Barbara and Matt emphasize that before hiring a support assistant, business owners should first clarify their actual needs. Rushing into hiring can waste both time and money; sometimes investing in a strategist or consultant first is a smarter move to ensure a support assistant can be effective later.
Is a Support Assistant really what you need?
Virtual Success Show
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Episode breakdown
In this episode, Barbara and Matt take listeners through the necessary steps for business owners to take to determine whether they really need an Assistant or the help of a specialist. This episode takes a look at some of the key questions business owners need to ask themselves in order to determine who they need help from and how they can go about getting the right person for the job.
- Determining whether it’s an assistant that you need, or a specialist
- Understanding what your business needs are in order to make the right staffing decisions
- Slowing down and taking the time to map out your business needs will actually allow you to speed up your business
It's very important if you don't want to waste money that you understand what your needs are.
In this episode
00:00 - Introduction
Barbara and Matt discuss a common scenario at The Virtual Hub where clients hire a support assistant, but it doesn’t work out. In one case, they requested a detailed client brief, which revealed that the client’s needs were far beyond what a support assistant could handle. This highlighted the importance of understanding the true scope of work before hiring a support assistant.
02:00 - Do I need a VA or a specialist?
Barbara and Matt discuss that sometimes a support assistant isn’t the right first choice for a business because certain tasks require specialized skills, like strategy or lead generation, which are beyond a general support assistant’s scope. They emphasize the importance of identifying whether specialized skills are needed and, if so, investing in a strategist or coach first to maximize the effectiveness of a support assistant later and avoid wasting time and money.
06:25 - Understanding what your needs are
08:44 - Slowing down in order to speed up
Matt and Barbara emphasize that before hiring a support assistant, business owners should slow down and clarify exactly what tasks need to be done, determine which tasks a support assistant can handle, and identify if any require specialist skills. They stress that taking this careful approach saves time, money, and frustration, and that guidance from experts can help ensure the right strategy is chosen.
12:08 - Wrapping things up
Barbara and Matt caution that while support assistants can be valuable, they’re not always the right solution—sometimes an in-person role is needed first. They encourage listeners to reflect before rushing in and invite engagement through their Facebook group and podcast reviews to share experiences and avoid common mistakes.
