Virtually Smart Ltd takes time to reflect on what it really means to work in collaboration with a VA & how this invaluable resource can be central to business success.
In a week which see’s mental health awareness back in the public eye & the new GDPR regulation continuing to create hype amongst business networks; Virtually Smart Ltd takes time to reflect on what it really means to work in collaboration with a VA & how this invaluable resource can be central to business success.
While we reflect on a week which has brought mental health awareness back into the public eye & one of the great supporters of mental health awareness, Prince Harry, marrying Megan Markle; Virtually Smart Ltd considers the impact mental health has on business. With ever increasing pressure to identify & ensure mental health awareness is taken seriously by employers, the statistics really do speak for themselves:
- 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace (14.7%).
- Women in full-time employment are nearly twice as likely to have a common mental health problem as full-time employed men (19.8% vs 10.9%).
- Evidence suggests that 12.7% of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions. www.mentalhealth.org.uk
However, what can & should employers do to help identify & support mental health issues in the work force & how could a VA help with this process?
Employers can support their employees by removing stigma, paying attention to their work force’s needs & being more flexible in their approach. In addition, offering coaching initiatives to their management teams, which can be disseminated down to the work force, can create a supportive network within the workforce. One of the many skills Helena Parrott – Director of Virtually Smart Ltd brings to the company, is to offer policy reviews & audits of existing policies & initiatives. Furthermore, a full culture review of a business would identify key areas whereby an employer could have the opportunity to work alongside Helena Parrott & build an appropriate coaching/mentoring programme in support of a companies existing policies. This in turn, would become a practical, living, breathing model which would work in real time & in turn support the workforce. Employers recognising the needs of their workforce & putting the correct policies in place to support them, will see productivity improve & staff absence decline.
Working in collaboration with a VA has a wealth of benefits, but how can a VA be perceived as a business owner/proprietors business coach & mentor? As Virtually Smart Ltd observes in several VA forums, many VA’s collaborate with business owners for many years & it is the knowledge the VA’s bring, which sustains these business relationships, helping them to thrive. Coaching & mentoring is offered by many independent companies, however, a VA can offer multi layered insights, as so very many VA’s have a far reaching client base; whereas some businesses can remain quite blinkered & only seek additional knowledge from similar business sectors.
Virtually Smart Ltd’s Helena Parrott has worked & continues to work alongside some of the leading names in business, from Virgin Atlantic, American Express & Ricardo, to name but a few. It is through this journey that she has accumulated a diverse insight into many different business models & working practices. With this wealth of knowledge, Helena Parrott through her own business Virtually Smart Ltd, supports business start up’s, small business owners & corporate giants alike, offering proficient, expert business support & advice.
One area which is causing some business owners consternation, is the new GDPR regulation. Helena Parrott has spoken with many business owners & clients about their preparations for the GDPR & the responses vary vastly. Some companies are very much of the mind set that it’s no different from the current data protection legislation & therefore are not making any changes; whereas, others have sought out her expertise to complete GDPR audits. Although the GDPR is similar to the current legislation, it’s far reaching ramifications, can & will felt as we move through the first year.
Through Virtually Smart Ltd’s Project Management & Business Support options, Helena Parrott’s immense knowledge & skills set continues to support those who cooperate & work alongside her. The Virtually Smart Ltd team pool their diverse resources & those who work in collaboration with Virtually Smart Ltd, reap the benefits within their businesses. It is this type of working relationship, built on expertise & trust, which can & does lead to long term partnerships, whereby a seamless mentoring process naturally develops; with business owners seeking out a VA’s insights & knowledge to drive their businesses forward.
For an appraisal of your business needs, contact Helena Parrott on 07954 994 769 or email helena@virtuallysmartltd.com
Alternatively contact us trough our contact form https://www.virtuallysmartltd.com/contact
