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I get what your saying I'm an INTJ.

OUH! Somebody else who speaks the lingo! I'm an ESTJ! (Extravert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging)

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Sundi D. Hayes
Chief Virtual Officer - My Office Zilla
www.myofficezilla.com

I think it is nice to have a friendly, personal relationship with your client. You want that kind of open communication.

Kylie - I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I've decided that if I can't have that special connection with a large part of my clients I won't feel the work is valuable. I want to know my clients well enough to actually FEEL like their partner...making suggestions, raising valid concerns, caring for THEIR clients, etc. Does that make sense? I just don't think if a person looks at me as someone who simply "types up their stuff" I'll feel validated...See? It really is all about ME! :p

Make it a great day!

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Sundi D. Hayes
Chief Virtual Officer - My Office Zilla
www.myofficezilla.com

I'm open with my clients to a degree, but there's only one that knows the good, the bad & the ugly about my personal life and I know the good, the bad and the ugly about hers, too. We've been able to share that type of relationship because of the nature of our professional relationship.

I know VAs who consider their clients an extension of their family.

I think it depends on how you feel about that type of relationship.

Hi,

This is certainly a dilemma, where do you draw the line between friendship and business but like all the others have said it will depend on the individual client and how you connect.

It also differs between men and women, when dealing with men they tend to be more business like, while women like to connect on a total different level and that is fine, just as long as both parties are satisfied with the amount of personal details that are been shared.

I sure hope that I have some clients that I enjoy having the craic with while I am also getting paid

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Just in case anyone is curious all those ramblings above are based off of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (aka MBTI) which totally fascinates me!

Sundi, I must google this, I also love to know what type of person I am.

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Vicky
www.c-vas.eu

I think it depends on the client. Most of my clients right now know that I am a devoted family person. Some are great, and I am building good relationships with them. One in particular is a huge control person, and doesn't even want me on the phone with my kids, when I am picking up work from their office. Push comes to shove, my kids will always be put first, but I think the comment about taking it case by case, it's very true! If my clients can't understand that my family is who I am, then I don't want them as a client.

Like Dana, I only have one client who knows just about everything about me and I about her. We are the same age, same number of children who are approximately the same age, etc.

We have a virtual Christmas party each year where we have our husbands fetch & step our snacks and wine while we Skype with our cameras and enjoy about 3 hours of talk, fun, giggles, and more.

My other clients are great and friendly and I make sure to always ask how they are doing, how their weekend was, etc.

But - only one hula hoop client.

Originally Posted by Sundi

Kylie - I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I've decided that if I can't have that special connection with a large part of my clients I won't feel the work is valuable. I want to know my clients well enough to actually FEEL like their partner...making suggestions, raising valid concerns, caring for THEIR clients, etc. Does that make sense? I just don't think if a person looks at me as someone who simply "types up their stuff" I'll feel validated...See? It really is all about ME! :p Make it a great day!

I'm right there with you, Sundi. I also have to feel like I'm a major player (to an extent, of course) in anything that I take part in. It's the only way that I can make something feel like it's "mine" and I definitely tend to take more pride in "my baby" than if I was just told what to do with no input whatsoever. Also, as far as becoming personal, it really does depend on the client but I also tend to want to go that extra mile more for people that I at least have somewhat of a personal connection with. Not that I absolutely need that connection, I think I just enjoy the work a whole lot more and actually enjoy the process of doing it and maybe making it better than what they may have envisioned rather than just trying to get it done "to spec" and moving on to something else.

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase :daisy:

I think it is based on the "chemistry" between you and your client(s). If you tend to share too much all the time and your client is not interested in your personal life then that client will either say so or find another VA. On the flip side if a client tends to share a lot a VA is more inclined to listen and share more to develop that relationship. Just a matter of chemistry.

I'm an INFJ (Introverted Intuitive Judging Feeling) counselor type. So while I tend not to share a lot, I do listen and offer advice (where solicited) or empathy where needed.

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Tania Knowes
Bonus Proficio
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"