Last month we looked at what an Online Business Manager is and their responsibilities in helping grow your business. So now we’d like to look at the next step – how to maximise your success when partnering with an OBM.
As a business owner, you know that time is a finite (and therefore) precious resource. You also know that to grow your business, you must delegate tasks to others who can help you achieve your goals. That’s why you’ve reached out and arranged an online business manager.
But…
An online business manager isn’t a magician (or a mind reader)! Engaging with the help of an OBM is more like a dance between two people rather than a dictatorship. To make the most of the skills and expertise of your OBM, you will have to provide them with access and information about your business.
I want to share my top 3 tips for engaging an OBM. Follow these, and you’ll be tango-ing together beautifully in no time!
This really is the crux of the matter. If you only implement one tip, let it be this one. You can never over-communicate, especially when establishing your relationship with your OBM. Things to consider to ensure a smooth transition and onboarding would include;
Remember that your business and brand are essentially your “baby,” something you have nurtured and grown since birth – but your OBM is new. And while they have extensive experience in other people’s babies (ie other businesses, brands and entrepreneurs), yours is unique, and they’ll need help learning all about it. And the greater the detail you provide, the faster they’ll be able to get up to speed.
The Administration Agency Tip: We love having regular check-ins with our clients. This helps everyone to stay on the same page and resolve issues quickly. We find this is especially true of a new client – regular meeting helps set up the lines of communication.
A new working relationship with a skilled OBM is like a blank slate. As the client, YOU get to determine what your business goals are. Being clear from the start about what you want to achieve by engaging an OBM helps measure the partnership’s success. This is where SMART goals are invaluable. SMART is an acronym for; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.
For example, it is not beneficial to advise your OBM. “I want more clients”. Nothing about this statement is SMART. How can you measure what success will look like? What kind of clients? What do you mean by more? When do you need it to be done by?
Instead, you could expand it to be something like; Our current website conversion rate is sitting at 3%. By the end of this financial year, we need that figure to be 5%. This is much more specific and much more measurable!
And while an experienced OBM can work with you to define your goals (and make them SMART) you will need to be the driver of what you’re hoping to achieve.
Remember that working with a skilled OBM is like a dance. It’s a partnership of giving and taking, and that requires feedback. And that means feedback that goes BOTH ways. An OBM differs from a task-driven Virtual Assistant. An OBM is about relationships and working together to drive business success. But that can’t happen if one party is holding back information.
As awkward and uncomfortable as it is, getting comfortable with robust conversations about what’s working and what isn’t will form the basis of the ongoing partnership.
You will need to hear feedback about new ideas for your business. Perhaps things you haven’t thought of before or things you don’t think are possible. But being flexible and open to hearing these and engaging in a professional dialogue about it will only work towards achieving your goals.
Similarly, you need to be comfortable providing feedback in a calm and professional manner. An OBM can only support you as much as you let them, and if feedback is needed, withholding it will only hinder the ongoing relationship.
At the same time, be sure to give credit where credit is due. Not just to let them know you appreciate their hard work and dedication but because it’s a helpful indicator of what is working.
Collaborating with an online business manager can effectively expand your business and achieve your goals. Clear communication, SMART goal setting, and feedback can help you maximise your partnership and reach your business goals more quickly and efficiently.
The Administration Agency is an online service that helps business owners plan and execute tasks to maximise productivity while minimising costs. With The Administration Agency’s virtual business support services, you’ll be able to focus on what matters – running your business effectively while we take care of delivering outcomes that help take your business to the next level. We are passionate about tailoring our packages to support the unique needs of YOUR business. Book in for a discovery call today.
THE ADMINISTRATION AGENCY, an Australian owned and operated business who provides bespoke online and virtual support to businesses and organisations. We help by aligning our experts to provide solutions that promote growth, empower leadership, and optimise outcomes.
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