I read a posting on a blog written by a man who was talking about his Virtual Assistant (girlfriend). This VA was rather different, in that it was really an email and web based reminder service that he could use to assist him with remembering actions, meetings and other activities throughout his busy day.
It’s amazing what the term ‘virtual assistant’ gets attributed to these days.
I can’t blame Eric for thinking that way though – I know in the past, when I was working in the corporate world, some bosses would think I was only there to serve as their appointment manager and make sure they didn’t double-book themselves, when in actual fact my skills and abilities were far more than a reminder service. I had to spend time training them in how to use me as their secretary and admin support. Not all bosses were like that but I had my fair share I had to break in, because they weren’t used to having that support. In fact, that’s how I met my husband, but that’s another story… 🙂
Eric mentions he had a PA before he left the corporate world in 1996 and so perhaps he’s forgotten what abilities a PA can have, or maybe in his case, his PA really did only look after his diary and appointments.
It is so important that all VAs spend time helping to educate others on what we can do and how we can best assist them with their needs. And we can do this through simple means, by talking to existing clients and offering additional services (much like ‘… would you like chips with that?’), encouraging clients to tell others about you (give them some extra business cards to pass on), send out a newsletter to existing and past clients, and any prospective clients, be prepared to speak up at networking events and so on. Have fun!
Emma Crabtree says
Ha! Reading this reminded me of one of my first jobs after graduating from college. Fancy title of ‘Assistant to Director’ but I did little more than type a few letters, pick up his dry cleaning and remind him that it was his wife’s birthday in two days. He’d then thrust £20 in my mitt (this was way back in the early ’90’s) and off I’d trot to John Lewis.
Ah, how far I’ve come! Now, I have my own dry cleaning picker-uper and I get to chose my own brand of coffee.
Seriously though, a VA is more than a letter typer. As Kathie says, we have a responsibility to continually educate through networking, posting to blogs and generally sending out the message that there’s more to us that a great typing speed.
Merry Christmas.