As we head into 2020, it’s no secret that a large portion of civilization is now online. There aren’t many interactions left in this world that require a face-to-face connection. This is also true for assistants. AssistPro is a virtual assistant company, but we aren’t the only virtual support company out there. There are lots of them actually, each of them with the same general goal: to take tasks off of your plate so that you can focus on growing your business.
One thing that sets AssistPro apart from others in our industry is that we focus primarily on making the relational connection between client and assistant. Our core focus is matching you with an assistant that you connect with first on a personal level. Once we feel that the personal connection is there, we then focus on the professional connection and skill set compatibility. By putting the personal relationship first, we are able to create a stronger, long-term relationship.
Connection develops in different ways, but it’s all rooted in one simple equation: healthy communication. It’s not easy to connect with someone if you aren’t connecting with them frequently. While that makes perfect, logical sense, regular communication tends to be the hardest thing for newly matched clients and assistants to grasp.
So, what steps can you take to promote a well-connected relationship with your assistant?
Anytime we have a struggling client and assistant relationship, it’s generally because the pair are not having weekly meetings. Connecting with your assistant, once a week, for at least thirty minutes makes a huge difference in the working relationship. It’s helpful to have a list of topics to discuss for each meeting, and an agenda in place. This way, everything is covered, questions are answered, and nothing falls between the cracks. If you’d like ideas on how to set up an agenda for weekly meetings, reach out to our Relationship Manager, Bailey Holien at Bailey@Assistpro.com
To ensure that you and your assistant are on the same page, it’s helpful to have each of your roles clearly defined. Your assistant should know which tasks belong to her, and which tasks belong to you. Like an accountability chart, when each role is clearly laid out, there’s no question as to who is doing what. This aides in each of you working together like a well-oiled machine.
Discussing your vision and passion for your company, setting goals together, and even implementing a scorecard to track certain measurables to review each week during your weekly meeting, is another way to strengthen the connection between you and your assistant. When your assistant better understands your vision and your purpose, your goals and your plans, and all of the things that are important to you and your business, that’s when you will feel truly connected.
Watching our client and assistant relationships develop into more than a basic professional connection is one of our favorite things. It doesn’t happen overnight of course. It takes work, as most relationships do, but when the connection truly begins to take shape…it is one of the most beautiful things in the world.