Hiring a virtual personal assistant is the single most beneficial thing to do as an entrepreneur or small business owner. Not only do they shave hours off your work week, but virtual assistants have the expertise to tackle those goring tasks at a much lower rate. Our team of virtual assistants are highly professional and can tackle any task you throw at them. This week we interviewed highly driven, Bronwyn Versfeld.

General:

Full name: Bronwyn Versfeld

Location: Cape Town

Meet Bronwyn:

How long have you been a VA and how long have you worked at Outsourcery?

I was in Sales & Marketing for 7 years before joining Outsourcery as an Executive Assistant. I joined the Outsourcery team in October 2016.

What do you enjoy most about being a VA at Outsourcery?

Firstly, the diversity of work. Since being at Outsourcery I have learnt so much in such a short space of time.

My client portfolio is so diverse in their sectors of Software Engineering, Fashion, Real Estate, even Osteopathy!

Secondly, the company culture. I absolutely LOVE the team I work with. Everyone is always so willing to help and share their knowledge and experience.

Also, adding to the company culture are the socials that are hosted monthly. From supping at Muizies to breakfasts at Knead, Hint Hunt Escape Games, Quiz Nights, Ten Pin Bowling… there is always so much fun had by all!

What are your key strengths that you pride yourself most on?

• Organizational Skills
• Time Management
• Ability to multitask
• Adaptability

Are there any weaknesses within your skill-set as a personal assistant that you have identified?

• None! I’m superwoman! Just kidding…
• My attention to detail – sometimes I dedicate a little too long to making a task perfect.
• I am aware of this and set myself deadlines to work so that I do not spend too long on individual tasks.

What have you learned from your career as a personal assistant thus far?

• It’s smarter to ask a million questions so you get something right the first time.
• Put in the extra effort – always!
• Ask for feedback. People respect when you ask for feedback.
• When your client takes the time to give constructive criticism, it means they think you’re worth it.
• Pay attention to detail. Triple-check your work.

How has your work ethic developed over the years to suit the requirements of different clients?

In business, being able to read people and quickly get a sense of who you’re dealing with is an invaluable skill.

I believe my experience in sales fully prepped me for this. You will encounter a range of client types and personalities.

Being able to identify which you are dealing with allows you to develop the right strategy to maximize your interactions with them.

What are your favourite components of your work as a Virtual Assistant?

Being a personal assistant isn’t just about diary management. Ask any successful CEO how they achieve their goals while battling a diary full of commitments, a deluge of emails and requests for their time, and most will say they couldn’t do it without their personal assistant.

PA’s are at the heart of organisations, working side-by-side with chief executives and leaders, playing a key role in supporting decisions.

Where a PA used to have a purely reactive role, they are now proactively finding new ways to improve processes and contribute to the goals of the organisation.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a PA?

• Managing a Big Load/Work-Life Balance.
• Time Management.
• Dealing with difficult people.

When delegating, what do you think are the important things to remember?

• Decide what to delegate.
• Pick the right people.
• Communicate clearly.
• Check-in, but don’t be overbearing.
• Be patient and understanding.
• Share in rewards and give credit where due.

What does a typical day/week look like working as a Virtual PA?

Part of the reason I love this job so much… there’s no such thing as a typical day!

One day, I could be spending half the day arranging meetings and the other half producing a PowerPoint presentation.

The next day I could be planning a property conference for 400 delegates all while arranging a trip to Munich for my clients family.

Every day is different.

What would you describe success as a PA?

As a Personal Assistant, we are invited every day to look for opportunities in each situation, assignment or challenge. Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.

“ Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer