This episode explores the world of virtual assistants. We tear down many stereotypes and approach the topic of VAs from the perspective of leaders and operations. To discuss, we have Barbara Turley, who is the founder of The Virtual Hub, a network of hundreds of VAs that help growing companies max out their productivity and efficiency. With a strong focus on customized training and ongoing career development, The Virtual Hub ensures that its team is trained in cutting-edge programs (like Hubspot, Ontraport, etc.) to meet its clients’ unique needs in digital marketing, social media, operational support, and administrative services.
Barbara is also a mom to her gorgeous kids Ruby and Alexander, wife to her best friend Eti, and an adventure lover passionate about horses, skiing, tennis, and spending time in nature.
Key Points in the Conversation with Peter Benei of the Leadership Anywhere Podcast:
- Barbara Turley's journey to remote work
- The necessity of building digital-first companies
- Clarification of the role and definition of virtual assistants
- Managing expectations with virtual assistants
- Optimizing human capital with virtual assistants
- The importance of virtual assistants
- The importance of clear documentation and process mapping
- Collaborative role of virtual assistants in creating and refining operational documentation
- The importance of building a supportive culture for virtual assistants
Key Takeaways:
“What we need to do is build digital first companies that render location and trust irrelevant, build companies that it doesn't matter whether you're in the office, distributed, remote, whatever it is you want to call it, you're just people working in a virtual, like in a digital first company where the office is now in the cloud, and we need to create spaces that we all show up to work, collaborate and work, do work, report on work, but not in the physical space”
“You need to have an offshore team strategy. And the reason you have to have an offshore team strategy is to ensure that your onshore team or your main team are using their time and energy for the work that moves the needle”
“The most valuable businesses are the ones that somebody could step in and operate tomorrow. And how do you do that? That's by having amazing documentation. That is a system that you can put people in to run. The stronger your systems, processes, or documentation, the more cost-effective the staff you can put in to run them”