Sure, that’s part of it – but only a fraction of what’s possible. A VA can be so much more than just the hands behind the scenes: they can become your sparring partner. Someone who thinks along with you, asks questions, brings new ideas, and helps you develop your business – strategically, structurally, and as an equal.
I myself come from a hospitality background, worked abroad for years as an executive and management assistant, completed a full-time distance-learning bachelor’s in international management while relocating internationally and starting my business, and I’ve continually developed my skills in areas like automation with Zapier, email marketing, podcast and online course management.
I love optimizing processes, using tools smartly, and not just relieving entrepreneurs – but truly empowering them. It’s time to rethink what assistance means. In this article, you’ll learn how working with a VA not only helps you delegate tasks but also creates space for growth, structure, and real business development.
From Fetching Coffee to the Brain of the Business
The assistant role has undergone a major transformation in recent decades. What used to be reduced to typing, coffee runs, and filing is now a multifaceted, high-skill role with vision. Modern assistants are organizational pros, communication experts, tech-savvy, project managers, and business strategists all in one.
With digitization, the changing world of work, and increasingly complex business models, expectations have shifted: it’s no longer just about support – it’s about thinking, optimizing, and co-creating. In the virtual space, this shift is especially visible – it’s not about where someone works, but how smart and forward-thinking they are. This evolution makes one thing clear: assistance today isn’t a side job – it’s a key business role.
If you work with a VA, you’re not just getting help – you’re bringing on a partner who creates structure and enables growth. Are you still thinking of a VA as just someone to offload tasks to – or have you already considered the true growth potential of such a collaboration?
The Assistant of the Future – More Than AI Can Ever Replace
In 2024, I attended a workshop provocatively titled “The Big Competition: Success Strategies for Future Assistants in the Age of AI.”
We discussed how our profession is changing, which tasks remain – and more importantly, what role a truly good assistant should take on now and in the future. After a group exercise where we listed our tasks and strengths, these were the words that stood out:
∞ Connector
∞ Central Hub
∞ Manager for CEO & Team
∞ Feel-Good Manager
∞ Sparring Partner
These terms perfectly describe what modern assistance can do – and what AI can’t replace: creating connection. Understanding people. Capturing emotion. Thinking along. Building trust. Offering input. And it’s precisely these qualities that make a VA a strategic partner – not just a task-doer.
Why Do We Think Work Has to Feel Miserable?
Do you know that inner critic that pipes up the moment you slow down?
“It can’t be that easy. That doesn’t count as real work.”
“You can’t go for a walk in broad daylight – while everyone else is in the office!”
I spent a long time wondering where this came from – that constant pressure that work only counts if it’s hard. If it drains you. If you collapse into bed at night feeling like you earned your place in the world.
“Don’t confuse activity with productivity. Many people are simply busy being busy.” – Robin Sharma
I did some digging. Spoiler: It’s not a personal flaw – it’s cultural.
Our society is shaped by a work ethic born during the Industrial Revolution. Back then, working hard meant being virtuous. Taking a break meant being lazy. And with the Protestant work ethic, that idea was even moralized: work as purpose, as proof of discipline, as duty.
No wonder we often feel guilty when work feels easy – or when we plan time for ourselves.
But here’s the truth: just because it feels easy doesn’t mean it’s worth less. And just because you work from home in a structured way without being totally exhausted doesn’t mean you haven’t accomplished anything.
Maybe that’s exactly what the future of work is about: not working until you drop – but working smart, focused, and healthy.
The Assistant of the Future – More Than AI Can Ever Replace
In 2024, I attended a workshop provocatively titled “The Big Competition: Success Strategies for Future Assistants in the Age of AI.”
We discussed how our profession is changing, which tasks remain – and more importantly, what role a truly good assistant should take on now and in the future. After a group exercise where we listed our tasks and strengths, these were the words that stood out:
∞ Connector
∞ Central Hub
∞ Manager for CEO & Team
∞ Feel-Good Manager
∞ Sparring Partner
These terms perfectly describe what modern assistance can do – and what AI can’t replace: creating connection. Understanding people. Capturing emotion. Thinking along. Building trust. Offering input. And it’s precisely these qualities that make a VA a strategic partner – not just a task-doer.
The VA as a Strategic Partner
A great VA is so much more than a task machine checking off to-dos. She’s a valuable strategic partner who has your back and helps you reach your goals – not just operationally, but also in growing and evolving your business.
Thinking along, not just doing
It’s not just about delegation anymore – it’s about collaboration. A great VA brings not only organizational skills but a deep understanding of your goals and vision. With the right mindset, she can help streamline your day, improve workflows, implement automation, and offer fresh insights.
Imagine having someone at your side who not only gets things done but also actively questions and improves your processes. That means less time wasted – and more space for what truly matters.
Why VAs Bring Real Business Expertise
VAs are not just “helpers” – they’re often professionals with extensive knowledge in project management, digital systems, marketing, or strategy. The best VAs understand how businesses operate. They’re not just admin support – they’re business enablers.
A great VA spots opportunities before you do and brings in fresh ideas. She analyzes, structures, and helps implement meaningful changes that move you and your business forward.
Typical roles a VA can play:
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Your Right Hand: She understands your vision and supports its realization – through research, organization, and brainstorming.
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Your Idea Filter: She asks the right questions, helps you make decisions, and narrows your ideas down to what really counts.
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Your Impulse Giver: A VA working at eye level regularly brings new inspiration and challenges you to take fresh paths.
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Your Project Partner: She actively contributes to your projects with her process and project management know-how – from planning to execution.
Am I Ready for a VA?
Before jumping into sparring with a VA, take an honest look at your current situation. Do any of the following sound familiar?
• Do you regularly waste time on tasks that actually slow you down?
• Do you have ideas or projects that are stuck in the drawer because you’re missing the structure or mental space?
• Does your business feel more like “always on” than ease and freedom?
• Are you longing for someone who thinks along, supports you – and gives you honest feedback?
• Do you want to grow your business, but don’t want to carry it all on your own?
If you nodded along to several of these, it might be time to get support – not “someday,” but now.
Real-Life Examples from My Clients
What can a VA bring to your day-to-day business? A lot – especially if she’s not just executing but also improving and offering input. Here are a few examples from my work that show the potential of strategic collaboration:
♠ Process Optimization: Small Changes, Big Impact
Many entrepreneurs lose valuable time on manual tasks – whether it’s invoicing, client onboarding, or content publishing.
⇒ I fully automated podcast-related communication for one client – from publishing to newsletter announcements. This not only saved time but also boosted consistency and visibility.
⇒ Another client had a messy file system and unclear team processes. After introducing a clean cloud structure, an SOP guide, and a weekly rhythm, things ran much smoother – with fewer follow-ups.
♠ Business Input: Tools, Automation & Structure
A VA can bring fresh energy into stuck routines. I love testing tools, questioning workflows, and building systems that actually work.
⇒ With one client, we set up Zapier workflows connecting her online shop, email tool, and Notion – what used to be repetitive admin is now automated.
⇒ I also suggested switching project management tools to one better suited for her team – including training and implementation. Result: more clarity, less chaos.
♠ Future-Minded Support: Embracing Challenges
A good VA can also push back – in a kind, constructive way. Especially when you’re juggling a million CEO tasks, it helps to have someone who challenges you, asking:
“Do we really still need this?” or “Isn’t there a simpler way?”
⇒ In one project, I encouraged a client to block out a weekly CEO Day – for strategy, education, and deep work. She was skeptical at first – now she wouldn’t go without it.
That’s the magic of great collaboration: you don’t grow despite your VA – you grow because of her.
Collaboration at Eye Level – in a Nutshell
To truly benefit from a VA as a sparring partner, one thing is essential: strong, trust-based collaboration. That means clear communication, mutual trust, and honest feedback. Only then can a connection grow that delivers real progress – not just task completion.
Curious how that works in practice? Check out these articles:
How Much Does a Good VA Cost?
♦ A question I’m often asked: What does a VA actually cost?
♦ The answer: it depends – on scope, responsibilities, and quality.
♦ A good VA isn’t a cheap assistant – she’s an investment in your business.
♦ She saves you time, energy, mistakes, missed opportunities – and sometimes even clients.
♦ Or in other words: what you gain from a truly great VA often can’t be measured in euros – but you’ll feel it quickly.
Conclusion: Thinking Along, Not Just Doing – What Real Assistance Means Today
Virtual assistance is no longer just a task-completion service. It’s about trust, foresight, and real partnership. Hiring a VA means choosing not just relief, but a new level of collaboration.
Many of my clients say their daily lives have improved since I started supporting them. Why? Because they no longer have to keep everything in their heads. Because workflows run more smoothly. And because they have someone at their side who doesn’t just do – but thinks ahead.
“Since Jacqueline joined, my day-to-day has completely changed. I can finally focus on what really matters. She’s efficient, easy to work with, brings fresh energy – and puts heart into everything she does.”
Assistance today is a true sparring partner role: structured, solution-oriented, with tech know-how and a keen sense for what matters – even when it hasn’t been said aloud.
“Jacqueline is my back office. She organizes my workday so I can focus on what’s essential. I know I can fully rely on her.”
Whether it’s regular support or project-based help – what matters most is attitude: reliable, proactive, forward-thinking.
“I needed someone who’s tech-savvy and tool-smart – and I found that in Jacqueline. I especially appreciate her straightforward approach and ability to anticipate needs.”
“Jacqueline handles tasks efficiently, thinks ahead, and brings valuable suggestions – which makes collaboration a breeze.”
Ready for Sparring?
Here’s how we can work together. If you felt a “yes” while reading this – that this is exactly what you’ve been missing – let’s talk. In a no-strings-attached intro call, we’ll find out if and how I can support you best – with no obligation, just clarity.
⇒ Book your intro call here
Or send me a message directly – I look forward to hearing from you!
About the author
I am Jacqueline, a self-employed virtual assistant, family manager and until recently a student on a distance learning Bachelor of International Management program.
During my time as an executive assistant, I realized that I like planning, organizing and structuring and that I have a talent for making other people’s lives “administratively” easier.
My mission as a VA is to give my clients more freedom, ease and time through my support – for a better work-life balance!
I am structured and organized and always have a smile on my face. I can familiarize myself with new software and systems very quickly and not only think about processes, but also like to develop them further (with you).
If you would like to know more about my background and my WORK – LIFE – BALANCE, please have a look at the page That’s me!over
