You’ve spent time building your team, training, onboarding, and now your team is off and running. You are seeing your assistant checking things off their to-do list, communicating well with you, and propelling your business forward while also giving you a bit more free time. Even though all of these amazing things are happening, you are still left longing for more. You brought someone onto your team hoping to delegate some tasks, but now you realized that you are yearning for them to operate as more of a business partner...what now?!

The beauty of a Rock Solid Virtual Assistant is that they are FAR more than someone who can check an item off a to-do list, Our assistants have a genuine heart for their clients and have the potential to grow a heart for your business that mirrors yours- if you let them. How do you help them cross that line? Maybe you have been longing for more from them and aren’t sure how to propel them forward. Well, the reality is that YOU are the culture builder of your team, and the good news is that you can create an environment for your assistant to thrive. I am going to share 6 tips for empowering your assistant. Please know that this process takes time- it is not a science, but an art!

1.Trust before you are ready.

We understand that surrendering parts of your business to another person can be so scary. When you sense fear arising in you, remember why you sought help in the first place. You needed help! You also took the time to hire us, or interview assistants yourself. Trust yourself in that. Anytime you resist delegating, hold back from sharing your heart, or even fear handing over things like your inbox, remember why you built your team and lead with trust. Your assistant will sense this trust. The trust that they have not yet earned, but the trust that you have freely given, and they will step up!

2. Invest in the onboarding process.

Onboarding is labor intensive! Explaining every piece of your business to someone else can be a daunting task. Trust us when we say that if done well, this pays off! Onboarding happens in two ways. Of course you need to explain business logistics and show them around your systems. Logistics are important, access to accounts is important, but access to YOU is even more important. Keeping your life COMPLETELY separate from business will hurt you more than help you. You want your assistant to know your heart, too. They should become an extension of you and your heart as they do their work. Once you let them into these personal spaces- they will feel entrusted with more than just tasks, and they will step up! Let’s say that you have been working with your assistant for a few months now and feel the “onboarding window” has closed. Please know it is never too late to let your assistant even deeper into your heart and business.

3.Remove the bottle neck.

Many times, we are the ones who keep our people from truly flourishing in their roles. We entrust them to do certain tasks, but we feel we MUST have our eyes on every single one of them. Not only does this hold our assistants back, it also creates more work for you. If you are entrusting them with your social media accounts, truly hand them over. Yes, there is a place for checks and balances, but those should be routine. For example, if you want to have eyes on what is going out on your social media accounts, plan a day each week when all posts will be scheduled and give them a once over. No need to hand hold each and every post. Is your assistant communicating with your clients? Allow them to simply send the email without needing you to look it over. Your assistant knows your heart, has learned how you communicate, and is a professional. If you want something done differently, chat with them after the fact! This is normal, as your team should be giving feedback often. And remember, feedback goes both ways- ask them for feedback on you as a leader.

4.Ask them for their opinion.

Our assistants see you as an expert in your field, because you likely are! Sometimes we forget, though, that they are an expert in theirs. Not only that, but they have a fresh perspective that you may not be able to see. In your meetings, ask them what they think. Let them in on your brainstorming. Ask them to brainstorm a possible solution to an issue that you are having- and have them bring a solution! You may feel pressure to be the one with the answer to every problem, and an answer to every question. Free yourself from that pressure. Letting your assistant into these messy spaces shows that you have the humility to ask for help, and that you trust their judgement and expertise.

5.Actually use their ideas.

You’ve allowed them into your brainstorming session like we talked about in the last tip. You likely came with your own ideas as well. Take a risk and use some of their ideas. Having a client hear and implement an assistant’s idea communicates trust. When an assistant feels trusted, they will feel the freedom to share their ideas more and more. Working in a truly collaborative environment allows everyone to thrive and will only elevate your business!

6.Take time to encourage them.

Imagine having a work environment where you did not experience positive feedback. Even if you knew that you were showing up and getting things done well, hearing that you were appreciated and valued would go a long way. If you have not worked this into your normal leadership practices, start now! Calling out positive things as you see them, sending a card, celebrating wins, and just using the words THANK YOU can go further than you realize and only help the relationship. It also makes a healthier environment for constructive feedback as well.

Now that you have read through this list, take a minute to think about your team culture. Is it one that relies TOO MUCH on you, or is it one where people have space to step into their fullest potential? It is an environment where people check items off of a list, or one where there is heart lead collaboration as a team? Maybe take a risk and ask your assistant how they are feeling in this area. Scary? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely!

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