Digital Marketplace

So far, we have been discussing all the skills a virtual assistant must possess and the responsibilities they would carry out. Conducting virtual meetings is one such responsibility. As a VA, you may need to onboard a new client, collaborate with team members, or present project updates; therefore, you must learn to conduct virtual meetings like a pro using tools like Zoom, Airmeet, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams.  Why Do Virtual Meetings Matter? In the freelance world, most of your collaborators will be virtual, so you need the ability to run smooth, efficient online meetings.  Getting your meeting going smoothly indicates your organizational skills and professionalism.  Poorly managed meetings are a waste of time and often leave clients in confusion and frustrated.  Imagine these 2 scenarios: Freelancer A :  Starts the meeting late. Doesn’t maintain order and decorum, so people talk over each other, which leads to no clear decisions being made before the mee...

Great communication is at the heart of every successful freelancer-client relationship.  An underrated but powerful skill you can develop as a freelancer is an active listening skill. Whether you are taking notes during a meeting, responding to a client’s concerns, or brainstorming solutions, mastering the art of active listening can set you apart from the competition. What Is Active Listening? It is great when you hear the words someone says to you in a meeting or a conversation, but active listening goes beyond just hearing. You must also learn to: Pay full attention to the speaker. Understand their message and intent. Respond thoughtfully and  Avoid distractions or interruptions. Think of active listening as building a bridge of trust and understanding between you and your client. Why Does Active Listening Matter for Freelancers? Yes, freelancing requires you to deliver quality work to your clients, but that's not all; you also need to, create a strong relation...

When communicating with others, make sure you speak in a way that they can understand, so that when they leave, they leave with the key message or takeaway you intended. As freelance executive assistants , apart from your routine job, you may also manage projects for your clients or represent them in meetings where their ideas must be conveyed to a team. Therefore, mastering the art of effective communication is invaluable. The Pyramid Principle: A Powerful Tool for Clear Communication The pyramid principle is a powerful tool for achieving clarity and structure in communication. It helps you organize your messages clearly and logically, ensuring your audience understands and retains the key points you aim to deliver. The Pyramid Principle , popularized by Barbara Minto (a renowned consultant and author), is based on presenting information in a top-down structure : Start with the main idea or conclusion. Follow it with supporting arguments . Provide specific details or evidence to a...

As a freelancer in administrative roles, you have the flexibility and freedom many people dream of. But with that freedom comes the responsibility to manage your own growth. Setting the right performance goals and learning intentions can be the key to staying competitive in a competitive market.  What are performance goals?  Performance goals are set when you want to hit certain numbers or achieve a particular target. They are helpful when there's something specific you want to achieve and you already have the skills or knowledge needed to achieve it. What are learning intentions? Learning Intentions, on the other hand, are mostly useful when building new skills and knowledge, especially when adapting to changes that challenge you to do things differently. Let's break down the steps for setting performance goals and learning intentions. Step 1: Create a clear vision:  You must have heard this a lot and it's beginning to sound like a cliche! I know! But it's a point th...