Focus can be defined as the amount of concentration or motivation that a person brings to a task. The art of living a balanced life requires focus.  A desire for a successful career necessitates an awareness of priorities from which balance emanates. Achieving focus in the professional arena is part of the battle.

Work, family – life in general can get in the way of routine. For example, forgetting a parent/teacher conference could start a misunderstanding at home or misfiled important documents may bring up questions of efficiency at work. Then there are days that even the most mundane can divert one’s attention to trivial stuff resulting in arguments or run-ins with colleagues.

Starting a three-year plan is important. There are those who say they aren’t able to make long term commitments. It should be noted that goals are strong anchors for staying on track. For example, if higher education is part of the three-year plan, saving a fixed amount of money every month can slowly make the goal real. Having a plan is to plot the start and end points of a journey.

Assembling a network of diverse minded professionals is another way to jumpstart a three-year plan. Attending parent circles activities, joining craft groups, or sports will create new acquaintances even enhance business contacts. It can bring dynamism, energy to a life that feels stationary, in particular for those in the virtual assistance industry.

Last but not least, staying healthy is important if a plan is to see reality. Eating balanced diets and getting adequate physical exercise must not be overlooked.

Planning for at least three years into the future insures a strong foundation on which a successful career can be constructed. To prevent burnout, a professional will use a plan as anchor for and reminder of goals. Focus is the implementing tool.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

For a career to thrive it is important to include acquiring new skills and sharpening old ones in long-term planning. Full time employees find themselves at a loss and bored at a job where they feel that they’ve learned everything. Burnout can be insidious and depression will have settled in before warning bells sounds.

Skill improvement and the acquisition of new ones can ward off the two Bs – boredom and burnout. How does one go about learning new skills when one is a full-time employee? The first step is to look at your job and find the imbedded tasks therein. For example, to become an indispensable researcher, you must be computer savvy and discerning in getting the information from print sources a well as web sites. Citation requirements must be met when using the work of others.

Next, volunteer to help at challenging tasks such as project management/implementation where you can learn from peers and are part of the decision-making. Close observation of teamwork and proximity to the process will enhance time management skills. Another way is work shadowing. To start, inquire from the human resource manager on the policies relative to it.

Then look at available short-term training, workshops, and conferences in the area. There may be courses in the skill you want to learn. Also remember to visit the local college or university to see if the institutions have relevant courses.

The right blend of competence and skills are needed in continuous employment. Some competencies are common across a wide range of jobs such as proficiency in the use of Excel. Become a member of one or two professional organizations to stay on top of trends and new developments.

Initiating a conversation with a supervisor or manager about skill acquisition is beneficial for both company and employee. Career progress largely depends on an employees’ desire to include learning in the long-term.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

Greek in origin, the word persona refers to the theatrical masks of stage performers of that era. In essence, personality is the face we present to the world. More often the than not, it is the real person although there are occasions that hiding behind a mask is the best option.

Personality is the sum total of a person’s unique thoughts, feelings, and actions. Some of the ways it can show are in language (words used in conversations and emails), social skills (manners), and attitude (world view).

Some questions to ask oneself  – who are you really? Are you the same person at work and at home? How about when you are with friends? Or is not your concern as a virtual assistant?

Regrettably employees that operate under the huge misconception that personality will not show online may find themselves pounding virtual streets sooner than later. It is easy to fall into a lackadaisical mindset because there’s no supervisor who’s looking over staff’s shoulders. Bear in mind that office work, virtual or not, requires professional behavior which means clients will sense who you really are despite being “invisible.”

Here are a few tips on getting a positive and approachable personality across to online customers and clients:

1. Follow instructions to the letter. Considered a cardinal rule for all virtual assistants, it solidifies business relationships. When unclear or in doubt, do not hesitate to ask questions.
2. Be organized. A disorganized assistant does not give clients the impression that tasks will be done and delivered on time.
3. Make maximum use of available technology such as Skype.

In an actual office, knowing how the boss likes her/his coffee is considered a way to begin a professional relationship. In the virtual world, however, creating a good rapport is only possible through excellent work performance. Being at your workstation on time, your accessibility via mobile phone or instant messaging are excellent first steps. A positive, optimistic, and sincere personality doesn’t just happen; it takes work and conscious thought to develop these traits.

Is it possible to have a successful business without positive relationship with clients? Maybe. But if business-client rapport is strong, more clients could be in the horizon.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

The word responsive, according to the Online Free Dictionary (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/), means the quick or favorable reaction to a suggestion or an initiative. By inference, responsiveness would be a trait in an individual or an employee, the ability to recognize and engage with people and clients’ changing demands. It could also mean that a worker listens and gets input from colleagues, building from their ideas while giving credit where it is due.

A responsive workforce can satisfy customers, which translates to repeat business for the company. Responsiveness also means being proactive such as introducing client-oriented projects by conducting surveys on buying trends or one that addresses complaints relative to company delivery of services. Certain policies can be modified, on a case-by-case basis, to suit clients’ needs such as adjusting hours of operations.

In the work environment, collaboration, empathy, and being proactive are the basics to becoming a responsive worker. From these starting point, one who is attentive to a client’s request for assistance such as in the use of recently purchased software will go a long way. Walking the client through the steps in software use and making an effort to remain pleasant at all times can ease the difficult experience, for example. The same client will have a positive impression of the company and will certainly feel that she is valued.

Remarkably, customers can have a high tolerance for businesses that pay attention to their problems. Showing appreciation by creating an electronic newsletter, one that chronicles solutions to frequently asked questions would keep customers connected to the company.

Being responsive implies awareness that clients are the reasons for the business to continue improving and streamlining its processes towards satisfying customers’ needs. It is also important to keep in mind that the qualities of teamwork, initiative, and active listening are the stepping-stones towards positive internal relationships resulting in a synergy between the company and its clients.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

At their first jobs, most entry-level employees tend to be reticent about their skills and abilities. This discreet attitude must not be an obstacle to developing a proactive mindset if they are interested in getting a management role in the company. It is important to note that all managers started somewhere. At each level of responsibility, practical and theoretical learning are essential to climbing the career ladder.

Much like settling in at a new house, a new job requires adjustment and adaptation to the protocols that are in place. Workers in both physical and virtual worlds take a couple of months to do this. Without noticing the passing of time, a newbie becomes a regular employee at the same company for several years during which time the thought of a promotion to management will have been mentioned at performance reviews.

One begins by offering to do more than the tasks indicated in the job description. Ask what steps are needed to get a promotion. In talking to a supervisor, proposing to assist at a project can jumpstart the process. Initiative is a great antidote to an harangue manager and an asset that will make an employee stand out.

However, there’s the corollary to the offer, which is to actually do and deliver on the promise. Make sure that if you agreed to do the first draft of the company’s annual report by the end of the week, it is done and sitting at the manager’s desk by Friday morning.

Sometimes precise steps towards climbing the career ladder are not available. Strengthen your skills by reading professional magazines and taking additional training. Make certain that tasks are finished and delivered on time. Continue to learn. When you believe you’ve acquired sufficient experience and knowledge necessary to become a team leader or a line manager, ask for it.

An awesome employee will be noticed; don’t let that shyness get in the way.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help