Virtually Smart Ltd asks, how do you build successful business relationships?

Every business owner will experience clients leaving to explore other avenues or take their business needs in another direction. That loss of income can make an impact on the revenue of the business & it of course can knock the confidence of the business owner. Was it something you did or said? Are you not good enough?

However, there are rare times in business when it is necessary for a business to release a client from a contract & dissolve the association. This can be due to a change in business attitudes, the client becomes unreasonably demanding or it can be sometimes something as simple as a clash of business ideals & ethics; all part of the human condition. But how do you go about this? As a business owner, how do you manage to release a client & keep your confidence & integrity intact?

Helena Parrott VA (Virtual assistant) & Director of Virtually Smart Ltd explores this very conundrum in her blog ‘What happens when it doesn’t work out?…’  

“It’s never easy parting ways but sometimes things happen between a Client & a VA, circumstances change, businesses change, there might be a working style clash and occasionally business relationships just don’t work out.

I recently found myself in just such a position, whereby a business relationship was not moving in the direction I had initially envisaged, nor had been led to believe it would do. The initial relationship had been built on a relatively open handed cross over from the clients former VA. However, communications were sketchy, sporadic & sometimes inappropriately timed; leading to a fractured relationship, which I was professionally trying to juggle alongside my other valued clients.

The situation caused me a considerable amount of stress & upset, it played on my mind & allowed my old friend ‘imposter syndrome’ to creep in. In addition, I also noticed over the following weeks that it had really knocked my confidence & made me overthink other work I was doing. After much soul searching & my gut instincts winning through, I very politely & professionally ended the business relationship.

However, I have discovered that cutting ties with a client can be positive. It is a big learning curve & the experience has made me look at the way I work with clients & how I engage with them in the initial stages of building a business relationship. The process has made me update my onboarding processes, how I handle the communication in the setup process & has made me realise how important it is to follow your gut instinct. I was lucky this happened in the initial stages of my business, so I can adapt quickly with my still fluid processes.

The other important thing which came out of this development, was that it made me consider that some clients possibly are unsure how to work with a VA. Some clients may know they need one, but not necessarily what for. Here are some points for potential VA clients to consider when working with a VA & hopefully some useful information for VA’s just starting on their path.

Are you drowning in work, struggling with your to-do list,  your deadlines, feeling like there’s not enough hours in the day? Are there defined tasks you need to hand over to someone else? Do you need a ‘person’ someone to carry out ad hoc admin tasks under your instruction?

Or maybe you need someone to help you think more strategically about your business , what are you missing, how can you grow? Do you need help to achieve your goals? Do you need a business mentor?

Do you need social media support, updates, blogs, website management? Or do you need more specialised technical support?

Take some time to fathom what you really need. VA’s offer such a wide range of skills & knowing what you need, will give you a starting point & help you find a VA who has these skills. Speak to those around you, what do others think you need help with, what are the views of your team, where do they see gaps?

Most VA’s have a niche, a handful of specialist skills, so look for someone advertising those skills.  Spend some time researching & talking to VA’s. Most VA’s would happily spend some time discussing your needs & if we don’t have the skills you need, they probably know someone who does. VIP VA ( https://vipva.org/ ) offer a client matching service which could help you find exactly what you need.

Once you have found your VA, ensure you allocate the time to communicate with them directly. Your team will not convey the same passions & priorities that you do. Make sure your VA has all the information they might need to do the job effectively. Regular communication is useful in the first few weeks & beyond if necessary.

It is important you understand & respect your VA’s work ethics/practices & question do you share the same work ethic? Will your VA be available when you need them & do your working hours & expectations fit together? The clearer you are on all of these points, the less likely you will have any difficulties further down the line. It is important to recognise that your VA is more than likely a business owner too with other clients to manage. Most importantly it must be remembered that your VA is not your employee! Taking on a VA should very much be thought of as an investment rather than a business expense.”

With these very insightful words still resonating, we hope Virtually Smart Ltd has gone some way to exploring the necessities of appropriate, proactive, productive & evenly keeled business relationships,particularly between a business owner & a VA. VA’s are such a vitally important resource to be tapped in to. Whether they are supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs or corporate titans; a VA’s wide-ranging talents can help move a business forward. However, as Helena Parrott has explored, relationship building based on communication, trust & gut reactions; is fundamental to successful & long lasting business relationships.

Contact Virtually Smart Ltd for a conversation about your VA needs on T: 07954 994769 or contact us through our contact page.