Delegating Without the Drama: How to Find the Right VA and Finally Take Work Off Your Plate

Nov 12

Cathy Baillargeon

Podcast Episode 277

Let’s be real, most business owners don’t start their companies thinking, “ I can’t wait to spend my evenings buried in admin work.”

But somehow, that’s where many end up - doing everything, feeling stuck, and wondering why growth feels so hard.

At some point, you hit that wall; you’re out of hours, out of energy, and drowning in the parts of your business that don’t light you up. That’s your cue - it’s time to delegate.

Why Waiting Costs You More Than You Think

When you hold onto every task out of guilt, fear of losing control, thinking you are the only one that knows how to do it right, you’re paying a hidden price.

Every hour you spend chasing invoices, managing your inbox and/or scheduling posts is an hour you’re not using to make money, nurture clients, or grow your brand.

As my guest, Cathy reminded me in this week’s episode - delegation isn’t just about getting help. It’s about reclaiming your time and sanity so you can focus on what actually starts to move the needle.

Where To Start (Even If You’re Not “Ready”)

If the idea of handing things off makes you throw up a little in your mouth, or break out in a sweat, start small!

As Cathy suggests beginning with three simple questions:

What do you hate doing?
What do you don’t do well?
What do you know you shouldn’t be doing?

Those tasks are your first to delegate. They’re draining your time and energy the most.

And no, you don’t need a binder full of SOP’s before you bring in someone. A good Virtual Assistant (VA) can help you build systems and document processes as you go. You can show them how you do something once on a quick screen-share, and they’ll turn it into a repeatable checklist.

Hiring Smart: What To Look For

The VA world has exploded - which means there’s a lot of talent, but also plenty of “I-can-do-everything” generalists who usually are not the right fit.

Cathy’s advice:

Talk to more than one candidate or agency. You’ll learn what’s possible and get a feel for how each works.
Hire before you are desperate. Waiting until everything’s on fire leads to rushed decisions.
Match their communication style to yours. Don’t twist your workflow to fit theirs 0 this is your business.
Know what kind of support you need. Agencies often provide backup coverage and team expertise, while independent VA’s can offer a closer one-to-one relationship.

The Real ROI of Letting Go
Delegating isn’t a sign that you’re lazy - it’s a sign you’re leading.

Every task you take off your plate gives you more bandwidth for the things only you can do - strategy, revenue generation, and vision.

And remember: delegation is a skill. You’ll get better at it the more you practice.

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” moment to hire help, it’s now. The longer you wait, the more time, energy, and money you waste doing work someone else could handle faster (and probably better).

Ready to learn exactly how to hire your dream VA - without the overwhelm?

Tune into this week’s episode for her step-by-step advice on finding the right support and finally freeing up your time.

Who is Cathy?

A former business consultant, is "Chief Cathy Officer" at Virtual Cathy, a highly-regarded virtual assisting agency specializing in providing comprehensive support to small business owners and non-profit organizations across the United States. Virtual Cathy offers a wide array of services, including executive assistance, administrative support, and social media management to clientele spanning over 30 different states and 4 countries internationally.

Leading a dedicated team of 15+ US-based Virtual Assistants, Cathy and her team are committed to delivering personalized and professional service to their clients.

Beyond her role as "Chief Cathy Officer," Cathy enjoys public speaking and is known for her engaging presentations on various aspects of business, delegation, and the transition from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial one. She frequently shares her expertise and insights with diverse audiences, further cementing her reputation as a thought leader in the field of virtual assistance and business development.