What Makes a Great Relationship with Your Virtual Assistant?

When you are running a creative or advertising business, time is your most precious commodity. Yet so often, it slips away under the weight of email interruptions, endless administration, and the constant demands of trying to manage everything at once. Many business owners find themselves pulled in too many directions, struggling to find time for strategic thinking, let alone quality time with family.

This is where a Virtual Assistant can be a pillar of support. A VA is not only there to tick off your to do list and blitz through jobs; the right Virtual Assistant can become a trusted partner who helps you work smarter. But before you unlock the benefits, there is an important question to answer: what makes a good Virtual Assistant, and how do you build a strong working relationship with one?

It is a question I am asked often by clients, particularly those who have never worked with a Virtual Assistant before. My answer is always the same. The recipe for success is built on three simple but vital ingredients: communication, respect and trust.

Why Communication Matters

Working with a Virtual Assistant means collaborating remotely, so communication is everything. The more openly and clearly you share your needs, goals, and expectations, the better your Virtual Assistant can help.

Good communication does not mean micro-managing or sending hundreds of voice notes. The real value of having a Virtual Assistant lies in freeing you from to-do list overwhelm so you can focus on more productive tasks. That only happens if you trust them to use their skills and judgement.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Be clear about outcomes and deadlines, but flexible about how the work is achieved
• Share the bigger picture so your VA understands the purpose behind tasks
• Give regular feedback, so they can refine how they support you
• Remember: your VA is in your corner, but they can't read your mind

When communication flows, you create time, energy, and mental space to get back to the work you love.

Creating a Partnership that Works for Both of You

Respect is at the heart of every successful relationship, and it is no different when working with a VA. A Virtual Assistant is often juggling multiple clients, so respecting their time and preferred work pattern is necessary. Sending work over at the last minute and expecting immediate results risks damaging the partnership.

Respect also means appreciating the dedication and experience that your Virtual Assistant brings. Many VAs, myself included, provide a broad range of services beyond administration, including content creation, scheduling, marketing, engagement and moderation, as well as branding, graphics, collateral and promotional pieces. When you respect these skills, you empower your Virtual Assistant to do their best work for you.

Respect is not about hierarchy, but about partnership. Consider your VA an important part of your team. Value their opinion as you would any other trusted colleague. You may be surprised at the fresh perspective or new ideas they can bring.

Trust That Builds Loyalty and Support

Trust takes time to build, but it is the foundation of everything. Without it, communication is strained and respect feels one-sided. With it, you unlock a relationship that is both strategic and supportive.

Trusting your Virtual Assistant means allowing them to take ownership of the tasks you delegate. It is tempting to give step-by-step instructions, but this can kill initiative and prevent you from seeing their full potential. Instead, use your judgement to decide how much detail to give, then let them run with it.

When you trust your Virtual Assistant, something powerful happens. They are not only motivated to deliver, but loyal to your business. They become your sounding board, timekeeper and confidante. They are no longer “just a task doer” but a safe pair of hands you can rely on, and a partner who wants to see your business thrive as much as you do.

Why Delegation Matters

At its heart, working with a VA is about delegation. You can't do it all yourself. If you try, you risk falling into a cycle of firefighting, missing opportunities, and even falling out of love with your business.

Delegating to a VA is not simply a way of shifting tasks off your plate. It is a smart way for small businesses to grow without the cost of a full-time employee. By handing over time-consuming or unproductive tasks, you add more hours to your day. You shorten that to do list and rediscover calm. You gain the peace of mind that comes from knowing a competent, flexible and efficient professional has things under control.

Most importantly, delegation unlocks time for you to spend on more productive tasks – whether that is developing new business, serving your customers better, or enjoying quality time with your family.

The Benefits of Collaboration

The VA industry thrives on collaboration over competition, and that spirit benefits clients too. If I can't support you with a particular request, I will almost certainly know someone who can. That is the beauty of working with a Virtual Assistant: you gain not only their skills but often access to a wider network of support.

At its best, the relationship with your VA is not transactional. It is a collaboration that delivers solutions, keeps you calm and focused, and helps you create a plan for your success.

A Relationship Built to Last

So, what makes a good Virtual Assistant? It is not only about being personable, efficient and loyal – though those qualities matter. It is about building a relationship based on communication, respect and trust.

When you treat your Virtual Assistant as more than “just another pair of hands”, you unlock the full value of their support. They become your right-hand person, your personal sounding board, and the perfect teammate. Together, you can tackle the overwhelm, bring order to disorder, and create the time and space you need to thrive – both in business and in life.