As I travel around the world speaking about the benefits of using Virtual Assistants, I hear very few complaints from real estate professionals about their experience in working with them. It is another matter however, when I listen in on VAs sharing their "war" stories about working with less than ideal clients. Are you a good fit for working with a VA? —here is a real quick way to find out!

The following is reprinted with permission from the AssistU Website. AssistU is one of the top VA Training firms in the world.

People who are generally in a good position to work with VAs:

• Value relationships

• Easily see VAs as pros and equals in the relationship

• Have big goals

• Are somewhat cyber savvy, and well-organized

• Can articulate needs and desires

• Can let go of things easily

• Are trusting and trustworthy

• Are focused, centered, and organized

People who aren't in a good position to work with a VAs:

• Aren't online and who can't understand why this would work

• Have big egos, who are controlling, and/or arrogant

• Can't let go, who have to micromanage

• Think VAs are task-oriented, low-level employee types, rather than equals in the relationships they form with clients

• Live in the urgent, where everything is last minute, where they procrastinate then rush to deadline, where they need people at their beck and call because the work is the driver, rather than their driving the work

• Thrive on drama and who have to have drama surrounding them at all times

• Don't understand the power created in a relationship with a fantastic assistant

• Aren't easily trusting, or have issues with trusting others

• Aren't open to learning new ways of working and communicating

My personal favorite are those who "live in the urgent" and "thrive on drama." These are train wrecks always looking for a place to happen and are typically clueless about their plight.

A professional VA will not take on a client that exhibits any of the above negative traits. They simply can't afford to work with someone that makes their job unpleasant and difficult.

Remember, VAs are trying to achieve their "Fabulous Career" also where they do what they love to do (including for whom they love doing it), making a great living, and having the flexibility of working at home and having the free time they want.

They will help you achieve your fabulous career too —if you have mutual trust, respect, and let them do their job!

EDITOR'S NOTE: I know there are a few VAs that are less than professional —lack of professionalism happens in every industry. I've already written about how to tell the good ones from the not so good (ePOWER NEWS - Aug 2003).  The purpose of this article is to help you become a better VA client so they can do a better job for you.