During a recent webinar I taught , one of the attendees, Steven, asked, “I’m just getting started in my business. I’ve got lots of bills, tons of work to do but not a lot of income coming in. Would I benefit from building a team?”

Last week, during an interview by my friend and client Kendall Summerhawk, a woman in her program asked, “How do I know it’s time to add more people to my team without losing profitability?”

For the entrepreneur, cash flow is the make or break point. Interestingly enough, many of us will throw thousands of dollars at programs and products that suggest they will make us money but you will hold back from investing in the ONE KEY STRATEGY that is proven to help you achieve a six to seven figure income.

I’d like to help you identify 8 Keys to Know If It’s Time to Build a Virtual Team.

1. You want to grow fast but have limited time. This is crucial for people who are still employed, mothers of young children and people with multiple businesses. The fact is, you can only grow as fast as you have time to move your projects forward. A team can execute on work while you focus on other things.

2. You have more referrals than you can follow up with. This is a sign that you either: need an assistant to help filter out leads and get them in your funnel or you need to outsource work to others.

3. You are doing things that you hate, screw up or procrastinate. After I booked myself to Ft. Lauderdale when I needed to be in Orlando, I realized booking my own travel had to be delegated to my assistant. These tasks will cost you hundreds, if not thousands, until you delegate them to someone who loves the tasks. Bookkeeping, client invoicing, website updating, paperwork all fit here. P.S. That travel mistake cost me $500 extra dollars. =-(

4. You need and want more freedom to enjoy your life, but you can’t afford to be away from the business. The right team will be able to handle anything while you are gone.

5. You routinely are late, deliver incomplete projects or forget things you promise people. This is a sign that you have too much on your plate. Even delegating email management and phone call follow up can free up 8 – 10 hours a week!

6. You are an opportunity addict and don’t want to give that up. Let’s be honest. Some of you are just really good at new ideas and you don’t want that to stop. You thrive on the creative phase. But someone has to implement your ideas – that’s where a team comes in.

7. You are a speaker, information marketer, coach, consultant, service professional or business owner with more on their to-do list than time in the day. I guarantee you I can find at least 25 items in your to-do list that could easily and profitably be delegated!

8. You truly desire a six to seven figure income. The one thing that every successful person knows is that they could not have done it alone.

Last year I interviewed five 7- figure entrepreneurs who all said, “If I could do one thing differently, I wouldn’t have waited to build a team.”

Ready to build a team but still not sure how to pay for it? Tune in to our next edition and I’ll give you a simple formula to pay for a team. Or join us for the next Virtual Team Building Tele-Bootcamp starting September 12th.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/the-delegation-dilemma-8-keys-to-know-if-its-time-to-build-a-virtual-team-211255.html

About the Author:

About the Coach:

Melanie Benson Strick, The Entrepreneur’s Success Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige.

If you’re ready to stop working in your business and start working on your business, go to www.virtualteambuildingsecrets.com/secretweapon/ to learn the secret to growing your company to a six and seven-figure success without employees or a 90-hour work week!

The Virtual Assistant and client dynamic works best if the client has the following traits:

1. Somewhat technically savvy. You don’t have to be an expert on every program out there; but, you should at least be proficient with email and have a basic understanding of the Internet. You should also be willing to learn and grow in your computer knowledge as needed.
2. Able to communicate well. You will be in close contact with your Virtual Assistant (usually through email) so it is important to be able to state your expectations, deadlines, and other matters clearly. If you are unable or unwilling to talk about your needs and desires for your business, how will you expect your Virtual Assistant to assist you effectively?
3. Willing to let go. If you are controlling, arrogant or have a strong need to micromanage, there is no way a Virtual Assistant will be able to support you. She needs the freedom to do her work without the constant “mother hen” or “big brother” over her shoulder checking her work.
4. Willing to trust. Along the same lines, the Virtual Assistant/client partnership will prove to be difficult if you have trust issues. Trust is essential when dealing with any relationship; however, it is critical in virtual relationships. You are not there to see her as she works, so you must be willing to believe that she will do what she says she will.
5. Willing to delegate. If you are always thinking that you have to do this or that yourself, you will defeat the purpose of partnering with a Virtual Assistant. There are many, many things that you can pass on to a Virtual Assistant (or other expert, as the case may be). If you aren’t sure if something can be delegated, just ask. A top-notch Virtual Assistant will have her own systems for the delegation process and will make suggestions on how she can support you–listen!
6. Willing to put systems in place. The Virtual Assistant/client relationship does not work well if you are in a constant state of emergency/stress/chaos and have constant urgent deadlines. Virtual Assistants aren’t always readily available. They usually have more than one client and need to organize their work so as to be the most efficient and effective as possible. It is important for you to communicate well, give ample time for turnaround when delegating projects, and allow your Virtual Assistant to put systems in place.
7. Respects and appreciates the partnership. If you only view Virtual Assistants as employees or slave labor, the relationship will not thrive. Virtual Assistants are business owners and experts in administrative assisting. They are NOT low-end employees and should not be treated as such.

RESOURCE: For more information about how to successfully work with a Virtual Assistant, see the article “Working with Virtual Assistants” from the VACOC Client’s Guide to Virtual Assistants.

About the Author: Carol D’Annunzio is the owner of Divine Virtual Assistance, and with 18 years of administrative experience under her belt, she is proud to be the backbone of her clients’ success. She provides expert administrative support to coaches and writers, empowering them to take their businesses to the next level. To find out how Carol can support you in your business, visit her website at http://www.divineva.com.

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