Managing your daily grind can easily make you feel overwhelmed and overworked at times. But an investment in a virtual assistant just might help you to solve that problem. A small but growing phenomenon, virtual assistants are a great way to minimize overheads and get some much needed help. They are contractors that either work for agencies or themselves and they are only paid for hours that they actually work. There are no strings attached, no employee benefits to dish out and no need to buy a computer or lease an extra office space.

 But this phenomenon is not without its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. And while the benefits of having a virtual assistant far outweighs the negatives; employers still have the need to be sold. Virtual assistants have been around for ages, even before the name came about. In recent times, companies are becoming more accommodating to the idea of outsourcing their jobs to other individuals. What better way is there to save money than having to pay your employees less and still get the job done? Usually, you are paid set hours for the work week regardless of whether or not you have done any work. With outsourcing, you are better able to monitor and evaluate the work being done as you will only pay for the milestones that have been accomplished and the work that has been carried out. 

On the other hand, this decision is not without its fair share of outsourcing disadvantage. The process of selection and checking references becomes crucially important. Trust is essential for a business relationship of this nature to be profitable for both parties. In addition to that, as the employer, there has to be a methodology used that will ensure that your work is being delivered in a timely manner and the way you want while you limit the chances of your corporate information being out there for everyone to see.

Putting out a "virtual assistant wanted" can be the first step to opening up new possibilities for yourself and your organization. However, if you are not someone who likes relinquishing control or allows other to step in very easily, then this step may take a little longer than you expect. By creating a list, you can make this step easier and easier. These assignments may include booking a hotel for your next trip, due diligence on a business deal, locating that impossible to find hardback book or even data entry that will finally get those backed up files out the way. They will even ensure that you never miss another appointment.

Personal assistants used to be reserved for only the rich and famous; those who ran their own shows. Well, not anymore! This luxury item is now commercially available from Intelligent Office for much less. Delegating is a skill that you will come to love once you have started to get the hang of this system. You will not be disappointed. You can be productive and even start to look at ways that you can expand your company's business. You will find yourself closing more accounts and truly begin to enjoy being an entrepreneur and the choice that you have made to go off on your own. So if you are a budding company starting out and you need help in arranging your day to day activities, a virtual assistant just might help you to get there.

For more information on our Intelligent Assistants, please call Richard Rey at 305-777-1300 or email: Rrey@intelligentoffice.com