With ‘going virtual’ becoming a trend in the workplace, it’s key to understand the differences between a virtual team and virtual assistants before making any hiring decisions.
Though both have value, their capabilities and focus are very separate and distinct. It’s key to understand the difference to determine which will best suit your needs.
Virtual Teams
Virtual teams are typically comprised of a number of experts in their respective fields with complementary skills such as: project management, lead generation, marketing, graphic design, etc. These team members are professionals with years of experience. Most have an extensive background and have worked in the corporate world for many years, before making the decision to work virtually, to be their own boss and work with diverse clients not limited by their physical location.
Virtual teams are a literal ‘jack of all trades’ minus the ‘master of none’. The team dynamic allows for many people to work together and balance each other with their specific skills.
Virtual Assistants
Virtual assistants are just what the name implies – assistants. They often also come from a corporate background, although it tends to be in secretarial or administrative roles. As a ‘one man show’, they have limited capabilities and are best suited for simple tasks such as calendar or email management, travel arrangements or dictation. Virtual assistants are able to apply their specific skills to the tasks provided to them, but rarely have an additional person to collaborate with when they do not have the expertise for what they have been assigned.
Which one is right for you?
Whether a virtual team or virtual assistant is best for you depends entirely on your business needs. Please also keep in mind; a virtual team is not a grouping of virtual assistants.
If you’re just starting up and have very simple and straightforward tasks you need assistance with, a virtual assistant may be the best bet.
If you have an established business with a lot on the go and multiple needs, a virtual team is probably best suited for you.
You can learn more about how DemGen’s virtual team works by scheduling a Discovery Call.
© Tamara Smith, DemGen Inc. 2013
