A while back, I wrote about the three outsourcing myths that needed to die. Immediately after I sent it out, Sheila replied with this gem.
Hey, John!
We’ve hired several part-time people from OnlineJobs.ph and here’s a myth that I think needs to be dispelled:
You have to be “on top of” or “managing” your VA all of the time in order to make sure you’re getting what you paid for. We have one that has been with us consistently for over a year now.
We have found that the less we oversee our VA, the less requirements we put on him regarding his time or how he works, and the more we treat him like a partner in our business instead of a “hired hand”, the more he works, the better his results are, and (most importantly) our stress levels go down! We make sure our expectations are clear and we treat him with respect; we don’t expect perfection; we take interest in his life and make sure he knows we’re concerned about him as a person, not just what he can do for us. As a result, he does great work, we don’t have to worry about him, and he’s committed to working with us as long as we need him.
I think too many people get so wrapped up in trying to control their VA that it’s a bigger headache to have one than to just do the work themselves. If they’d just let go of their grip, communicate well, and TRUST, they’ll find out real quick if they have the right person – and, when they do it will be a HUGE load off of their plates!
Anyway. Just my two cents. We greatly appreciate what you do, what you’ve created, and the education you provide all of us business owners.
🙂 Sheila
Micromanaging definitely creates more work for yourself and your mind.
Obviously, you have to have a good process with your OFS for this to work.
What matters most is getting things done.
More important than hiring a super-skilled worker who doesn’t care about your business is a loyal worker, someone young and hungry, who shows up every day and will always try their best.
John