Personal Effectiveness
Dec 10, 2024
Maxine H
At Virtalent, our growing team of Virtual Assistants dedicates on average 25% of their time managing client diaries. But what exactly does it take to manage a diary successfully? In this article, we’ll explore effective strategies to confidently manage your…....
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 01, 2024
Danielle Jones
An efficient virtual workspace isn't just a convenience. It's a necessity. The right setup can turn a potentially chaotic remote workday into a smooth, productive experience, no matter where you're working from. Thankfully, this has never been easier. Remote work…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 30, 2024
Danielle Jones
As a busy founder, dealing with objections can be one of the most challenging parts of the job. Whether it's client hesitation, concerns from your team, or supplier resistance, these situations can drain your time and energy. Finding the right…....
Personal Effectiveness
May 17, 2024
Danielle Jones
We are well and truly deep into Spring in the UK, and while the weather may not always reflect it, the urge to clear and clean our spaces is deeply rooted in our psyche for this time of year. It’s…....
Outsourcing & VAs
People
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 15, 2024
Danielle Jones
Founders often battle more than just market competition and financial constraints, namely founder loneliness. While it’s certainly less talked about, isolation and loneliness that come with the role are very common. And in the UK, with a busy and fast-moving…....
Personal Effectiveness
Dec 01, 2023
Danielle Jones
There is the old adage of time=money, and if you are an entrepreneur or sole trader, this is something you are more aware of than if you were an employee. However, being busy and being productive are often confused, and…....
Outsourcing & VAs
Personal Effectiveness
Nov 01, 2023
Danielle Jones
Starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur is a path that is filled with both challenges but also evolution. Most business owners in the UK start their company as a solo venture, normally fuelled by passion and a chance…....
Creativity
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 16, 2023
Danielle Jones
Creativity isn't just the reserve of artists or writers; it's the lifeblood that drives the heart of every successful business. Every business originates from a spark of an idea, proving that even seemingly non-creative enterprises spring from someone's imagination. Innovation…....
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 03, 2023
Danielle Jones
Every entrepreneur or business owner, whether just starting or seasoned in the business world, encounters the fear of failure at some point in their career. Whether you operate in the bustling streets of London or the peaceful, quiet countryside of…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 26, 2023
Danielle Jones
Emotions and business are two words that historically didn’t mix. Business has been, in the past, all about being the consummate professional and never showing your feelings. However, as time progressed, being more aware of your emotions and empathetic has…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 11, 2023
Danielle Jones
Entrepreneurship is a rewarding yet demanding journey. With the exhilarating highs of success come the pressures and challenges of steering a business. A staggering 45% of entrepreneurs report experiencing stress, according to a Gallup poll Compounding this, the UK’s deteriorating…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 04, 2023
Danielle Jones
One of the many reasons people choose to start on their own in business is a better work-life balance. In a recent survey by Mastercard, 58% of women stated that they were motivated by a better balance with their home…....
Personal Effectiveness
Aug 18, 2023
Danielle Jones
Starting, running or owning a business isn't a straight line to success. There's no path of continual upward trajectory after you begin, just rising and rising to victory in business. There are as many lows and downturns as there are…....
Personal Effectiveness
May 31, 2023
Danielle Jones
It’s incredibly easy to take the words that we use for granted. While there may be multiple ways to name something, each one comes with its own background of context and nuance. For many, “bold” can be interchangeably used with…....
Personal Effectiveness
May 18, 2023
Danielle Jones
Coaching is a word that has become more and more common in our daily lives over the last decade. While once reserved for sports teams and executives, coaching is now a powerful tool to help people reach their full potential.…....
Personal Effectiveness
May 03, 2023
Danielle Jones
There is a misconception in business that being a leader is about authority and being direct. However, this approach would not necessarily be the most effective for many businesses. It could even pigeonhole and hold back some potentially great leaders.…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 19, 2023
Danielle Jones
It seems almost too good to be true – that something as simple as body language can have a profound and measurable impact on our lives and businesses. However, this is precisely what Harvard Lecturer Amy Cuddy's TED Talk, "Your…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 29, 2022
Danielle Jones
Whether we like it or not, the only constant about the seasons is change and change is upon us once again. According to the NHS, the winter blues (otherwise known as seasonal affective disorder – SAD) affects more than two…....
Personal Effectiveness
Aug 26, 2022
SAM WILSON
What's all the fuss about? Here are 20 reasons to start a business. From better working hours to learning new skills, it makes sense to be an entrepreneur!....
Personal Effectiveness
Jul 26, 2022
Danielle Jones
Building a successful business is much more of a marathon than a sprint, but you need to start somewhere. Maybe you have a business idea, but don’t know where to start. We’ve put together a list of some business essentials…....
Personal Effectiveness
Mar 10, 2022
Danielle Jones
One of the things I keep hearing in our post-pandemic world, is how so many people have found that slowing down has been so good for their mental health. During the various lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, people were forced…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 02, 2022
Danielle Jones
Virtual admin services is probably a phrase that you have heard a lot in the last 18 months to 2 years, along with remote working, Virtual Assistant and working from home. But virtual admin support is something that has been…....
Personal Effectiveness
Dec 16, 2021
Danielle Jones
When running a business, dealing with customers of any kind and being able to deliver great customer service is invaluable to your business. It can take time and dedication but you could have a Virtual PA assist you to take…....
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 06, 2021
Danielle Jones
Running a business isn’t for the faint-hearted. As an entrepreneur, we’re sure you’ve met many people that would like to be in your shoes, but the majority never pursue their dream because they don’t know where to start. Those that…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 09, 2021
Danielle Jones
As a remote worker having a great home office setup can be a game-changer for increasing your productivity. A dedicated workspace, where you can really concentrate on your work, is invaluable to any professional working from home. As such, we…....
Personal Effectiveness
Aug 24, 2021
Danielle Jones
Spending time researching to-do list apps might feel like the ultimate way to procrastinate, meaning your actual to-do list languishes somewhat, waiting to be dealt with. Well, that’s why we are here, to give you our top recommendations for the…....
Personal Effectiveness
Aug 02, 2021
Danielle Jones
Looking for some time management tips? As an entrepreneur or a small business owner we’d hazard a guess that your mental to do list might look something a bit like this: Arrange that meeting with so and so Send out…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jul 06, 2021
Danielle Jones
If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that we can do almost anything remotely. Whether that’s catching up with friends and socialising, or working from home, we have managed to adapt our lives. And although we are…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jun 03, 2021
Danielle Jones
The life of any business owner or entrepreneur is a busy one. You want to eat well, but sometimes you struggle to do anything more than get a Deliveroo. What if you could have everything you need to make delicious,…....
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 02, 2020
Danielle Jones
There’s no doubt that 2020 will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. But there’s one headline that we’re seriously happy to see: one in five Brits have started their own business since the beginning of the coronavirus…....
Personal Effectiveness
May 05, 2020
SAM WILSON
The world is finally working remotely. Sure, it’s taken a deadly global pandemic for us to give it a go, but we have finally made the jump. At long last, we’re embracing the benefits of what technology has been able…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jul 26, 2019
SAM WILSON
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when faced with a ‘manic inbox’. That’s why learning to manage email overload is key: not only is it frustrating to spend so much time in your inbox, but we can often lose track of…....
Other
Outsourcing & VAs
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 16, 2019
SAM WILSON
Ah, a brand new year. A time to reflect on the one that’s just gone by, and a time to think about what we want for the one ahead. And time is what you need if you want to achieve…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 17, 2018
Danielle Jones
Our modern, busy lifestyles mean that these days most of us don’t get enough sleep. And whilst we may think we have bigger things to concern ourselves with than being ‘a bit tired’, there is an increasing body of evidence…....
Personal Effectiveness
Technology
Aug 17, 2018
Danielle Jones
Ah, the humble email. It is, without a doubt, an essential tool of modern business. It’s convenient, it’s quick and it’s less intrusive than a phone call. It allows us to run our businesses from anywhere in the world, at…....
Personal Effectiveness
Feb 26, 2018
Danielle Jones
As a business owner, it must be difficult to keep on top of everything that needs to be done. You have work tasks, domestic duties and social events. All of which impacts on your overall productivity. What I need is…....
Personal Effectiveness
Feb 15, 2018
Danielle Jones
To some, the idea of getting up earlier seems like a complete anathema. The thought of dragging yourself out of your deep slumber, possibly before the sun is even up, sends shivers down their spine. We are often told that…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 25, 2018
Danielle Jones
There is a common myth in our society that is so part of the norm and accepted as truth that it barely ever gets challenged. It is the idea that “the more you work, the more you produce” or “the…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 15, 2017
Danielle Jones
As someone who is running a business, your time is your most valuable asset. Making sure you make the most of your schedule is essential to your success and your bottom line. The only problem is you are so limited…....
Personal Effectiveness
Aug 28, 2017
Danielle Jones
One of the most challenging aspects of building any business is how to create habits within yourself to give you the best chance to succeed. In fact, this is one of the toughest things to do in life. Habits are…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jul 15, 2017
Danielle Jones
Work, sleep, work, sleep, work, sleep. This is often an all too familiar pattern of lifestyle when you are running your own business. There never seems to be time for anything else. You are constantly being pulled in so many…....
Personal Effectiveness
Mar 24, 2017
SAM WILSON
We all lead busy lives, constantly running out of time, flitting from one thing to another and the stress that runs alongside this plays a regular part in our daily life. With the constant plates we are spinning, if’s hard…....
Personal Effectiveness
Mar 13, 2017
SAM WILSON
You might not be surprised to learn that getting up early is a general trait among almost all “successful” people. If you’re reaching for the snooze button when that alarm kicks off and yearning for another five minutes, here are…....
Personal Effectiveness
Mar 06, 2017
SAM WILSON
Finding ways to get more things done is not always easy. If you have a busy lifestyle and there simply doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day, then see if our top tips below can make you more productive:…....
Personal Effectiveness
Feb 16, 2017
SAM WILSON
Entrepreneurs lead busy lives. Fact. Starting up businesses, getting ideas off the ground and putting in the hard yards to succeed is all part and parcel of the entrepreneurial calling. If you’re finding it all a bit too much, taking some time…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 03, 2017
SAM WILSON
Working from home can be a liberating and rewarding experience, but can also be a challenge for many entrepreneurs and professionals. You may have your home office set up complete with all the essentials you need to get your head…....
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 24, 2016
SAM WILSON
Any business owner will tell you that one of the major challenges they face is getting the right work life balance and learning to cope with stress. For any business owner there are a hundred and one different things to do –…....
Marketing
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 04, 2016
SAM WILSON
Taking a small business to the next level is the ambition of most entrepreneurs. Some businesses start up and stay at the same level, often because the owner wants it to remain manageable, while others suddenly begin to blossom and…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 14, 2016
SAM WILSON
The importance of having a business mentor cannot be underestimated. Most successful businessmen and women will readily admit they would not have got where they are today without good advice and support. A mentor provides more than just helpful tips.…....
Personal Effectiveness
Aug 14, 2016
SAM WILSON
Stoicism is a philosophical practice that is perfect for the real world. If you want to better overcome obstacles, approach challenges with a greater degree of success and be more resilient in business, you can learn a lot from this…....
Personal Effectiveness
Apr 08, 2016
SAM WILSON
Are you already a successful entrepreneur? You will already be familiar with the reality of starting a business in that case. It took a lot more time, money and commitment than you thought it would, right? Fortunately (though it certainly doesn’t feel like it…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jan 21, 2016
SAM WILSON
Running a small business can be extremely difficult. Some days you can feel “on top of the world”, with everything going exactly to plan and you feeling highly effective in your role as a Company Director, whereas others can leave you…....
Personal Effectiveness
Dec 12, 2015
SAM WILSON
As a follow up to our popular blog post entitled “The Guide to Ultimate Productivity”, which included a great infographic, we thought we would create a video version. Enjoy watching and please feel free to share!....
Personal Effectiveness
Jun 09, 2015
SAM WILSON
What does being a leader mean? Being charismatic, strong, confident, self-assured and so on. But what defines a great leader goes beyond these characteristics. Virtalent takes a look at the leadership skills you can develop in order to become a…....
Personal Effectiveness
Dec 16, 2014
SAM WILSON
Public speaking comes naturally for some of us. Yet for others, it can be one of the most daunting experiences. Here are our top 10 tips. Look people in the eye Firstly, you want to begin by looking your audience…....
Personal Effectiveness
Dec 02, 2014
SAM WILSON
As an entrepreneur, it can be the most exciting time of your life when you’re about to embark on your entrepreneurial journey. As self-assured individuals, we have a confidence that drives our desire to be an entrepreneur, but it’s also…....
Personal Effectiveness
Oct 09, 2014
SAM WILSON
It is important to decide on your own “game plan” (and actually stick to it!) if you want to realise your own personal ambitions. Remember, you should think of your business as a means to get where you want to be…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 30, 2014
SAM WILSON
Telling yourself to focus on one thing at a time may seem straightforward, and perhaps even obvious, but there are still so many people that we come into contact with that do try to do everything at once. This is not…....
Personal Effectiveness
Sep 23, 2014
SAM WILSON
Are you struggling to motivate yourself? Have you tried and failed to increase your motivation? Growing a business is hard work, but there is one simple trick that you can play on your mind to increase your motivation. Trust us, it really works!…....
Personal Effectiveness
Jul 09, 2014
SAM WILSON
We can all admit that there have been days when productivity hasn’t been as high as we’d have liked. Working at an optimum level of productivity can be hard to maintain, and very often it can seem that when we…....