Have you ever been in the position that you were concerned that if you streamline a process at work, that you may be made redundant. Will a program take over the job you once held?
This is a similar thought pattern of someone who is handing over some of their time consuming tasks to an assistant (whether in house or virtual). However this should not be the case, by removing certain tasks from your forte you free yourself up for bigger and better things.
We will not sit here and tell you something without the proof to back our claim. Our very own Clients Account Manager, Josie Holt, was once the hesitant employee with her job at risk to another person. Did a Virtual Assistant take the job she once had? Yes, one did. However, she went on a journey from general administration to a foundation managerial role in an expanding start-up.
As one of the original team members of Hippo Business Services, Josie is the prime example of what could happen when you let go of your fears and take the risk.
“It was nerve-wracking. I was giving away some of my tasks and trying to train someone virtually, which I’ve never done before,” said Josie.
“I was used to training in-house admins for other companies, not a Virtual Assistant that would be taking over my tasks.”
When faced with a challenge at work, there are two ways to conquer it. You can let it over-take your mind, lingering the pessimistic thoughts taking over your focus, or you can fill your mind with optimism and how the change can have a positive impact on your life.
“It was going to help me, and help the business a lot. I would be able to do more than just general admin all the time,” Josie said.
“But it was quite hard to try and let go of the role that I was helping to outsource. In the end though, it’s been the best thing that I’ve done, because I moved from doing general admin to an Executive Assistant role. Then I came to HIPPO.”
In her new role at Hippo, Josie could keep the favourite parts of her previous job and create a role that allowed her to grow professionally and personally.
“I love change. I love to help other marketing companies outsource to VAs, because I knew what it felt like to do all the mundane tasks with those kinds of businesses,” she said.
“My job as Client Account Manager at HIPPO gives me the opportunity to travel as well. I would go to Sydney and Melbourne to onboard other clients and Virtual Assistants, and that makes the experience even better.”
None of this would have been possible for Josie, if it wasn’t for taking the risk of giving some of her tasks to another employee. Now, she adores working with both companies and Virtual Assistants to help them grow.
“The Virtual Assistants hiring process is one of my favourite things to do,” Josie said.
“I get to meet so many new people during it. I get to know their culture, about them as a person, and build a relationship with them even though they’re online.
“I’ve had one VA since the beginning, and she’s lovely. She’s become a friend.”
As our foundation employee embarks on her next personal adventure and taking a short sabbatical from Hippo Business Services, she has high hopes and aspirations for her long-awaited return.
“I would love a more comprehensive CRM system to learn when I come back,” Josie said.
“And I want to see the people taking over for me become more comfortable in the role. I’d like them to be confident in their abilities, and get things done at the snap of a finger-like I do at the moment.
“I’d also love to see overall growth from HIPPO – more clients, more VAs, everything.”
