Reflecting on a blog I wrote as an educational VA and parent, I couldn’t help but notice the many parallels between being an entrepreneur and a teacher when dealing with problems. What interests me the most about this parallel is the difference in how we find solutions and who we put in charge of managing the solutions.
As entrepreneurs and employees, we face challenges every day—whether managing teams, meeting client needs, or improving internal processes. The ability to problem-solve is key to our success. Fostering a strong problem-solving mindset mirrors the lessons we teach children, helping them prepare for their future. Similarly, we must continually strengthen our own problem-solving skills to thrive in business.
A thought-provoking quote by Roger Lewin says, “Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.” This rings true not only in education but also in the workplace. In today’s fast-paced environment, we’re often pressed for time, which can lead to us providing quick solutions rather than giving ourselves or our teams the space to work through problems. But what would happen if we encouraged more exploration and critical thinking when faced with challenges?
Take, for example, one of my favorite classic stories, Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher. In the tale, a thirsty crow encounters a pitcher with water at the bottom but struggles to reach it. After several failed attempts, the crow notices some small pebbles nearby and begins dropping them into the pitcher, raising the water level enough for him to drink. This simple yet effective solution shows that problem-solving is often about thinking outside the box and not giving up after initial failures.
When we face problems in business, we must ask ourselves: Are we allowing our team members the space to explore solutions and offer suggestions, or are we stepping in too soon with the first “fix” that comes to mind? I’ve often found myself jumping to conclusions when I begin working on a new problem and trying to solve problems without all of the suggestions. However, giving employees the time and freedom to explore their own solutions is invaluable—it builds critical thinking, accountability, and confidence.
But what if your team is overwhelmed with too many tasks or lacks specialized skills to address certain problems? This is where Virtual Assistants (VAs) and business support companies like Littleton Virtual Services come into play.
Streamlining Operations and Improving Efficiency
One of the most common problems businesses face is managing time and resources effectively. Companies can delegate repetitive tasks by utilizing a Virtual Assistant (VA) like those at Littleton Virtual Services, freeing up time for employees to focus on higher-level problem-solving and strategy. A VA can handle everything from scheduling and data entry to managing emails and customer inquiries, ensuring that key team members can prioritize critical business challenges without getting bogged down by day-to-day administrative work.
Example: A busy entrepreneur struggling to balance client meetings with administrative duties can outsource these tasks to a VA, allowing them to spend more time developing business solutions and expanding their customer base.
Client Example: Littleton Virtual Services (LVS) has helped clients with invoice review and entry from subcontractors and vendors to a support the client accounts payable office. While the office worked with the IT department on building automations into their invoice processing software for travel, the VAs at LVS made sure that regular processing times did not suffer and allowed for additional testing time before the new upgrades went live. The new software updates decreased the processing time by nearly 50%, but without the short-term additional support, the client’s timeline on upgrades would have taken months rather than weeks.
Offering Specialized Skills on Demand
Sometimes, businesses encounter problems that require specialized skills or expertise that their current team doesn’t possess. Virtual Assistants can provide access to professionals with a wide range of skills, from social media management and customer service to advanced tech support and project management. Rather than hiring a full-time employee for each skill, businesses can leverage VAs to handle specific needs as they arise, solving problems more efficiently without a long-term commitment or a full-time salary requirement. These “part-time specialists” may also be referred to as “Fractional {insert specialty}” such as a Fractional HR Consultant.
Example: A company facing an urgent need to improve its social media presence can quickly bring in a VA experienced in digital marketing to solve the problem without the overhead of hiring a new employee. A video marketing strategist could consult on repurposing content on all of the social platforms.
Handling Overwhelming Workloads
When business owners or teams are overwhelmed with tasks, it can be hard to think clearly or make decisions. Virtual Assistants can step in to take over tasks that are preventing you from focusing on the bigger picture. By relieving the pressure of daily operations, VAs help business owners and employees stay focused on problem-solving and growth strategies, ensuring that problems are addressed quickly and effectively.
Example: During peak seasons or product launches, entrepreneurs can lean on VAs to manage customer service inquiries, order processing, or inventory tracking, allowing the team to focus on solving challenges related to scaling the business.
Client Example: The new year can be a very busy time for training companies that offer classes that meet government regulations. One of our clients adds additional hours at this time as they must update their training annually to meet all of the new state-specific requirements for dispensary staff. During this time, our team provides additional support in updating the client’s platforms to reflect all updates or changes to the class information and testing requirements. Because this is an annual process, our client is more effective with additional staff and focus. Our team allows them to better field customer questions and scheduling while knowing the updates are happening in the background.
Providing Flexibility in Crisis Management
Sometimes, businesses encounter unforeseen crises—a hurricane, a sudden surge in customer inquiries, a software malfunction, or a scheduling conflict. In these cases, a Virtual Assistant can quickly provide immediate support, helping address the situation and minimize disruption. VAs can help businesses pivot quickly, providing flexibility and stability during turbulent times.
Example: A business faces a technical issue with its online store during a product launch. A VA with technical expertise can jump in to assist with troubleshooting or liaising with IT professionals, allowing the business to address the crisis without missing a beat.
Client Example: This year, Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of the United States, causing flooding and mass destruction across many locations. Some areas are still digging out months later. During this time, Littleton Virtual Services was able to continue supporting client communications with their customers and students. Having a team that works from multiple locations, LVS ensured our clients’ businesses continued to move the needle while on-site staff focused on their families and communities.
Supporting Strategic Problem-Solving
Virtual Assistants and business support companies can also be an asset when it comes to strategic problem-solving. They can assist with research, project management, and data analysis, providing business owners with the information they need to make informed decisions. With their support, businesses can take a more data-driven approach to problem-solving, ensuring that decisions are based on accurate and up-to-date information.
Example: A business seeking to expand its operations to a new market can rely on a VA to research local market conditions, competitors, and customer preferences, ensuring the expansion strategy is well-informed and effective.
Client Example: LVS works with clients in many different fields. Some of our clients rely on conferences and symposiums to connect with their target audience on current advancements and training opportunities. Our team helps to organize information already available from each conference website to coordinate travel, ensure timely proposal submissions, and forecast the needed timelines for attending in future years. This research saves our clients time and allows them to focus on presentation information, training criteria, and connecting with their audiences before, during, and after the events.
In the fast-paced business world, problem-solving is a crucial skill for success. By fostering a mindset that encourages exploration, communication, and perseverance, you can develop an empowered team to solve challenges, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. When you partner with Virtual Assistants or business support companies like Littleton Virtual Services, you’ll have the additional support you need to navigate the inevitable hurdles of running a successful business.
Need help with that next business challenge? Schedule a free consultation to see how Littleton Virtual Services can support your team.