It started with a little question at a LinkedIn Group for Virtual Assistants.  A question about what to do when the honeymoon phase of working with a client is over and a virtual assistant faces a struggle to keep delivering high quality work.

My first response was, “Are you nuts?“   A virtual professional doesn’t find the ‘attraction’ dropping off after the process is in order.  We now have work to do.  If anything, the so called honeymoon phase could be the most difficult time while the process is being refined. 

But, maybe there is more reality in the question than I cared to admit.  So, what would I do if I were in this situation and tempted to just give the work “a lick and a promise”?   Never mind what would kick it off….on my part or on the part of the client.  Blame goes no where, solutions are needed.

So, let’s pretend that it is a chilly workday morning in my snug, fully equipped, virtual office.  I’m physically prepared to deliver quality work.  Despite the point that you can’t see me, I’ve brushed my hair and teeth.  I have taken the dog for a brisk walk, fed the chickens, gotten another cup of coffee and I’m ready to get busy.

BUT, dahling, it just doesn’t go together in gold!   Time to engage the survival protocol.

I am a Red Leaf…I am paying attention to the possibility of this sort of block and recognize the signs early. I owe it to my client to achieve solutions.

I can give myself a swift kick and turbo the engines.  Or take another walk, this time with more meditation and self-searching.

I can change up the order of task performance.  As long as the list is fulfilled, doing the tasks in a different order gives a new perspective.  This can benefit me and the client in more ways than simply getting my energy re-engaged with the work.  There will surely be things that I see from this different perspective that can be improved for both of us.

I can look for new possibilities that will benefit my business and that of the client.  These could include updated technology, updated services (how long has it been since their WordPress was updated?), new books, new blogs.   Almost like new curtains and furniture around the office!

I can seriously look at the future with this client….maybe I am ready to move on even though there is no fault or flaw on the part of the client to put this ‘sand in my shoes.”    As a brave Red Leaf, I should work on transitioning that client to another professional as soon as possible and make every effort to have a seamless change in our virtual businesses.

It makes me GREEN to think that my professional delivery would ever even think about sloping off!  But, now that the topic has come up, it is intriguing. I’m going to discuss it with other VAs at other groups such as VAnetworking.com   As a super supportive tribe, we work together to develop protocols for best business practices.  We are virtual professionals who deliver professional level skills to clients and we are PROUD of it.  We won’t let a little thing like a headache destroy our virtual vision!

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Tagged as: BarJD Communications, honeymoon, Red Leaf, virtual assistant, virtual professional red leaf, writing