As a Virtual Assistant working from home or remotely by yourself can be isolating. Not having the traditional office environment to socialise in or bounce ideas off other members of the team can leave you feeling out on a limb, or not a true part of the organisation. It can lead to imposter syndrome and doubting your own ability.

The last couple of years has demonstrated to the world that we can work effectively in many different scenarios and that being in the office truly isn't necessary. However, now that a lot of people are being instructed to return to the office and we are going back to the 'new norm', how does that affect Virtual Assistants? How do prospective clients perceive our services? Are we at a disadvantage now? Perhaps the pandemic has facilitated a shift in attitude and traditional attitudes have changed.

In order to make sure you are maximising your effectiveness, developing your client relationship and elevating your 'virtual' presence, you will need to put in the extra effort; here's some ways that you can put this into action:

1. Schedule regular 1:1 time with your client - book a regular weekly slot to talk via video call and make sure to stick to this.
2. If there are other colleagues and members of the organisation that you work alongside of, take the time to seek them out and suggest brainstorming sessions, virtual coffee meetups or other ways to integrate into that team mentality.
3. When you are starting with a new client, take the lead in communicating and emphasise how you see yourself as part of their team, not just an outsider. Be direct about the virtual aspect and talk about the ways you can contribute and what you are aiming to achieve for your client.

Virtual Assistants bring so much value, a wealth of knowledge, support and encouragement to a client and their organisation. Working remotely takes a lot of skill and planning and these are admirable attributes - make sure you know your worth and with the right amount of organisation and scheduling, you can show any client the benefits of virtual assistance.

On a personal note, I want to share an anecdote. When you really commit to a client, by building and nurturing the relationship the natural assumption is that you are part of their organisation. And, to prove it, this week I was taken to lunch at Home House for a team lunch with one of my clients, enjoying the glorious weather in the beautiful courtyard restaurant, wine flowing and a delicious 3 courses!!!!