Just curious if you're a VA that has really gotten to the point of being able to hire a sub but didn't because you had a fear of the situation. If you could share with us what that fear is or was, it would be appreciated?

In order for us to help others it's beneficial to have a feel for what we need to educate them on.

I have worked with other VAs before but not on a subcontracting basis - I've just hired them based on their fee to do whatever it is I need done. As much as I need a VA, I can't afford to pay those rates on a regular basis though, so my outsourcing in that regard has been limited.

I have hesitated to bring anyone else on board in my business on a regular basis as a subcontractor because it is so hard for me to trust that work will be done to the level of my expectation. I'm SUPER picky and usually find that doing something myself is the best way to ensure it gets done right. However, this is not always the smartest way to run a business - I totally get that outsourcing is one component of growth, but can't get over that worry about quality control.

That's not to say that there aren't awesome subcontractors out there who wouldn't do a great job - this issue rests more with me than anything else.

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Hey Collette,

As a VA that subs for others, I'll try to give you my perspective and what I do when a VA is having a hard time handing work off.

First off, one can usually tell by what the VA says as to how hard it is for them to outsource to a sub. Most are upfront about their fear or control issues, but you can also tell by their reluctance, too, or stating that "I just want you on board for future projects." Hear that quaver in their voice and they sound on the verge of tears? They're scared spitless. (Just kidding with that last part - just a bit of my weird humor )

The two reasons I have found (mentioned above) is that it is usually fear- or control-based issues. What I do is give them reassurances, and regular updates on the work that they DID hand off to me. By communicating and giving regular updates, I have found that to help with the issue of fear of the situation. I also offer to do a "test" project (paid, of course), for them to get a feel as to how I work and to show that I do top-notch, quality work. (I'm a perfectionist!) If it is a control issue, I just hang in there and be patient and let them know that when they are ready to perhaps just give me a small task to do at first, as in "baby steps, please or I'm going to panic!"

Also, when first contacted to sub, there is always the "get to know each other" phase, so developing a rapport beforehand can help. With the fearful or control oriented contractor, this seems to help with the not-sure-I-want-to-do-this contractor and we do have more than the "normal" amount of back and forth before work gets handed off. Just jumping in with a task without getting to know each other hasn't been my experience and it seems to calm the skittish, apprehensive VA contractor by interacting even more than usual. After all your interactions if you don't feel comfortable, for whatever reason, try another VA; you'll find your perfect "fit" that could make all the difference in the world. Who knows, your fears might just melt away, and you'll wonder why you were apprehensive to begin with.

Tell the VA what you need from them, let them know that you may need more interaction to feel comfortable, that you are apprehensive, are not sure what you can hand off, and any other things you are feeling - a good VA sub will help to allay your fears, and s/he will not make you feel foolish for feeling as you do.

It's getting late, so I'm not sure if this helped to have the "other side of the fence" perspective, or if I articulated what I wanted to get across in a cohesive manner, but hopefully this will help a bit.

P.S. To potential VAs that are thinking about subbing out: Don't be skeered, it will be alright!

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Jules, SunRise Virtual Solutions - WordPress Customization & XHTML/CSS Web Sites

As a VA that works with sub-contractors in my business, I still find it hard to outsource certain items... most specifically audio and video editing. This area is hard for me because not only do I love to do it, but I have spent over two years honing in on these skills specifically... I trust myself and only myself, at this point, with this type of work. I have thought about it, but always always decide it is best for me to do. I know there may come a time when I won't be able to do it all myself and will have to seek out others, but until then... I just feel the most comfortable doing it myself. And, I enjoy it and it makes me happy.

I think being an office manager prior to starting my own business has helped me with subcontracting work I know I can trust someone else to handle, because really as an office manager I HAD to learn to let go. Initially, when my boss would give me projects to do, I would do everything little thing myself. When she took me aside one day and said, "Darlene, you have a team here to help you, when I give you a project, I don't expect you to do every little thing. Work with the team to get the projects done." And so, after some time, I learned to let go of certain things; I learned to delegate. I then was able to focus on the items I absolutely needed to handle. Which is pretty much how I handle working with sub-contractors in my business. Had I not had the office manager experience, I would probably have a big issue with letting go!

Darlene

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Jules and Darlene - you ladies are awesome! Communication and control are huge hindrances often times. Being honest, setting communication boundaries and learning to let go are great to communicate to other VAs you "sub" to. That is a great part of the "getting to know the other VA" process and the communication process.

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Sandra Milligen
The VA Success Coach

Originally Posted by lacombe

Jules and Darlene - you ladies are awesome! Communication and control are huge hindrances often times. Being honest, setting communication boundaries and learning to let go are great to communicate to other VAs you "sub" to. That is a great part of the "getting to know the other VA" process and the communication process.

Lacombe, curious are you a subcontractor or one that has hired them? It's intersting to hear which end people are on that respond to this post?

I do both working as a Subcontractor and working as someone who subs out the work. I myself have issues of control and worry that the VA will not complete the work or not complete it to my satisfaction. I have one other fear as well. What if my client does not pay me and I don't have the funds to pay the Subcontractor. Also what if my client is not satisfied with the work the VA does and I have to go back and ask them to redo it. I feel bad because they have to redo it especially if the Client is being overly picky or did not communicate properly what they wanted in the first place.

What I do in these situations -

As long as I have the funds already I will subcontract the work out. I won't subcontract the work out unless I have those funds already available to pay the Subctonractor. That way if the client does not pay I can still pay the Subcontractor.

As far as letting go and letting them do it. I just tell myself that I need the help and I have to trust someone else to do it. I have had a bad experience with this and one subcontractor did not do the work at all. They just dissappeared.

I try to get to know them. I ask them questions and chat with them for a while before hand. I also test them on simple projects and communications with me. To me communications is a BIG deal. If they will communicate with me they are more than half there with me making that decision to work with them. Once I decide to work with them I give them something small and simple that won't cost a lot of time or money if they fail to acheive the project goals. Just make sure to allow time for this project after the deadline you give them that way if it does fall through you have time to recover the project without the Client knowing that you had issues with it getting done, and you won't be late turning it in.

Communications, communications, communications... I cannot say enough about communications on both sides of the fence. It is utterly important and something we were taught in school. Communications is simple to do if both parties will actively take part in it.

If someone is having issues I want to know about them. If they cannot complete the project I want to know about it. Don't just evade or dissapear. Talk to me. So many issues can be resolved just by talking. COMMUNICATIONS!!!

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Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant