Being a Virtual Assistant is not just about supervising a business or helping someone with admin, it is learning how to organize and properly communicate with the client. Unfortunately, it seems that some VAs are lack with many skills needed.
According to Wikipedia, it is defined as “generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients remotely from a home office.” They can deal with different tasks like writing contents for a blog or website, collecting statistics, and making reports to help social media presence grow. To be able to succeed in this field a person must be equipped not only with knowledge but also with the important skills and qualities of it.
5 Essential Skills and Qualities of Virtual Assistant
1. Being Resourceful
One of the most useful and essential trait that a person should possess in achieving success is resourcefulness. A mindset that is driven to find ways and is significant especially when set goals are difficult to attain.
To be resourceful is important for a VA so you can provide solutions to the problem and to satisfy client’s need.
2. Good Communication Skills
Communication is the fundamental key to establish a good relationship with your client. Good communicator does not only mean that you’re good at speaking but also in listening. You must have the ability to understand and comprehend what your client is telling to avoid miscommunication.
Also, you can let your client know how the work is going by giving them updates and feedback through email.
3. Being Reliable
Reliability is very crucial and also important in maintaining a good work relationship with your client. It is important that you build trust with them because when they see that they can rely on you, they will entrust you more with responsibilities and tasks which a great deal for VA. Professionalism is vital in our industry if a client will call you then you must give a callback, if you receive an email then you must reply. It doesn’t have to be instantly, but you have to do it the same day.
4. Time Management Skills
This one you think might be the most challenging skill to acquire. For some, it looks like they already know how to handle their time well, but for others, it's like a never-ending rush, always in a hurry.
Time Management is not that difficult; you need to determine which task or work are you going to prioritize. Although in reality, it is a bit struggle since you’re dealing with different clients that means that you need to multi-task for you to meet your deadlines. However, time management does not require a standalone skill. You can manage your time only if have that capability to use it through proper and effective goal-setting.
5. Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude will help you easily cope up with your everyday challenges. Be optimistic, motivate yourself that you can do it, and learn to accept failures and disappointments.
As a virtual assistant, your attitude reflects how you are with your work.
