Should You Expect Your VA to Work Over Holidays?

by Prince Licaylicay | Feb 27, 2025 | Blog

Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) comes with many advantages, including flexibility and cost-effectiveness. But when it comes to holidays, many business owners wonder: Should your VA be expected to work during these times? Navigating this conversation with respect for cultural differences, clear communication, and fairness is crucial to maintaining a positive working relationship.

Understanding Different Cultural Holidays

One of the benefits of hiring a VA, particularly from regions like the Philippines, is access to a global talent pool. However, this also means that your VA may observe different holidays than you. Understanding and respecting these holidays is important when managing expectations.

For example, if you’re working with a virtual assistant from the Philippines, be aware of local holidays such as Christmas, New Year, and Holy Week. These are significant celebrations where your VA might expect time off.

How to Handle Cultural Differences:

• Research the holidays observed in your VA’s home country
• Ask your VA upfront about their holiday preferences and availability
• Be clear about your own business holiday schedule and expectations

Mutual understanding of each other’s holiday practices is essential for setting expectations from the start.

Setting Clear Expectations Early

When hiring a VA, it’s important to set expectations regarding holiday work well in advance. During the onboarding process, clarify your business’s holiday schedule and whether you expect your VA to be available during those times. Similarly, ask your VA about the holidays they observe and their availability during those periods.

Key Questions to Ask:

• Which holidays are you planning to observe?
• Are you willing to work during major holidays if needed?
• Should we plan in advance to manage workloads during holidays?

By addressing this early on, you avoid misunderstandings and ensure that both parties are on the same page.

Compensation for Holiday Work

If you do require your VA to work on a holiday, it’s only fair to compensate them accordingly. Offering higher pay for holiday work is standard practice, and it shows that you value their time and effort. Consider offering a holiday bonus or a higher hourly rate if they agree to work on a major holiday.

For instance, if your VA agrees to work during Christmas or New Year’s, paying them a higher rate or providing a holiday bonus is a good way to acknowledge their commitment.

Holiday Pay Best Practices:

• Offer a higher hourly rate or bonus for holiday work
• Consider offering time off in lieu if they work during a holiday
• Be clear about how and when holiday pay will be applied

Providing extra compensation creates a fair working relationship and ensures your VA feels appreciated for going the extra mile.

Balancing Workload During Holidays

One way to manage holiday workloads is to plan ahead. If you know that certain holidays will impact your VA’s availability, consider adjusting deadlines or redistributing tasks. This can prevent last-minute scrambling and ensure your business continues to run smoothly.

Strategies for Managing Holiday Work:

• Use a virtual assistant tool to schedule tasks in advance, ensuring they’re completed before the holidays
• Prioritize time-sensitive tasks early so your VA can enjoy their time off
• Consider temporary help or backup assistance during high-demand holiday periods

For example, if you know your VA won’t be available during a specific holiday, make sure any urgent tasks are completed beforehand, or explore the option of hiring an additional VA to cover the gap.

Offering Flexibility and Understanding

It’s important to approach holiday work with flexibility. Your VA may not be available during every holiday, and expecting them to work all the time can lead to burnout. Offering flexibility, such as allowing them to take extra time off after a holiday if they work during it, can go a long way in building a strong working relationship.

Examples of Flexibility:

• Allow your VA to take an additional day off after a holiday
• Offer flexible working hours during holiday seasons
• Let them choose which holidays they prefer to take off

This understanding fosters a positive work environment, even when you need to ask for extra support during busy times.

Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Remember, your VA deserves a healthy work-life balance just like any other employee. Allowing them time off to spend with their family and recharge is essential for their well-being. Ensuring your VA feels respected and valued, even during busy holiday periods, strengthens your working relationship in the long term.

Importance of Work-Life Balance:

• A balanced workload prevents burnout and keeps your VA motivated
• Allowing time off during holidays shows respect for their personal life
• A well-rested VA is more productive and efficient when they return to work

Giving your VA the space to enjoy their holidays will pay off in terms of loyalty, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.

Conclusion: Holiday Work and Mutual Respect

Deciding whether to expect your VA to work over the holidays comes down to clear communication, mutual respect, and fairness. By understanding cultural differences, setting expectations early, and offering fair compensation, you can navigate holiday work with ease. Flexibility and respect for your VA’s work-life balance will go a long way in maintaining a strong, positive working relationship.

In the end, a happy and well-rested VA will contribute more effectively to your business, ensuring long-term success.

The Evolution of AI Agents: Transforming Commercial Real Estate

by Prince Licaylicay | Feb 18, 2025 | Blog

AI agents are advancing at a breathtaking pace, reshaping industries—including commercial real estate (CRE). This evolution has profound implications for how CRE professionals manage workflows, analyze data, and interact with clients. From text-based automation to predictive AI, these advancements are streamlining processes, optimizing efficiency, and unlocking new opportunities in the industry.

Phase 1: Text-Based AI Agents in CRE

The journey began with text-based AI agents, where brokers and investors could leverage AI-powered platforms to generate property descriptions, draft contracts, and automate emails. Tools like ChatGPT and CRM-integrated AI assistants have made it easier to respond to client inquiries, conduct market analysis, and handle administrative tasks.

For CRE professionals, text-based AI has been a game-changer in saving time and reducing the effort spent on repetitive documentation. By simply inputting natural language prompts, brokers can generate reports, financial summaries, and even property marketing materials in seconds.

Phase 2: Voice-Based AI Agents in CRE

The next step in AI evolution introduced voice-based AI agents, enabling hands-free interactions with technology. Virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and voice-integrated CRM systems allow brokers to dictate notes, schedule property showings, and retrieve market data using simple voice commands.

In an industry where brokers are often on the go—conducting site visits, attending meetings, and negotiating deals—voice AI reduces the need to stop and type, making business operations more fluid. Imagine asking an AI, “What are the latest comps in this neighborhood?” and receiving an instant market analysis, all while driving to a property showing.

Phase 3: Brain-Computer Interfaces and CRE Decision-Making

While still in development, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) hold the potential to further revolutionize CRE decision-making. BCIs would enable brokers and investors to interact with AI simply by thinking, removing the need for physical inputs.

In the future, BCIs could allow for real-time analysis of investment opportunities, instant portfolio adjustments, and even mental commands to generate contracts or proposals. This phase of AI interaction will redefine efficiency, providing instant access to market insights without breaking focus on negotiations or client meetings.

Phase 4: Predictive AI Agents in CRE

Perhaps the most exciting advancement in AI technology for CRE is predictive AI agents. These systems analyze behavioral patterns, market trends, and economic indicators to anticipate future real estate needs. Instead of reacting to market shifts, brokers and investors can stay ahead with AI-driven insights.

Predictive AI in CRE will:

• Identify Investment Opportunities: AI can scan vast amounts of market data to highlight properties with high growth potential before they hit the market.
• Optimize Deal Flow: By analyzing client preferences and deal history, AI agents can suggest the best opportunities for investors, reducing time spent on research.
• Automate Lead Follow-Ups: AI will proactively engage with prospects, schedule meetings, and even send personalized updates based on buyer interest.
• Enhance Property Management: AI-driven automation will anticipate maintenance needs, tenant behaviors, and optimal lease structuring for maximum profitability.

Conclusion: AI’s Role in the Future of CRE

As AI agents evolve from text-based assistants to predictive systems, their role in the CRE industry will continue to expand. From handling administrative work to making strategic investment decisions, AI is shifting the way brokers, investors, and property managers operate.

The future of AI in commercial real estate is not just about efficiency—it’s about transformation. AI will empower professionals to make data-driven decisions faster, automate critical processes, and create a more seamless experience for clients. Those who embrace AI’s evolution will stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven market.

Our teams, both LeveragedCRE and LeveragedVA, effectively leverage AI daily to optimize multiple tasks, enhancing productivity and efficiency. We’ve currently integrated 8 different AI automations into our weekly workflow, to streamline our operations. Taking it a step further, we’re in the process of developing an innovative 20-Agent Voice-Based AI System, that will be designed to help our team and Virtual Assistants save an additional 20–30 hours per week.

If you’re curious about how this works and want to explore how these tools can benefit your business, we’d love to connect with you! Click here to schedule a quick discovery call or visit our website at LeveragedVA.com for more details.

Avoiding Burnout When Onboarding a New VA

by Prince Licaylicay | Feb 17, 2025 | Blog

Onboarding a new virtual assistant (VA) is an exciting time for any business. A VA can help ease your workload and handle essential tasks, allowing you to focus on growing your business. However, the onboarding process is critical, not just for getting your VA up to speed, but also for ensuring neither you nor your VA burns out during the transition. Without proper planning, you may overwhelm your VA or stretch yourself too thin while trying to manage the onboarding process.

The Importance of a Thoughtful Onboarding Process

Onboarding is about more than just training; it’s about setting your VA up for long-term success. A well-structured onboarding process gives your VA the tools, guidance, and support they need to understand your business, meet expectations, and perform their tasks efficiently. A rushed or disorganized onboarding can lead to confusion, frustration, and even burnout—both for you and your VA.

Why Burnout Happens During Onboarding:

• Overwhelming Amount of Information: Bombarding a VA with too much information too quickly can make them feel overwhelmed.
• Lack of Clear Instructions: Without clear instructions, your VA may struggle to prioritize tasks, leading to stress.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Expecting immediate results without allowing time for adjustment can lead to frustration and burnout.

By focusing on a step-by-step approach, you ensure that your VA learns at a manageable pace and that tasks are properly handled.

Gradually Pacing the Transition

One of the most common mistakes during onboarding is trying to offload too much work onto the VA right away. While it may be tempting to quickly assign a large workload, it’s important to start small and gradually scale up.

Tips for Pacing the Transition:

• Begin with Simple Tasks: Start by assigning straightforward tasks like email management, scheduling, or data entry. This gives your VA time to get comfortable with your systems.
• Increase Complexity Over Time: As your VA becomes familiar with your business, gradually introduce more complex tasks like customer support or project management.
• Monitor Progress: Keep track of how your VA is handling their workload. If they seem overwhelmed, reassess the pace and adjust expectations as needed.

A gradual approach allows your VA to build confidence while ensuring tasks are completed correctly.

Setting Realistic Expectations

It’s easy to assume that your VA will hit the ground running from day one, but this can be a recipe for burnout if they don’t have enough time to adjust. Setting realistic expectations from the start is crucial.

How to Set Clear Expectations:

• Clarify Deadlines: Be specific about when tasks should be completed and which tasks are most urgent.
• Communicate Job Responsibilities: Clearly outline what is expected in each role. This prevents confusion and helps your VA prioritize their workload.
• Allow Time for Learning: Your VA will need time to learn your business systems, processes, and tools. Don’t expect perfection right away.

Being transparent about timelines and expectations helps your VA manage their workload effectively without feeling pressured to deliver too quickly.

Providing Guidance and Resources

To avoid burnout, it’s essential to provide ongoing guidance and resources to help your VA succeed. A VA who feels supported is more likely to thrive in their role and avoid burnout.

Key Resources to Offer:

• Training Materials: Offer step-by-step guides, video tutorials, or written documentation that your VA can refer to.
• Access to Tools: Ensure your VA has access to all necessary tools, like project management platforms, communication tools, and a virtual assistant tool to manage tasks.
• Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular check-ins to discuss progress, address questions, and provide feedback. These check-ins allow your VA to feel connected and supported.

Supporting your VA through proper resources ensures they can perform their job without feeling overwhelmed.

Recognizing Early Signs of Burnout

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it builds up over time. Recognizing the early signs of burnout allows you to address issues before they become problematic.

Common Signs of Burnout:

• Missed Deadlines: If your VA is consistently missing deadlines or struggling to keep up, they may be overwhelmed.
• Decline in Quality: A drop in the quality of work, such as increased errors or incomplete tasks, can indicate that your VA is stressed.
• Lack of Enthusiasm: If your VA seems disengaged or less enthusiastic about their work, it’s a sign they may be feeling burnout.

If you notice these signs, it’s important to check in with your VA, assess their workload, and find ways to alleviate pressure.

Creating a Support Network

Another important way to prevent burnout during onboarding is to create a strong support network for your VA. This means not only offering guidance yourself but also connecting your VA with other team members or resources.

How to Build a Support Network:

• Assign a Mentor: If possible, pair your VA with another team member who can provide additional support.
• Encourage Peer Collaboration: Allow your VA to collaborate with other VAs or employees to share tips, solve problems, and feel part of the team.
• Foster Open Communication: Encourage your VA to voice concerns, ask questions, and offer suggestions for improving the onboarding process.

Having a support network ensures that your VA doesn’t feel isolated during onboarding and can reach out for help when needed.

Conclusion: Onboarding Without the Burnout

Onboarding a new VA can be a smooth and positive experience with the right approach. By pacing the transition, setting realistic expectations, and providing ongoing support, you can avoid burnout for both you and your VA. A thoughtful onboarding process not only sets your VA up for success but also creates a strong foundation for a long-term working relationship.

Avoiding burnout is key to maintaining a productive and motivated VA, which in turn helps your business thrive.