Virtual Offices

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Why hire your own personal assistant?

March 12, 2010 - 11:01 am

Some managing directors have had negative experiences of hiring unreliable personal assistants. Driving a small or medium-sized enterprise forward is hard enough without the difficulties associated with underperforming staff. Absenteeism, forgetfulness or inefficiency can be the cause of considerable frustration.

It is not always a question of merely being frustrated. Missing an important message can have significant consequences. If a message is not conveyed properly, the resulting confusion may have a detrimental impact on a sensitive negotiation, for example. Answering calls inappropriately can give a terrible impression to clients. While a serial offender will doubtless be replaced swiftly, some damage to the reputation of the firm may already have been done.

Sometimes a personal assistant may be satisfactory in terms of their performance, but nevertheless may have irritating habits. For instance, they may be a compulsive talker who has difficulty in giving you the space to think. It could be the case that you are actually more productive when they are on holiday.  While some personal assistants are very proficient with regard to their duties and barely replaceable individuals, this cannot be ascertained prior to the hiring stage. This is because the relationship with a personal assistant depends on at least two people, so previous references may be irrelevant.

A virtual office can eliminate the need for a personal assistant. By providing a call answering service, a virtual office can be just what a small firm requires. Furthermore, all the potential costs and possible complications of hiring a personal assistant can be avoided.

The corporate world is increasingly a virtual one

March 11, 2010 - 10:00 am

Sometimes stating the obvious is not such a bad thing. Despite the bursting of the dot.com bubble about a decade ago, the virtual world has become an increasingly important part of the real economy. This is especially true in the affluent countries, some of which have little traditional manufacturing left. The virtual world can be depicted as an exciting capitalist frontier, a bit like the American West was in the nineteenth century.

Globalisation in the nineteenth century was a process which occurred under the partial control of the British Empire. It involved a speeding up of communication and an expansion of capitalist development. Since the 1970s, a new phase of globalisation has proceeded swiftly under the protection of the United States. While a multi-polar international economy may now be emerging, the current wave of communication-based progress has been substantially driven by powerful American corporations.

Many of our lives have been utterly transformed by the advent of internet shopping and the various types of social media. Many modern citizens are now prepared to use their credit cards online. Whatever directions these diverse phenomena take, it is not possible to imagine that large numbers of people could go back to previous ways of existence.

With the virtual world becoming so dominant, the requirement for a small firm to have a traditional office is becoming history. Virtual offices can work just fine and can provide the conventional office functions. It is even possible to suggest that the virtual office is the appropriate choice in a ‘virtualising’ age.

Virtual offices can reduce British commuting blues

March 6, 2010 - 4:20 pm

Commuting in Britain can sometimes be a grim experience. Whether travelling by car or public transport, the commuter can suffer from weariness and inconvenience on a regular basis. Particularly during inclement weather, getting to work can be an ordeal which can impact on the effectiveness of the individual concerned. Disruption to travel routes can lead to stress and this may be exacerbated by the fear of being late.

For those individuals who put in long hours at work, commuting nightmares can lead to feelings of irritability and the idea that they are under pressure. Crowded trains which break down or cars which fail to start can be a real cause of tension. If severe commuting difficulties persist over a considerable time period they can eventually cause sleep deprivation and contribute to poor health. In short, long commutes can impact adversely on work performance.

If you are setting up a new company, you have many choices to make with regard to your office location. Depending on the size of your staff and on other factors such as your industrial sector, it may be prudent to opt for a virtual office in London or elsewhere. Congestion can be severe in London and tube strikes can also be a problem. By going down the virtual office route, you can reduce your commuting costs and avoid the hordes of commuters.

There are many other positives associated with adopting flexible virtual office solutions. Especially when a firm is in its initial phase, considering the option can be an astute step to take.

A virtual carbon footprint

March 4, 2010 - 2:23 pm

Although a cold winter and some confusion about the science has increased scepticism about global warming in Britain, the scientific consensus relating to the need to limit carbon emissions to avoid the possibility of catastrophic climate change remains intact. Due to the failure of governments to deliver a coherent approach at Copenhagen, the need for action at all levels to address the issue persists. Firms and individuals are obliged to consider their contribution to global warming.

Research shows that car use is still one of the major ways in which British citizens contribute to the collective carbon footprint. The government recommends that individuals should try to reduce the amount of travelling they do in cars. Car manufacturers are intent on supplying vehicles which have less of an environmental impact than their predecessors. Progress may be very gradual and the email scandal at the University of East Anglia may not have helped, but the general trend towards ‘thinking green’ is having some effect.

However, traditional forms of car-based commuting can lead to large quantities of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. Congestion, exacerbated by the ‘school run’, can increase the level of pollution. Public transport alternatives have not always been given the resources that could have persuaded more people to use them.

One way by which the battle to limit global warming can be waged is to use virtual offices. A virtual office in the UK can benefit inhabitants of villages on the other side of the world. Virtual offices are not only cost-effective business solutions, but they can also be responsible in ecological terms.

Avoiding office politics

March 3, 2010 - 3:16 pm

With a general election looming in Britain, it may be hard to avoid politics. Slogans, opinion polls, spin, manifestos and photo opportunities will give the media something to discuss for several feverish weeks. Despite all the frenetic activity, many citizens will not vote. Avoiding office politics can be much more difficult than choosing not to enter the polling booth.

In firms of various sizes, office politics can occasionally appear to be an unfortunate reality. Disgruntled workers can be bored of seeing others jostle for position. Sometimes competitive individuals can behave in underhand ways, creating resentment and causing friction. Employees with families can feel excluded if popularity in the office relates to evening social activities. Some individuals may enjoy participating in office politics, but those alienated by the struggle can feel stuck in a negative set of circumstances. If office politics get out of hand productivity may suffer.

An office environment should be an amicable place, but not all firms manage to foster a healthy atmosphere. Small firms which are just starting out may be inexperienced in sustaining the right kind of environment. If a firm is on the small side, a virtual office can be a great method of addressing its emergent needs.

Virtual offices can be cost-effective ways forward which permit small firms to make great progress. Particularly for those with little management experience, the virtual office can cut the need to hire and supervise employees too early. People who have had negative experiences of the darker sides of office politics may well feel liberated by a virtual office.