Choosing the Right Support:
Virtual Assistant vs. Operations Manager

Thinking about bringing in some help for your business, but not sure if you should go for a virtual assistant or an operations manager? It's a big decision, and there are a lot of factors to weigh up. In this blog post, we're going to dive into the details, comparing the roles of an operations manager and a virtual assistant so you can make the best choice for your company.

Making the shift from being a one-person show to a full-fledged CEO can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. We're here to guide you through the process, helping you feel confident about finding the perfect addition to your team—one that fits seamlessly with your business's current needs and future goals. Let's get started!

What Does an Operations Manager Do?

An operations manager is more of a manager role. As an operations manager, I help my clients streamline and organize the backend of their business. Ops managers don't implement tasks - we are planners, managers, organizers, etc.

If we manage your team for you, you can think of us as the go-between between you and the other team members.

We focus on the overall business operations.

If you are currently struggling with managing your team, and organizing your business systems or processes - you likely need an operations manager.  And if you don’t have a team yet but still struggle with being organized and systems, we can get things up for when you are ready to hire a team.

What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

A virtual assistant, on the other hand, is an implementer. They take the tasks and check them off their list. Most virtual assistants specialize in different types of services or roles, such as a tech virtual assistant or an admin virtual assistant.

You'll want to hire the right virtual assistant based on the type of help and tasks you want them to help you with. It’s essential to build a team of people who are in their zone of genius and love doing the tasks they are assigned. No matter how you build and grow your team, that should always be the goal and is important for your team culture.

Often I see biz owners fail when they hire a virtual assistant and expect them to work like an operations manager.  Virtual assistants will sometimes need more guidance or instruction whereas operation managers are more experienced and can take initiative with minimal instruction.

If you happen to hire a virtual assistant who takes initiative and just knows what to do, you may have hired an operations manager in disguise ;)

Wondering who to hire for your business needs?

If you're looking to delegate specific tasks and lighten your workload, hiring a virtual assistant might be the right choice for you. They can provide targeted support to help you focus on your core business activities.

On the other hand, if you're seeking comprehensive management and oversight of your business operations, an operations manager like myself could be the perfect fit. With my expertise, I can handle the day-to-day management tasks, allowing you to concentrate on strategic decision-making and business growth.

Ready to explore how I can support your business as an operations manager? Let's connect! Visit my services page for more details or head over to the shop for DIY options if you're not quite ready to hire yet.