The most successful projects always start out on the right foot. The project begins in the right way and is completed exactly as planned. You, the outsourcer, is pleased with the results and your Virtual Assistant is proud of a job well done. But, the question is, how can you get that to happen more often when you delegate projects or tasks? What is the exact first best step to take?

How to get there

Imagine that you are in a race with someone else. You will each be racing different routes but they are exactly the same length and skill level.

“No problem” you think to yourself, it just comes down to the skill of the racer”.

Then the race marshal tells you one more thing: The other racer will receive the route map, detailed instructions about when to speed up and when to slow down, as well as advanced notice about when to turn. They also know what the prize is. And they have a GPS device that gives them the exact location of where they are and where the finish line is.

You, on the other hand, don’t know where the finish line is and you will receive verbal instructions just moments before you need to make a turn. When you have to turn, you’ll hear the race marshal instruct you seconds before your turn.

No one would race against those kinds of odds, especially when the competitor is so much more equipped! Although that description of a race is ridiculous, it’s exactly how projects are delegated frequently! Project details are given on a “need-to-know” basis rather than sharing the larger vision of the company and the larger purpose of the project.

Here’s an example: A typical project instruction from a business owner to an assistant might go like this: “develop a social media strategy for me.” Period!

Lots of virtual assistants will get those kinds of instructions and still do a great job. But, they can do an even better job - and do it a lot more efficiently - when the instructions include the vision or the bigger picture.

Here’s an example of how better instructions will lead to a better outcome:

“I’d like to use social media to primarily position myself as an expert in my industry. I’d like to be able to share insights with people who are approaching the subject matter for the first time and I’d like to be able to engage them in a conversation that will ultimately drive them to my website. With that in mind, can you create a social media strategy for me?”

Wow, that is great detail and it makes the VA’s job so much easier. They might be able to ascertain from these instructions that some social media is more appropriate than others. And, they can zero in on specific action steps that will promote a big picture outcome.

The result?

There are several benefits to sharing your vision of the business and the bigger picture of your projects:

• Faster delivery of projects (because there is less wasted time on non-essentials)
• Lower cost (because of faster delivery)
• Better results (because the project is more likely going to be customized exactly to your needs)
• Helpful recommendations (because the VA may have done similar work in the past and can recommend ideas that might also accomplish your aims but are beyond the scope of the assigned project)

Homework

If you are already working with a VA, or you’re about to start, take a moment and create a brief document outlining your short, medium, and long term goals for the business. And, when you assign a project, spend a moment and provide a brief paragraph or two outlining what you hope to achieve from the project.

Remember

Your Virtual Assistants are cross trained in numerous skills and when they can see the whole picture they might be able to offer related business-building services or ideas that you hadn’t considered.