The News Letter: Guest Columnists

Kathy Ritchie

Do Virtual Assistants Need To Be Cutthroat ???
by Kathy Ritchie

K.R. is our lead columnist and a regular contributor to this E.Zine.

Kathy Ritchie, MVA, CVA

The Virtual Assistance industry is growing, but there is still plenty of room left for collaboration and less for competition. StaffCentrix.com estimates 2,500 - 3,500 virtual assistants globally. What does this mean for you?

Plenty! With the rise in businesses - particularly the coaching industry - using virtual assistants, and only 3,500 of us globally, there is a huge need for qualified virtual assistants. By aligning ourselves with other virtual assistants, we can ensure that the Client's needs are met.

For instance, if I am unable to perform a project, for whatever reason, but can let the client know of another qualified virtual assistant, the client will remember the extra step I took in order to help them get their project completed. As virtual assistants, our first priority after our own promotion is to our clients.

Clients depend on virtual assistants to get the job done. Often they don't mind if you're unable to handle something and you send it out. Check with your client as to their preferences.

I don't believe in competition among members of our industry - this includes among our industry's associations. By truly becoming the meeting places and resources they claim they are, associations can help us far more by sharing resources and information than by fighting over members. Associations like International Association of Virtual Office Assistants and A Virtual Solution are the leaders in the "share" philosophy that needs to be adopted by more organizations. This sharing will only further the entire industry, by making many more resources available, more understanding by potential clients about what Virtual Assistants do, and finally, make the Virtual Assistance industry even more attractive to potential virtual assistants.

So, do Virtual Assistants need to be cutthroat? No! We are already an excellent tool for the future; by collaborating, we can become indispensable.

© Kathy A. Ritchie, 2001
Kathy Ritchie is a professional virtual assistant and owner of Ritchie Secretarial Service. She has over 12 years experience in office assistance and successful operation of a Virtual Office Assistance practice since June 1996. Visit her award winning website at www.thebestva.com or E.Mail kritchie@thebestva.com for more information.

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