger words.

Some potential clients may find this process a bit intimidating or time consuming. But, I counter – some people do more research to find a dry cleaners or an auto repair shop than they do in finding a virtual assistant. This is meant to be a long-term relationship – not a drop n’ ship relationship.

Stacy has also just written a great Twitwall client tip about how to get the most from a relationship with a VA.

So, I say – let’s start off on the right foot for a dance of partnership and collaboration!

It’s All About the Relationship

For serious virtual assistants it is all about the relationship with their clients. Sure, we need to have the skills to do things or find someone who can do those things we may not be able to do or like to do, but if you don’t have a solid relationship with your client you are missing the best part of being a virtual assistant.

I love my clients and enjoy getting to know them beyond emails or business calls. It helps us develop a relationship of trust, confidence, and more.

Here is the best example – my annual virtual Christmas party with one of my clients. We have just done our 5th annual party! How does this work, you may say?

We pick an evening and gear up for a couple of hours of fun, conversation, our husbands’ bringing us goodies and filling our wine glass. It so happens that my client and I are just about the same age, have kids about the same age, and our husbands are perhaps clones. Last night, for example, we discovered that before they married us – they were *cat* people. Now, they are *dog* people, too.

We talk about our kids, parents, what is going on in our lives, our pets, and new things like Twitter, Facebook, some politics, and tv shows we love. We use Skype and webcams. Actually, the webcams just became a ritual last year and I would not want to have a virtual party without one. Our party this year lasted 4 1/2 hours!

Sure, you can work with a virtual team, with someone from India for less dollars, but do you have a relationship with that virtual assistant? Do they have one with you? Or is it more like an employer/employee relationship?

As my coach Stacy Brice says, “Virtual assistance is not meant to be the cheap way….” The relationships that should be developed cannot be stressed strong enough – so if you are looking for a VA, look at the skills, but more importantly — look at the personality, workstyle, and the potential relationship.