The Tales and Travels of Taylor Made PA – VA Conference ’24

 

Published 19.10.2024

 

Hello!

I know. It’s been a while!

Last week I attended the annual VA Conference at the Hilton Bournemouth. For those that have been following me for a while will know that I am passionate about Learning and Development. This was one of the key reasons I decided to go freelance in the first place. Lack of personal development offered to me as the Assistant in the Corporate world.

 

Attending a Conference as an Introvert

As an introvert. A Conference full of people I don’t know is a daunting prospect and potentially uncomfortable situation to put myself in. But the network of amazing Virtual Assistants I have built up the past 6 years helps make it a great day meeting up with “colleagues”. Make introductions. Catch up with what others are or have been doing.

 

Conference Welcome

The Conference always starts with an Introduction from Amanda Johnson. Owner of both the VA Conference and the VA Training Academy. Military Veteran. Former VA. Someone who quote frankly liked the company so much, she brought it.

 

First Session of the Day

The opening session of the day was delivered by Judy Salmon, with a cameo from Rachel Guyat from the South West VA Collaboration, entitled “Be Proud of You”.

Judy reminded us that whilst most of us are uncomfortable receiving praise. You always say thank you when receiving a gift. So why not say thank you when receiving a compliment.

Be proud of what you can do. To you I may be simple. But to others it’s a skill that may make a huge change to them that makes a difference in their life. Be proud of it.

She went on to say. Think about how you want to be seen. A key skill many VA’s possess is listening. Not for what is being said. But for what is NOT being said.

And never, never, say, “I’m just a VA/PA/EA”.

She reminded us of the quote from Maya Angelou. “People will never forget how you made them feel.”

Be confident. Believe in what you can do.

Key to this is knowing your values. Know your why.

Do you people you work with fit with your values? Because they should.

And finally. STOP comparing yourself to others.

Be YOU. Be PROUD of you.

 

Second Session of the Day

Next up was Kate Kurdziej talking about “Scaling with Confidence: Master Client Boundaries for Success”.

She started the session with a quote.

“The happiest entrepreneurs aren’t the richest. They’re the ones that built a business that compliments their lives, rather than consumes it”.

Setting boundaries is the key to success.

• STOP de prioritising yourself by people pleasing
• STOP saying yes, when you mean no
• BE approachable, but not always available
• BE in charge of your own schedule
• BE aware that you are not compromising yourself

Client burnout is real. And managing clients that do not respect your boundaries can be challenging.

“If there is a patten in behaviour, there is a problem”.

She reminded us that not all clients are meant to stay with us.

Here are her 5 Steps to implementing boundaries

1. Systemise – set up processes to work for all clients
2. Training – set your availability and respond consistently
3. Communication – working style and preferences
4. Prioritise – your business needs
5. Detaching – it’s a contractual transaction

 

Key to be able to set and manage your boundaries is the foundation of your business. Contracts and Terms of Business.

• Set out your available times
• Advise your preferred communication channels
• Confirm your response times
• Set up regular meetings
• Establish deliverables and timescales
• Plan for time away and holiday

Do you have boundaries in place that will set you up for success?

 

Third Session of the Day

Next up was Suzy Sanders delivering a session entitled “Whats the Point?”

In a similar background, Suzy was a Career EA before setting up her VA Business.

She started her session by talking about purpose.

The definition of purpose is; why something exists or why something is done.

She asked the question, “How important is purpose to the people you work with”.

What is your purpose? What is your why?

• WHY did you start your business?
• WHAT does your business give to you?
• WHY do your clients choose to work with you?
• WHAT do your clients get from working with you?

If you know the answer to these questions. Take aligned action.

She finished her session asking us this.

What would make these people proud?

• 8-year-old you
• 80-year-old you

I think 8-year-old me would be proud of overcoming the adversity I faced. And 80-year-old me would be proud of my travels around the world.

What about yours?

 

Final session of the day

This session could have been marked as controversial. Delivered by Luke Williams. “The future of a VA in an AI World”.

There have been many times in my career that I have been asked if I am worried about AI taking my job. Those that don’t already think I am an AI myself..!

I think it may have been Lucy Brazier OBE that said to the Assistant community. “It won’t be AI that takes your jobs. It will be the Assistants using and embracing AI to do their jobs that will.”

Luke started his session talking about the evolution of generative AI.

• Text to Chatbots
• Text to Images
• Text to Audio
• Text to Video

Luke reiterated what I’ve heard before. AI will ALWAYS need human editing. Confirming what Lucy Brazier had said before.

Some of the tools that Luke talked about that can assist an Assistant are:

Otter AI

This is one my team already uses.

It’s a Transcription tool that can record the meeting and transcribe it.

But it does still require human involvement. Editing and adding in tone of voice.

We often use this for transcribing HR tribunals where the client records the meeting and delivers it to us for the write up.

But it can also be used to record a meeting or conversation that can then be used to summarise and create a sales pack from.

Co-Pilot for M365

In Word it can be used to rewrite paragraphs for you.

In Excel it can be used to help you make presentations look better. Also look at the add on tool “Python”.

Chat GPT (or similar)

Are you using this already? I love it!

Not only is it great for getting you started with copywriting and social media. Its good for data analytics too.

Chat GPT Advanced Voice will also be able to pick up on emotion. Are you ok?

Did you know you can even create your own version of Chat GPT that you can feed your own business documents into?

Caveat

With all AI tools. As a Business. Consider how you plan to use them. Think about the implications from an HR perspective and consider putting a policy in place for this.

• Where do you use AI
• What AI do you use

There is an EU AI Statement that could be adopted by the UK shortly. Read more here.

But the key message was to embrace AI. Ask yourself.

What do I want to do?

Is there a tool that could help me do that?

 

In Summary

Although this conference was essentially delivered to Virtual Assistants. We, like you, are Business Owners. And the lessons and learning apply to all Business Owners.

• Be proud of you
• Set and respect boundaries
• Know your purpose
• Embrace AI for growth

Which of these resonates with you the most?

 

Until next time!

 

Jules x