You know you need to delegate, and you have often heard the terms VA and OBM in the online space, but you still need clarification about what they do.
I understand that it can be confusing, so in this post, I will explain the key differences between an OBM and a VA, guiding you to identify the help your business needs to continue flourishing!
What are the main differences? :
A VA (Virtual Assistant) is a DOER in your business. That means they provide specific knowledge & skill to your team. For example, customer service, copywriting, tech, marketing, etc.
As the name implies, an OBM (Online business manager) is a MANAGER in your business. In other words, they support you in creating the perfect strategies and systems in the right way, at the right time, and most efficiently and effectively to turn your vision into reality!
What are their key responsibilities?
The VA works its magic, being responsible for specific tasks & projects (based on their area of expertise) and delivering them at the right time!
The OBM is in charge of managing all projects and team members to ensure all tasks are completed on time, ensuring progress is made toward the established business objectives.
What about planning?
The VA knows exactly what they need to do and organizes its time to ensure they deliver what is expected within the indicated time frame.
The OBM is there to ensure your vision comes to life. As the saying goes, “A goal without a plan is just a wish,” and that’s exactly what an OBM will help you with: planning the roadmap that will make your vision a reality. Once a plan is in place, they will help you set up the right systems to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently (Less reactive, more proactive!)
How do they relate to your team?
The VA is in contact with the team members, as needed, to complete their tasks & projects.
The OBM is the bridge that connects the entire team, checking on them daily to ensure they have everything they need to succeed at their job. The OBM is there to leverage the team members and the business owner’s talents and strengths and ensure that everyone works within their zone of genius while working together toward the business vision.
In essence, the VA is a specialist that works independently on specific tasks and generally relies on someone (project manager, the business owner, etc.) to guide them through what needs to be done.
The OBM, on the other hand, has a broad overview of the business and looks at it from different angles. They ensure goals are set, a plan is in place, and everyone on the team knows what to work on and when to achieve those goals.
So how do you know you are ready to work with an OBM?
1. Have you reached a point where your growth is stagnant, and you don’t know how to proceed”?
The first step is done- You have invested a lot of energy in establishing your offer and identifying what type of clients you want to connect with. You did it, and your effort is being rewarded- you made a consistent income in your business! The next step is to focus on building a foundation for your business to continue growing and achieving the next goal. This is where the OBM enters the big picture, working with you to establish the team and the corresponding strategies to reach it!
2. Do you feel like you are the bottleneck of your business?
When starting a business, you are the Chief of Everything, and with some dedication and effort, you can manage to get everything done. However, there is a moment when it starts getting in the way, and it becomes difficult to manage it all by yourself.
If you are the center of everything in your business, it can become overwhelming – making you feel like a “bottleneck” because all the difficulties and hustle must go through you. Of course, it’s normal that you feel this way because your time and energy are limited, and it can get difficult to give the same level of attention to everything happening in the business. In this case, an OBM will help you untangle the “knot”, freeing up time to focus on doing what you love, enjoying it, and bringing a little calm to your way of working.
3. Is all your time gone managing a team, leaving you drained and without the energy to focus on the things that matter most? Being in charge of the business day-to-day and, at the same time, managing your team (creating plans, making sure they have the resources to perform their tasks in the best way, etc.), you know, a lot of energy and time is invested! An OBM will come in to take responsibility for your team, manage your business’s day-to-day and lighten the load you’re carrying! – teamwork!
Do you feel your business needs a soul-led OBM?
Here are some questions for reflection: Do you feel like your business is getting bigger than you can handle? Do you realize you need another hand to organize your ideas and transform them into action? Are you experiencing that doing everything yourself is becoming exhausting and ineffective? Or do you feel stuck in the growth of your business? (If yes, an OBM would be a great help!).
Working with an OBM is not about delegating the responsibility of your business to someone else. On the contrary- it is teamwork! Working with another person who understands you and recognizes that growth requires dedication and constancy can bring clarity, solutions, and joy! It doesn’t matter if you are a solopreneur or a small or medium business – it’s always good to keep developing in a nurturing and sustainable way.
Consider asking yourself; what values are important to you? What do you want to transmit through your business? And what kind of person would you like to have by your side supporting you- Choose heartily what suits you best and resonates most with the essence of your business.
If you’re a person who values genuine connections and runs your business from the heart, I am here sharing this approach and willing to support you in this exciting journey of flourishing your business!
Want to know more about how I can support you? – Book a FREE discovery call!
