Deciding to hire a Virtual Assistant is an important choice that any entrepreneur can make. You will continue to waste valuable time and energy on activities that don’t actually contribute to the growth of your business until you have someone to delegate specific tasks to. When hiring a Virtual Assistant, you are hiring a team member. Their tasks may change over time, but they will occupy a specific role on your team.

Create a standard operating procedure

Document the process you would like to outsource by writing each step down, include screenshots when necessary and add detailed information on how you would prefer these tasks to be completed. You can also document the outcomes you want your assistant to accomplish instead of the specific tasks or procedures. This will give you a better idea of what skills and experiences will be needed.

Develop a job description

It is important to identify what tools your Virtual Assistant should be skilled in, such as Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. Your preferred experience levels and skills should be shared with a detailed list of the tasks they will be performing. In order to attract well-qualified candidates remember to describe the scale of your request.

Test the Applicants

Test the abilities of the applicants, this will allow you to distinguish those exaggerating their skills from the rest. Have the applicant’s answer a few fake email prompts or schedule several meetings on an imaginary calendar. Pick a task that would be part of their responsibilities, and see how they perform this task. This will help you to determine who the top candidate really is.

Include a keyword or “Easter Egg” in your job posting

Insert a line at the bottom of your job description asking applicants to “Include their favourite quote” in their reply. This helps you weed out assistants who are not detail-oriented. This is especially useful for sites where virtual job positions are posted and available job seekers apply.

Interview potential candidates

Conduct an interview when possible. Some virtual assistant companies will pair you with an assistant while others will allow you to meet. Video interviews can also be conducted. You can determine if you like someone and communicate well with them on a video call. Ask questions that can’t be answered by looking at their CV.

Start on a trial basis

If possible, start your candidate off on a trial period to decide whether you work well together. A trial period also gives your Virtual Assistant an incentive to do a good job, knowing that it may lead to a permanent position. However, not all companies allow you to trial an assistant. Make sure to communicate early in the process that both parties are aware there’s an exit if it isn’t a good match.

Train your virtual assistant

It is crucial your assistant is well-trained in order for this to work and for it to save you time. Take the time to answer questions, provide comprehensive documentation, and explain why and how you prefer each task to be completed.

Be Realistic

Don’t expect the same loyalty, understanding of your business, or rapport with your virtual assistant. There is a reason you decided not to bring this role in-house. Finding a healthy working relationship with your assistant is key, and can be done by keeping your expectations in perspective.

Don’t be afraid to move on

Sever the relationship if it is not working out. Hiring a virtual assistant should relieve stress, not create more work for you.

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One of my earliest food memories is of drinking carrot juice. Yes, carrot juice. My amazing Irish grandmother was an intriguing and very strong-willed person, she would weekly swim in the cold Atlantic ocean and had some really interesting views on life, religion and food (these were strange to me as a young child but maybe not that strange to me as an adult). I remember visiting her in her Victorian house in the Gardens, Cape Town and been offered carrot juice to drink. It was a case of having to drink the juice and not having the choice of not drinking it. I think my brother enjoyed the bright yellow liquid more than I did and tried to help me finish my quota of the liquid. My grandmother passed away in 1988 and how I wish I could now enjoy a glass of carrot juice with her (I sure I would enjoy it more now than I did as a young child).

My grandmother actually scared me almost to the point of running and hiding when she came to visit. However all was forgiven because she would always bring me a KitKat as a present. The crispy wafers and chocolate outside was enough to bring me out of my hiding place.

I am sure if we all sit and reflect, memories of the past will flow back into our minds. Some good and some bad memories but all our memories combined are what makes us who we are today.

If I start focusing too much on the recent past I start getting sad but the pain is easing and healing is taking place. I am finding my identity of who I am and what I stand for.

-oOo-

Remember Silver Lakes Admin Pro is here to help you. We offer graphic design services, photo book design, admin assistance and social media management. Just give us a shout as we are more than happy to help with any queries or questions.

It will be good if you supported me and joined more than 120 million people from across the world who are choosing to refuse single-use plastics. To get involved and to be part of Plastic Free July sign up here: plasticfreejuly.org.

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What is your downfall, what is your vice? Mine is chocolate. I recently decided that I would begin to tackle this ‘weakness’ by limiting or stopping to eat chocolate and at the same time cutting back on my sugar intake. I have to admit that I was already pretty good before I started this lifestyle change, for instance I didn’t add sugar to warm beverages and generally practiced healthy eating using informed choices. What spurted me on to make this change however was a recent visit to the dentist and a second viewing of ‘That Sugar Film’. If you have not seen this film, it is well worth a watch although it is a few years old it still has relevance with regard to hidden sugars found in processed foods. Here is a trailer for the film: https://youtu.be/6uaWekLrilY.

So what I find is that I can give up chocolate and not want any for long periods of time but if I start eating chocolate I find it difficult to stop and can quite easily finish half a slab of chocolate or more in one sitting. Night time cravings are the worst. So for the moment, no chocolate for me. What I do currently enjoy, this may sound totally crazy, is visiting the chocolate aisle in the supermarket and looking at all the divine types, variety and choices of chocolates that are available. Oh my word, but take note, I am just looking not buying. So far this has worked and I have not bought any chocolate for myself and also have not eaten any for more than a month.

Enough about chocolate and back to business. I am happy to report that our baby milestone cards have proven to be an enormous success. @SilverLakesAdminPro you rock. If you were wondering what these milestone cards are all about, like I was at first, they are professionally-designed cards that list the unique milestones each baby goes through like baby’s first tooth. A date is written on the card and the moment captured with a photograph. These cards are customized and tailor-made to meet the needs of each customer. Great gifts for baby showers.

If you have any queries concerning these cards or any other services which we offer (admin and social media management), contact us via Facebook, on WhatsApp 076 5899 088 or by email kathy@adminpro.co.za.

Wrap up warmly and if you have a moment, try to watch ‘That Sugar Film’.

#Chocolate #Cravings #Milestonecards #Babymilestonecards #Babyshower

With the growing number of travel research tools, booking a flight is easy. There was a time when only a travel agent could source great deals on flights, accommodation, and car rentals. However, virtual assistants can now be hired to assist with this as well as help find the best restaurants, entertainment, and local attractions for your trip.

Planning a trip can be especially hard if you are travelling with small children, large groups or someone with health restrictions. Imagine needing to travel overseas on short notice, would it not be great to have an assistant plan your travels.

How often has it happened that by the time you book your flight the price has gone up significantly? Over 50% of people spend more than an hour booking a simple flight, excluding the time they spent monitoring flight prices. Anyone can enjoy the benefit of a travel manager. We can take care of all your travel details so that when you arrive at your destination your rental car is waiting, your hotel is reserved and your itinerary is planned.

Let us do this for you. We can work with your preferred travel agent, airline or make bookings online. We can even manage your frequent flyer account to ensure you get the seat and meal options you want.  Using a travel virtual assistant means more time for you to focus on your businesses. While you design marketing strategies and plan your business’ development, we could be planning your next trip. Travel virtual assistant assist with:

• Planning travel budget;
• Booking flights, rescheduling flights & cancelling flights
• Booking cruise tickets;
• Luggage and check-in;
• Transport to and from airports;
• Accommodation;
• Private car rentals;
• Restaurant reservations;
• Day trips to resorts, sightseeing and more.

Unlike a travel agent that simply gives you options on trips, we are not only in charge of booking your trip but also arranging your entire trip. We also assist with notifying you of the necessary visas, insurance, recommended immunizations and can provide you with a list of emergency contact details and consulate addresses.

An itinerary of your trip is provided to you before you depart so that you know the exact details of your journey, meetings, and accommodation. You can sit back and prepare for your next meeting while your travel assistant handles any road bumps that may come up like flight delays, booking cancellation, money refunds, etc. Handling these problems on your own can be disastrous and stressful. Should anything go awry, we are able to make changes on the spot and get you back on schedule.

Whether you are travelling for business, pleasure or just need advice with your travel arrangements, give us a shout. We can make the entire experience much more stress-free.

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