Amanda McVicker (00:07.342)
Hello and welcome back to today's episode of the OBM educator.
Amanda McVicker (00:16.43)
Today we're going to be talking about a question that I get a lot. And that is, how do I know if I'm already doing OBM work? Something that I say a lot is that VAs, especially really good VAs, are doing OBM work without really realizing it. They're what I call OBMs in disguise.
Amanda McVicker (00:50.092)
And what that means is not necessarily that...
Amanda McVicker (00:57.902)
their OBMs and they need to be making that shift like right now. But it's an opportunity for them to take a step back to see, okay, the work that I'm doing is actually not really aligned with the VA title. Do I want to make a change? So what we're going to talk about today are three different
signs or types of work that you may be doing as a virtual assistant that make you a great virtual assistant. And I'm sure that a client is super happy to have you as a virtual assistant, but really are more aligned with the OBM online business manager role. And so
Use this episode, you know, if you're kind of like teetering on, do I make this transition? How do I know that I'm ready? Like if you find yourself nodding along to the things that I'm talking about, like, yeah, I do that and I do that and I do that, then it really might be time to consider making that transition if that's the direction that you are wanting to go in your business. So let's get into it.
Amanda McVicker (02:24.236)
So the first way that you might know that you're already doing OBM work is if you are doing any of these following tasks slash services. I say that these are kind of like the big three for OBM. You can do whatever services you want as an OBM. You can add in if you like.
Writing content, add in content writing. If you like creating graphics, add in graphic design. There's a lot of flexibility with those things, but I think that these three things are pretty core for most clients that you are going to work with. You should expect to be doing these three things, and that is project management, team management, and systems management.
Amanda McVicker (03:19.008)
And so that's going to be managing a launch for a client, leading team members, being that buffer between the client, the CEO, and their team members. Setting up systems, doing audits, maintaining the systems, right? A lot of these things can be done by VAs.
Amanda McVicker (03:48.406)
and a lot of VAs do them and enjoy learning them and want to be doing them for their clients. But I just want to say here that those are more traditional OBM services versus VA. And so if you find yourself doing those things for your clients, enjoying them, wanting to learn more, that might be a clue that OBM is
more in line with what you want to be doing versus VA.
Amanda McVicker (04:26.968)
These are also more specialized skills. And what I mean by that is there's some learning that goes into managing a project. There's some learning that goes into managing a team. There's definitely learning in setting up systems. And so that's what makes it more advanced skills because there is
strategy behind them. There is knowledge that needs to be had behind it.
You can't really just decide one day, okay, I'm going to manage some projects, right? And so that's what makes it more of that high level task that OBMs do. But I know I see plenty of VAs who do it as well. But if you're looking to make that transition and you do those three things, that might be a sign.
Amanda McVicker (05:27.47)
The next one is not necessarily a ssss
Amanda McVicker (05:39.446)
a service. It's more a it's a soft skill. And it's forward thinking and kind of the idea of, you know, being more proactive versus being reactive. One of the things that when I talk about the differences of a VA and an OBM, I'm not really talking about skills. I'm talking about how they approach their work.
And so what I mean by that is VAs and not good or bad, just how the job is, are mostly waiting for stuff. They're waiting to be told what to do, usually by an OBM or by their client. There isn't too much forward thinking in, well, this is coming up. I'm going to get started on that, right?
And a lot of people who become VAs and want to stay as VAs, that's what they like. They like waiting for their to-do list and then knocking out their to-do list. For OBMs, you need to be more forward thinking. You need to be more proactive, right? For my clients, yes, they are giving me tasks and projects. But when I don't have those things, I have things to be working on because I know what is coming up.
I know that there's a launch next month and we need to get started on prepping that. I know that clients are off boarding and they need to be.
Amanda McVicker (07:24.43)
taken through the off-boarding process. I'm not waiting for a client to tell me that. I know that because I know what's going on in the business. And so one of the things, if you as a VA are finding yourself more forward-thinking, more proactive on things, that might be a sign that OBM is more in alignment with what you wanna be doing.
Amanda McVicker (07:53.87)
clients are really appreciative when they don't have to be the ones forward thinking.
Amanda McVicker (08:09.016)
They get to just be thinking about the vision and their CEO tasks. But if you are the one who is looking at the calendar, looking at what's coming up and taking care of those things.
like golden, right? That's what they're looking for in an OBM. And so if you do those things, or if you want to shift into doing those things, that's really going to be in alignment with the OBM position.
Amanda McVicker (08:50.764)
And then the last thing of, you know, maybe you're already doing this for your client and maybe that means you should be doing OBM stuff is having leadership, right? Like that's a soft skill. It can be learned, but a lot of us have leadership skills just kind of innate in us.
Amanda McVicker (09:18.336)
I know for me it's all those years of Girl Scouts. But if you can be a leader for your client, that is going to help you be such a successful OVM. And you might be doing this already as a VA. And so what that looks like.
Amanda McVicker (09:45.484)
because you might be like, what do you mean be the leader? Like the CEO is the leader of the company and that's true. But in the OBM client relationship, the OBM does want to kind of maintain that leadership position to guide the client to what is best strategically. And so if as a VA, you find yourself guiding your client, like, hey, you know, all of your ideas are super great, but hey, let's focus.
let's focus on this thing that you already set was a priority. That is OBM leadership right there. And definitely a sign that OBM is probably something that you should be doing.
It also is the same thing for leading team members.
Amanda McVicker (10:40.462)
Can you lead and guide team members to stay on track to finish their projects, to troubleshoot, to resolve conflict? That is going to help you be a great OBM.
and such an asset to your clients. And so if you are already doing this or if you have those leadership skills, I would really consider looking into the OBM role.
Amanda McVicker (11:26.518)
Now, if you were nodding along to any of those three areas and you're like, wow, yeah, I think OBM is the next right step. Like I'm ready to make that transition.
Amanda McVicker (12:02.86)
I want to share a little bit about my OBM sprints, which is my 30 day coaching slack.
Amanda McVicker (12:14.754)
container where we go through, I mean, whatever your goals are that you want to get out of those 30 days, it's totally customized to you. But we go back and forth in Slack. You share your
services, your packages, your pricing, your content, your client troubles, everything that's going on in your business. And for 30 days, you have me in your back pocket quite literally to ask any questions that you have about the transition to OBM or if you're already in OBM on how to grow and scale your business.
I'm currently booking spots for February and I have three spots available. So if you are wanting to get 30 days of coaching with me in Slack, check out the link in the description or send me a DM on Instagram if you have any questions.
Amanda McVicker (13:22.358)
I hope this was helpful for you and I hope that if you are a VA and you were nodding along as I was talking about these things that you start thinking about the transition to OVM and what that could look like. I'll talk with you guys next week. Bye.
