Online collaboration is something that needs to be navigated well, in order to cultivate a healthy client-VA relationship.

Being able to work well together while managing different schedules and workloads is the key to getting things done.

The biggest time waster in virtual relationships is a lack of communication, so you are going to want to brush up on your communication skills if you want to be an amazing Virtual Assistant who helps you clients get things done right, the first time.

Here are 3 simple things that you can implement today that will help you better manage your client’s task list.

1. Production Calls

Using email or a project management system to keep track of new work requests and task status is a great way to make things easy for both client and VA. The client sends in a request for something to be done when it’s convenient for them, and the VA responds at a time that is convenient for him/her.

But nothing boosts your productivity like an actual phone call or video call. A quick 15 minute face to face (or voice to voice) check in. A production call can take place weekly or bi-weekly, or even monthly. It helps you have a real conversation with your client about what’s happening now, what is coming up, and helps to build your relationship. But it also increases your collaboration efforts because you can talk directly to each other about ways to be more efficient. Start doing a production call with your clients and you’ll see the difference it makes quickly.

2. Document Sharing

Sharing documents is another way to ensure that you are working as productively as possible with your clients. Google Drive and Dropbox are two very popular services that allow you to share documents with others. Putting documents in a shared location for both client and VA to access helps you avoid unnecessary back and forth emails looking for something. When everyone knows where to find what they need, they can go about their piece of the work puzzle whenever it’s convenient for them.

3. Password Manager

Managing passwords is a security issue, but it’s also a part of collaborating with your clients. When you have to access a client’s systems or platforms, being able to share passwords quickly and easily is essential. It also encourages you to use stronger passwords since you don’t have actually type them or read them out loud to someone.

Services like Roboform or LastPass are popular options for VAs who want to be able to manage and share passwords securely and easily with clients. They have simple sharing options so you never have to email passwords again. I prefer Roboform but many VAs also like LastPass. It’s a personal preference at the end of the day as they are pretty similar.

If you need help getting your VA business organized, look no further than your VA community! An annual membership in CAVA is the answer. CAVA is a professional association for Virtual Assistants in Canada. We provide community, visibility, resources, connections, training, client opportunities and so much more. Check out our full list of benefits here: https://canadianava.org/join-cava/

About the Author: Tracey D’Aviero is a Virtual Assistant Coach, Trainer, Speaker and Author. After operating a busy VA business of her own since 1996, Tracey began teaching others to run their VA businesses in 2010 through Your VA Mentor. She also owns CAVA VA association and now teaches and coaches VAs exclusively. She has a vast amount of experience working in many different industries which helps her to offer her students and coaching clients a unique perspective and sound advice. She is a proud advocate of the Virtual Assistant industry. Learn more about Tracey’s journey in the VA industry here.