Running a successful virtual assistant business is all about having a strong foundation. A good VA knows the boundaries of their job and keeps to them so that they do not run into problems with clients or get overwhelmed by their workload. However, as much as boundaries are important, there are certain limitations which need to be discussed with your clients in order to stay productive and meet deadlines. Read on for how to set boundaries as a virtual assistant, help your clients understand what is expected of them and keep your business running smoothly.
Keeping Your Business Running Smoothly
As a virtual assistant, it’s important to set boundaries with your clients in order to keep your business running smoothly. Here are a few tips:
Be clear about your availability. When you’re just starting out, you may be tempted to say yes to every client who comes your way. But this can quickly lead to burnout. So be clear about your availability from the start. Let clients know what days and times you’re available, and stick to those hours.
Set limits on projects. Don’t take on more work than you can handle. If a client asks you to do something that’s outside of your scope of work, be honest and let them know that you’re not able to do it. It’s better to turn down a project than to half-ass it and end up disappointing the client.
Get organized. Stay on top of things by staying organized. Use a project management tool like Trello or Asana to keep track of deadlines and tasks. This will help you stay on top of things and avoid missing any important details.
Take breaks. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! Make sure to schedule breaks into your day so that you can step away from work and recharge. This will help you avoid burnout and keep your business running smoothly in the long run
Avoid Weekend Work and Overworking Yourself
If you’re new to being a virtual assistant, it’s easy to fall into the trap of working all the time. You might feel like you need to be available 24/7 in order to keep your clients happy and your business running smoothly. But that’s not sustainable, and it’s not healthy.
It’s important to set boundaries from the start. Let your clients know what your availability is, and stick to it. If you know you don’t want to work weekends, make that clear. You can also set limits on how many hours you’ll work each day or week.
It can be tough to stick to your boundaries at first, but it’s important for your own well-being. Working too much will lead to burnout, and that won’t do anyone any good. So take some time for yourself, and don’t be afraid to say no when you need to.
Setting Boundaries
Be clear about what you are and are not willing to do. Be clear with yourself first and foremost about what tasks you are willing to take on and which ones you are not. This will prevent you from taking on too much work and getting overwhelmed. It will also help you communicate your limits to clients in a clear and concise way.
Communicate your boundaries to clients upfront. Once you know what your boundaries are, be sure to communicate them to your clients upfront. This way, they will know what to expect from you and won’t try to push you outside of your comfort zone. Be assertive but polite in setting these boundaries, and be sure to explain why they are important to you.
Don’t be afraid to say no. It is okay to say no to a client if their request is outside of your scope of work or if you simply don’t have the time or energy for it. Again, be assertive but polite in doing so, and offer alternative solutions if possible (e.g., suggesting another virtual assistant who may be a better fit for the task).
How to Deal With Challenging Client Requests
As a virtual assistant, you will inevitably have to deal with challenging client requests from time to time. Here are some tips on how to deal with these requests in a way that will keep your business running smoothly:
1. First, try to understand the client’s perspective and what they are trying to achieve with the request.
2. Once you have a clear understanding of the client’s goals, see if there is a way to accommodate the request within your existing services or processes.
3. If the request is outside of your scope of work or would require significant additional work on your part, be honest with the client about this and explain why it would not be possible for you to do it.
4. Finally, if the client is insistent on having the request fulfilled regardless, consider whether or not you are willing to do it and at what price. If you do decide to take on the challenge, be sure to communicate clearly with the client about expectations and timelines so that there are no surprises down the road.
Dealing with Difficult Clients
It’s inevitable that you’ll come across a difficult client at some point in your career as a virtual assistant. While it can be challenging to deal with these types of clients, there are some things you can do to make the situation more manageable. Join me TODAY for a free webinar, Is It Me? Am I the Drama? Red Flags for Nightmare Clients and How to Deal With Them.
