When you have a remote team, things can get even more challenging with opposite time zones, Zoom fatigue, and cultural differences.
Luckily, we’re here to help you navigate remote communication with your Filipino virtual assistant. Let’s get started:
Good communication helps you and your VA achieve alignment — a mutual understanding of expectations and values. Alignment leads to:
The more context and information you give your Filipino virtual assistant for their tasks, the more motivation they’ll have to complete them.
Say, for example, you want them to make a report on your brand’s digital marketing performance. If you provide them with a list of metrics to track and specify the purpose of the report, they’ll have a roadmap to follow. The result? A comprehensive analysis with valuable insights.
This goes for other tasks like writing blog posts, managing your inbox, and scheduling appointments in your calendar.
Being transparent with your team also helps with their productivity levels. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, employees are about five times more likely to boost their productivity when they are looped in on the company’s vision, policies, and any news that impacts them.
Sharing your long-term objectives and plans will allow your VA to deliver higher-quality output, reduce their uncertainty, and save time on back-and-forth.
Keeping your employees happy isn’t just about giving them a huge paycheck or throwing a monthly pizza party.
These help, but communication is still vital. Your team needs to feel seen. They want to know that they’re doing well and that the company can support them when they need help. You can nip a lot of problems in the bud with regular communication.
Having a team hundreds of miles away — with a distinct culture and societal norms — can make effective communication a challenge.
But it’s not impossible.
Here’s what you can do to improve remote communication with your Filipino team:
If you want to hire in the Philippines, then you have to understand how Filipinos are wired. They still have values and traits embedded in their culture despite embracing a lot of Western work practices.
Read more: How Is Filipino Work Culture Different from the US?
From day 1, let your Filipino virtual assistant know that they can share their questions, concerns, and ideas with you.
They may hesitate at first because they’re scared they’ll ask the wrong questions, so emphasize that you have an open-door policy. Any question, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, can lead to a valuable discussion.
1:1s provide an excellent opportunity to learn about your VA’s progress, wins, and challenges. These also allow you to get to know each other more, giving your assistant confidence in their role and helping you know what makes them tick.
Just make sure to have a consistent schedule for these check-ins and give your VA a heads-up in case you need to move the meeting to another time.
Make it a habit to acknowledge wins, no matter how big or small. It does wonders for your Filipino virtual assistant’s morale and encourages them to continue keeping up the good work.
Filipinos are conscious about saving face, so if you think they could have handled a task better, use your 1:1 to discuss it or relay your feedback via a private channel. Here’s a guide to help you deliver constructive criticism to your Filipino VA.
Pay close attention to what your VA is — and isn’t — saying during weekly check-ins, meetings, and even on the company meme channel.
You might notice:
If you have shy team members, this is the perfect way to know how they really feel. You can have it done every quarter or twice a year, depending on the need.
The survey can include:
Don’t discount the importance of camaraderie, even if all your employees are remote. It matters a lot to Filipinos.
In a typical Filipino office, it’s normal for co-workers to turn into second family members. They eat lunch together, surprise one another with cake on their birthdays, and have spontaneous get-togethers outside of work.
While your remote team can’t exactly do this, you can still promote close bonds by:
Since communication is a two-way street, we also want to share some advice with any Philippine virtual assistant reading this. Always remember:
When your boss critiques your work, it’s not a personal attack. Take it in stride and use it as fuel to be even better at what you do.
You were hired because you’re great at what you do. You’ve got the skills and knowledge for the job, so don’t hesitate to contribute your opinion. The company can use your input to improve SOPs, benefits, and more.
If you need something clarified, don’t be afraid to ask. You don’t want to leave any room for uncertainty.
Communication is the glue that holds a company together. It affects productivity, your employees’ happiness, and the business’ overall success.
Remote communication requires a lot of nurturing, but taking a proactive approach to building rapport between you and your new hire in the Philippines is worth it. Regular check-ins, active listening, and creating a positive work environment all contribute to a better working relationship — so does getting to know more about their culture.
Want to hire a talented Philippine virtual assistant? Let us know how we can help!
We'll find you amazing remote employees in the Philippines.
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