Three Ways to Say Yes to Success in Relationships
As virtual assistants, we know that building trusting relationships with clients is key to ensuring the success of our clients. We strive to build trust through competence in our professional work and displaying a character that exudes reliability, honesty, and a collaborative spirit in our professional and personal relations.
Applying skills, we have honed through the years and sharpening new or ‘less practiced’ skills is part of our everyday work, leading to our success and that of our clients. Here are just a few simple exercises to build trusting, successful relationships.
Say Yes to Yourself
Know what is important to you. What are you willing to compromise? What is non-negotiable? Which three things take priority above all else? (If unsure, take time to find and use a good value clarifying tool.)
Share those things with your partner/team member.
Say Yes to Your Partner/Team Member
Listen. Imagine being that person, seeing through his eyes and experience. Recognize and embrace your partner’s perspective and priorities.
Accept. Acknowledge that her perspective is about HER, not about YOU. You are becoming aware of what is most important to her and what motivates her.
Empower. Validate her perspective. Create options that capitalize on the experience and motivation behind that perspective.
Say Yes to a Win-Win
Acknowledge that there are always multiple options. Think creatively and imaginatively when negotiating – think outside the box!
Be willing to agree to disagree. Take turns implementing ideas, integrate multiple ideas or identify the common goal and focus on its effective and expedient completion, not on your own idea or opinion.
Remember you are one part of a team. It takes all parts to make an effective and winning team!
Before founding Trusty Oak, Amber spent five years at a rapidly growing digital agency based in Austin, TX. Four of those years, she was responsible for hiring and leading both local and virtual teams while working closely with clients ranging from CEOs to bestselling authors to build their brand online. As VP of Operations, Amber helped lead the company’s growth to #15 on Austin Business Journal’s Fast50 List in 2014.
As a female founder and leader of a company that has quickly established a recognizably special culture within a non-traditional workforce, Amber has energized and empowered women from diverse professional and personal backgrounds to go against the grain of historically standard female roles in business, technology, and leadership. Trusty Oak provides an opportunity for experienced admin and marketing professionals to work independently as freelancers, but with a supportive internal network consisting of other ambitious and resourceful remote workers.