As a virtual subcontractor one of the biggest priorities you have is being able to keep things confidential. You ask what I mean by this. Not only do you need to keep their client's information confidential but you also need to keep the contractor's processes and policies confidential. Some call it "Trade Secrets." When contractor's are looking for a sub they need to be confident that they can hand things off to someone trust worthy.

So ask yourself and be honest. Do you think you can handle trade secrets of others? If you've done so in the past give others examples of how you did it and how difficult it may have been. Remember, no need to share all details Just an overview would be helpful.

June group topic http://www.virtualassistantforums.co...-road-success/

This is definitely a challenge because it is so tricky to even determine what is considered to be a trade secret. It's easy to say that formulas, patents, mergers, acquisitions, financial data, etc. are private. But sometimes a seemingly insignificant bit of info can become huge. I remember innocently being told about two colleagues who were seen at lunch together. I was able to put that observation together with other bits of information from a variety of sources and realized a major corporate reorganization that was in the works. I kept it to myself but it was soooo tempting to let others know how clever I was.
Chatting and sharing are a big part of our social makeup, but a big no-no in the business world. I live in a very rural area where personal and business relationships are so intertwined that any conversation is almost like public broadcasting. I always ask a client's permission before I even reveal that they are a client and I *never* discuss particulars that are tied to a client name.

Loose lips sink ships,

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Karen Cole, MBA
www.aveonservices.com

Yes, it is important to know what is confidential. Consider other jobs you have had and what part of your job involved confidential information. I have worked in the legal field so when tell clients I've done this type of work, usually I don't have to explain much more since they understand I know about confidentiality.

I think in many ways, I am blessed to be so remote from my current clients, potential conflicts are minimized.

It's a great point that Karen makes about business/social in a small community. As I gain clients in my local geographic area - they will know each other. Having worked in a local government office that was barraged with "favor" requests for specific type of information in the past, I've learned to guard the details of my work closely, even in casual conversation.

I'm quite protective of any information, perhaps too conservatively, but I stake the success of my business on my ethics and reputation for honesty and integrity.

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Crystal Coleman, The Northern Edge

This is a great topic. I don't think you can ever be too conservative when it comes to confidentiality. My past employment in engineering (often with state and federal agencies), a successful life coach/author and a large, national non-profit, confidentiality comes naturally for me. And I also look at it this way...I detest gossip and breaking confidentiality is the same as gossip, in my opinion. I also practice this in my private life and I can look at myself in the mirror and know that I'm a trustworthy person. That's important to me as well as my clients. As soon as I find a good Confidentiality Agreement, it will be one of the very first documents I draft!

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Barb
Iken Organize

In my life, confidentiality is just part of my day. You have probably seen me talking about my other job, I am a sexual assault advocate. In that job, it is imperative for me to be a confidant to my clients. What I see and what I hear cannot be discussed, period. Even if a detective asks me a question about what might have occurred, I have to respectively decline and direct them toward my client for answers. Sometimes the lines arent as clear as I would like but when in doubt? Keep quiet.

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www.sageva.com
Shelley Halpain,

I actually had a subconractor steal my contract once! They also stole my project management document. It can be very iffy getting involved with subcontractors when you are sharing so much information. Make sure there is lots of trust and an iron clad contract!

I had a client steal my contract and use it to hire another VA at a cheaper rate. The client however did come back and told me what she did then compensated me for using my contract.

This is a most interesting subject to me as it has been a huge problem with my other business I operate... in fact, one of the major reasons I want to try the VA industry instead. I can see where is could be a problem, especially if the items or information is to be used in your own locale.

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