The answer, in my view, is a resounding YES! And here’s why.
Why I’m happy to work with other Virtual Assistants
There are thousands of VAs in the UK – and, in the wake of the economic chaos and inevitable redundancies stemming from the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, it’s likely that a huge number of talented administrators will soon be considering the benefits of working remotely and setting up their own virtual assistant business.
Does this worry me? No! I’m a big believer in collaboration over competition.
No two VAs are the same; everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, everyone operates slightly differently, and everyone works to their own values and according to their own ethics. I believe this is a positive thing for my industry, for two reasons:
- It means clients are more likely to find a virtual assistant who is a great fit for their business, professionally and personally
- It gives businesses access to a wider pool of talent than ever before, allowing them to pick and choose VAs who can meet their precise support requirements
For instance, as someone who has enjoyed a long and varied career at an executive level, I have inside knowledge of the challenges that CEOs, Managing Directors and other business leaders face every day.
My skills are not limited to data entry and admin work (although these are tasks that certainly come naturally to me). I’m the kind of VA that can provide more comprehensive support solutions to clients who are looking for someone who can engage with them on their own level.
Similarly, there are plenty of VAs out there with their own specialisms. Many are brilliant at managing meetings and calendar bookings; some are real whizzes when it comes to social media management; others love managing CRMs and customer data. When all these highly skilled assistants come together, they can provide 360 degree assistance to organisations, in a much more flexible and affordable way than in-house members of staff.
Why businesses can benefit from hiring multiple VA’s
There’s a strange misconception in my industry that companies should only need to use one VA at a time. This is not the case. If your business has a range of different support needs, you should absolutely be hiring people who can plug your skills gaps and deliver value in their own unique way.
If you’ve been working with a virtual assistant for some time and you’re happy with their work, it’s understandable to have concerns about bringing a new remote worker into the fold. You’ve probably built up a great working relationship with your original VA, and the last thing you want to do is jeopardise this partnership.
But you wouldn’t worry about this if you were employing a new permanent member of staff, because that new employee would be bringing a brand new set of skills to the table; skills that you need within your business. So, don’t ever be afraid to hire multiple virtual assistants and designate them work that they will excel at.
Most virtual assistants will be open to working with other freelancers and will be keen to learn from each other. The trick is to bring them together as colleagues, not treat them like separate entities, and encourage them to collaborate as if they were working under the same roof.