Military spouses are great problem solvers, researchers, and planners. But they can only do so much without the right ingredients. And that is where our clients come in.
We just celebrated our fifth anniversary and have learned a lot along the way. Here is what we have learned about our best clients:
Many small business owners care about the impact they are making in their communities and the world. Being able to employ a military spouse resonates with them. Our Freedom Makers are military spouses who are looking for meaningful work. Clients that want to provide that and support them are a great match for us.
Delegating successfully to someone working remotely means having workflows in
place or, at least, in mind. When a Freedom Maker can get things done without having to wait for the business owner, they are more efficient and can provide better results faster. In the end, that saves our clients money and helps their business grow.
In addition to workflows, feedback is always appreciated. Our best clients acknowledge when a Freedom Maker has submitted work or a question and provide feedback. That way a Freedom Maker can course correct as they move forward on future tasks and responsibilities. In the beginning, a virtual assistant/ client relationship is like an awkward dance as you learn about each other and your preferences for workstyle and communication. However, responsiveness is essential to having a successful Freedom Maker experience.
It goes without saying but sometimes business owners think they are ready to get help but are not actually ready because they are not ready to let go. It does take trust to start delegating to someone unknown. We do not allow our relationships to start blindly. We have Wilma, our Success Manager, who will follow up in the beginning closely to ensure that both the Freedom Maker and our client’s needs are being met. Our best clients understand that working with an agency like ours can provide the backstop needed because we can replace Freedom Makers if they are not a fit.
5. Understand they need to invest some time and energy up front
A Freedom Maker can only be as good as a client lets them be. Our best clients have spent the time upfront to show their Freedom Maker around their tools and workflows to get them up to speed. They recognized that the time invested in the beginning pays off huge in the long run. As mentioned above, it can be a bit more awkward in the beginning as you are creating the relationship, but our Freedom Makers are experienced and know how to keep things moving forward to ensure success.
6. Treat people with respect
Our Freedom Makers love to work and they love being part of their clients’ teams. And p
eople love working with great people. Our best
clients have created fun and engaging work environments for their teams. We Strive for Excellence at Freedom Makers so the relationships we form with our clients mean something to us. We want our clients’ businesses to succeed and grow. By welcoming a Freedom Maker to your team and treating them with the same respect will ensure a strong future.
Because we are a remote company, everything must be done online. Our best clients are at least comfortable around a computer and software in the cloud. There is only so much our Freedom Makers can do to support someone remotely if they are not able to find their way around online. We understand that many times our clients struggle with some platforms and our Freedom Makers are more than happy to take those reigns from them. However, we do need clients that are knowledgeable in email and how to communicate effectively with our Freedom Makers.
We have had the opportunity to work with so many great small business owners over the years. As we continually seek to improve, our clients will only get stronger too! Our guiding principle is a Strive for Excellence and that is what we expect from our Freedom Maker/ Client relationships.