One Thing a VA Can’t Do (Hint: It’s Everything)
There’s so much pressure in the blogging and online business world to hire a virtual assistant. I have people reaching out to me all the time who are ready to hire their first team member and automatically think it should be a virtual assistant.
And I think I know why.
They get to the point where their business has grown, and they can’t do it all anymore -- they just need help. Assistance. Virtually. So, a virtual assistant seems to be the obvious choice.
But, nine times out of ten, we find out they don’t really need a VA. They need someone, but not a VA.
Case in point: I saw a post in a Facebook group from someone looking for a VA with expertise in bookkeeping software. My first thought was, virtual assisting and bookkeeping are two very different skill sets. So my question to her was: Do you need a VA or a bookkeeper?
And she’s not alone in thinking a VA can take care of everything. Virtual assistants are a talented bunch, but here’s the truth:
A VA can’t do everything.
Hiring the Hard Way
I learned this myself -- the hard way, of course.
I thought I could hire one contractor to help me with everything -- graphic design, editing, marketing -- because I thought it would be easier to manage one person. Managing a team seemed like a big step to me at the time.
But you know what I ended up with? So-so graphic design. Decent copy editing. And ineffective marketing advice. Why? Because I wasn’t hiring someone to work in their “zone of genius.”
Hiring Made Easy
The zone of genius is a concept described by Gay Henricks as the moment of work when you feel like you are doing what you’re set on this earth to do.
When you hire a freelancer to work in their zone of genius, their work feels more like a calling than a chore. And, they tend to achieve higher results more quickly and efficiently when they do work that lights them up. You can read more about the “zone of genius” here.
Hiring someone to work in their zone of genius isn’t always easy, though. It takes a little planning and forethought to find the right person to help you advance your business.
So, these are the two pieces of advice I always give to online business owners who are starting their talent search: Be really specific about what you need and make sure you’re not adding more you to your team.
Be Specific with the Job Title
Hard as it may be, when your plate is too full, that’s the time to step back, assess your needs, and decide what you really need. And be specific.
Do you need a project manager to assign you tasks to delegate and oversee your projects? Or do you need a business manager to coordinate and manage other contractors?
If it’s truly the day-to-day admin work that needs to be slid off your plate, then a VA makes perfect sense.
But before you post in a Facebook group that you need a VA, look at the responsibilities in your job posting and consider whether you can get more specific with your job title.
Take the Time to Know Your Strengths
Before you can hire, it’s also crucial to think about your own strengths and weaknesses.
Why? Well, there’s a bias that tends to happen in hiring where we gravitate toward people who are like us.
This can be a problem because we might unknowingly duplicate our weaknesses or limit our pool of strengths. The idea is not to clone you but to find someone who complements you.
Don't worry if you have no idea what your strengths and weaknesses are. After all, you’ve been forced to excel at everything you do to get your business where it is today.
Here are a few of my favorite resources that can help you get to know yourself better:
Figuring Out Your Next (or First!) Great Hire
If you’re ready to hire someone to help take your business to the next level but aren’t sure where to start, I always recommend asking yourself these questions to drill down what you really need:
What am I doing in my business that I'm not good at or don't enjoy?
Which tasks do I enjoy doing but don't have enough time to put forth consistent effort?
Where am I falling behind in my business?
You may find that you don’t like scheduling meetings or writing content, or you need help pursuing more sponsored content. Be honest. Do you get a sense of relief at the mere thought of someone taking any of these tasks off your plate? Create a role around that.
You Can’t Do Everything, Either
Back to the person on Facebook. I recommended she look at hiring a bookkeeper for a few hours a month or week to take care of her bookkeeping needs.
Calling back on my own experience, I know that finding someone to work in their zone of genius will be worth it and a far better solution than a virtual assistant.
And like her, you are not expected to figure this all out on your own.
Let’s Talk.
I help online business owners just like you find amazing new team members all the time. And don’t worry if you aren’t sure which roles you need, we can work through that together.
The best place to start is by setting up an organizational strategy session. It’s a really interactive three-step process where we get ultra clear on the one to three roles you will need in your business in the next couple of years.
Here’s how it works.
You tell me exactly what you’re thinking. Which roles you think you may need, what you’d like to outsource, what you’d like to spend more time doing -- all of it. Then you turn it over to me. Let me use my expertise to help you create a hiring strategy so you can hire with confidence and build your ideal team.
Ready to get started?
LET’S BUILD YOUR TEAM
