Whenever you embark on a new business venture it’s important to keep your expectations in check. It’s so easy to get carried away in the magic of a moment, believing that a new team member, a new project or a new partnership might be a life changing development for your business
When anticipations are high you can run the risk of having your hopes dashed when initial perception doesn’t quite match the reality of your situation.
This may come across as a tad pessimistic, but the truth is expectations impact our attitudes and mindset. When things don’t go as expected we lose motivation and feel like we can’t trust in our own judgement. For an entrepreneur, this can be crippling!
If you set your expectations too high you run this risk. Of course, setting expectations too low can be just as damaging – setting the bar low isn’t the greatest motivation to succeed.
A lot of outsourcing companies market themselves in a way as to present their Virtual Assistants as the answer to every business woe. And don’t get me wrong, utilised correctly a Virtual Assistant can be a valuable asset to any business – but they are not going to solve all your problems. With the right mindset and planning in place, you can strike the perfect balance where your expectations align with reality.
Here are a few universal truths that can be applied to any business venture that will help you set realistic expectations and get the most out of your outsourcing.
1. Start at the Beginning
Set things up then focus on developing over time. You will not perfect anything worth doing from the get go – you improve step by step and get a little better as things progresses. Take the time to build a great relationship with your Virtual Assistant.
2. Planning is Key
Educate yourself and setup your business so it is optimised to handle a virtual worker. This will make transitions with your new VA so much smoother and more efficient. By being realistic about the planning stage you’ll set yourself up for success.
3.Don’t Bite off more than you can Chew
Set modest and achievable targets. Dream big, but take the pathway there with sustainable and actionable goals. Don’t expect too much of your VA and yourself from the get go. Be kind to yourself.
4. Give it Time
Whatever your ambitions, in most situations, success takes time. You need to allow yourself the space and time to reach your goals. This also applies to outsourcing. Rome wasn’t built in a day – but have faith that with the right planning and processes you will get there.
5. Celebrate
In any successful journey it’s important to celebrate small wins! Acknowledging how far you’ve come helps you to gain perspective and sustain enthusiasm in your project. Be liberal with your praise for a job well done and celebrate your successes with your Virtual Assistant.
By developing and maintaining realistic and reasonable expectations you can stay in control and motivated – setting yourself up to maximise the potential of outsourcing and realising the long term success of your business.
Are you ready to set achievable and sustainable goals that will advance the growth of your business?
Book a free discovery call with Kristy today
