When it comes to outsourcing or hiring an employee online, you might end up getting stuck in the details or end up hurting you and your online employee.
Which is why in the last 10 years of being in the outsourcing industry, I’ve collected the top tips through the mistakes that I’ve made or other people around me have made when it comes to hiring and managing virtual employees.
- Prioritize Clarity
Straight from the book Dare To Lead by Brene Brown, when you’re a leader, Clarity Is Kind.
The biggest thing you can offer your employee is clarity.
Clarity in knowing what are the things that need to get done next, clarity in knowing the bigger picture in your business so they can help you work towards it, and clarity in the little things, like how you expect for a report to be sent or finished.
Give your employees as much clarity as you can at the beginning so you can empower them to keep going even when you’re not there.
- Get Your Priorities Straight
As the employer, it’s your responsibility to set priorities with your employees.
It’s hard to expect someone to care about your business as much as you do, or to even know more about your business than you do.
So setting company goals, priorities and key numbers for them to watch out for is essential so your virtual assistant knows what to watch out for and what to work on first.
- Find & Update Resources
When you’re working online, resources can be a double-edged sword – it’s abundant and confusing.
As outsource the work in your business, you must take charge in mapping out the sources your employees can use and which ones are relevant to your business. You’ll need to set the standards on what are acceptable resources for them to use and how they can utilize them.
- Clarity On Employee Benefits
Giving your employees the knowledge of what they will receive as your employee can be a great motivator to get your employees to stay.
Aside from a stable job, there is a need to give your employees a pathway of what they can expect when it comes to working with you and your business.
It can be flexible work hours, paying for their health insurance, or simply having the training they need can go far with the right employees.
Write out a roadmap or simply list out and execute these employee benefits so your employees can start being more invested in your business beyond just being another client to them.
- Plan Out Costs & Savings
When everything is digital, it can be harder to see what expenses are coming out of your business, and what you’ve been able to keep.
Which is why when you’re outsourcing, make sure to keep an eye out and also plan for the expenses you’re going to make.
- Communicate Effectively
One key thing that usually breaks down any work relationship, especially ones that are online, is miscommunication.
Having a clear and easy way to be able to communicate with your virtual employees, whether it’s through having the right tools or having a mode of communication that works well for everyone to easily check-in or give feedback can help ease a lot of the problems people usually have when working online.
- Have A Goal
When you work with a goal in mind, it’s easier to get the work done.
Showing your employees what the goal of the company is can help motivate them to know that what they’re doing goes further than what they thought it originally was.
Outsourcing doesn’t have to be a system that tires you out – it’s supposed to free you up so you can focus on growing your business rather than simply running it.
Comment below what other tips you might have for outsourcing!
Unsure About Which Tasks Your VA Can Do For You?
By signing up, you will have access to the 103 TASKS TO OUTSOURCE TO YOUR VIRTUAL ASSISTANT pdf for FREE! This is an awesome guide for you in getting started with your virtual assistant. Sign up now!