Dennis Yu

Improving Communication as a Pakistani VA: A Guide to Efficiency and Clarity

Do you see the chat I had with a Pakistani VA above? This is a common theme when it comes to my communication with international VAs. In this post, I’m going to dive deeper into the chat you see above, and explain how Pakistani VAs can learn from the mistakes of others to improve their wages and build more trust with their team members and clients.

I work with many people, including virtual assistants (VAs) from Pakistan. Our work together is crucial, but I’ve noticed a few communication hurdles that can hinder our efficiency and overall success. I want to share some insights and advice to help our Pakistani VAs communicate more effectively with American businesses and teammates. If you’re a VA from Pakistan, reading this blog post could mean the difference between getting paid standard wages, or getting paid American wages.

The Challenge of “Hi” Messages

Let me start with a common scenario: I often receive messages from my VAs that go something like this: “hi,” followed by another “hi,” and later, a “how are you?” These messages, while friendly, lack a clear purpose or urgency. This pattern highlights a misunderstanding between synchronous (instant messages or calls) and asynchronous (emails or task management updates) communication, and when to use each.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous: Knowing the Difference

Synchronous communication is like knocking on someone’s door—you expect an immediate response. It’s great for urgent matters but can be disruptive for non-urgent issues. Asynchronous communication, on the other hand, is like leaving a note on the door. The person can respond at their convenience, making it perfect for updates or non-urgent questions.

As VAs, distinguishing between these can significantly improve how we work together. Before sending a message, consider its urgency and choose the appropriate communication method.

Applying RACI in Our Communications

RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. It’s a framework that helps clarify roles in communication, ensuring messages are directed appropriately, reducing confusion, and improving decision-making efficiency.

  • Responsible: Who does the task.
  • Accountable: Who owns the task’s outcome.
  • Consulted: Who to speak with before deciding.
  • Informed: Who needs to know the decision.

Understanding and applying RACI ensures that you, as VAs, communicate with the right person at the right time, making our collaboration smoother and more productive.

Communication Best Practices for VAs

To make our work together as effective as possible, I recommend the following practices:

  1. Lean Towards Asynchronous Communication for non-urgent matters. Use emails or our project management tools, which allow me to respond when I can dedicate proper attention.
  2. Reserve Synchronous Communication for truly urgent issues. When you do, be clear about the urgency and the matter at hand.
  3. Embrace the RACI Framework to ensure your communications are directed appropriately, enhancing our workflow clarity.
  4. Set and Respect Communication Preferences, understanding that response times may vary based on the task’s nature and current priorities.
  5. Engage in Continuous Feedback, allowing us to refine our communication practices for mutual benefit.

In Conclusion

Effective communication is the foundation of our success. By understanding the nuances of when and how to communicate, we can work together more seamlessly, respecting each other’s time and contributions. I’m committed to supporting our team’s growth and efficiency, and I believe that by applying these practices, we will achieve even greater success together.

If you’re a business owner who employs a VA from Pakistan, you should consider having them go through the Level 1 Virtual Assistant course, where we teach how to communicate and operate effectively.


Dennis Yu

Dennis Yu is co-author of the #1 best selling book on Amazon in social media, The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads. He has spent a billion dollars on Facebook ads across his agencies and agencies he advises. Mr. Yu is the "million jobs" guy-- on a mission to create one million jobs via hands-on social media training, partnering with universities and professional organizations. You can find him quoted in major publications and on television such as CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, and LA Times. Clients have included Nike, Red Bull, the Golden State Warriors, Ashley Furniture, Quiznos-- down to local service businesses like real estate agents and dentists. He's spoken at over 750 conferences in 20 countries, having flown over 6 million miles in the last 30 years to train up young adults and business owners. He speaks for free as long as the organization believes in the job-creation mission and covers business class travel. You can find him hiking tall mountains, eating chicken wings, and taking Kaqun oxygen baths-- likely in a city near you.
I'm a member of Blitzmetrics Academy and a friend of Dennis to boot. Not only is Dennis highly intelligent and full of great and creative ideas, he's also incredibly generous with both his knowledge and his time. Success couldn't come to a better guy. Thank you for all that you do for the world, Dennis! 🙏

Michael Pacheco

Marketer

Thanks 🙏 for being shining light in this industry. Love what your building for works overseas too network for jobs so innovative. Dennis helped me navigate having bad experiences with marketing agencies and doing dollar a day marketing which has helped my personal brand tremendously. Highly recommend.

Eric Skeldon

Founder at Kingdom Broker

Working with Dennis has been a delightful experience. After meeting him in 2015 I got to collaborate with him on countless occasions. His understanding for state-of-the-art marketing, his implementation, and his leadership put him into the top 0.01% of marketers and mentors.

Jan Koch

Ihr kompetenter Partner für innovative KI-Strategien.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dennis for my podcast in 2021 and since then we have maintained a friendship that grows with each interaction. I have seen Dennis' devotion to his friends and clients firsthand, and our conversations often result in us talking about how we can provide more value to the people around us. He is someone whom I can ask questions on a technical level, and look to on a personal level. If you have any hesitancy about hiring him, get over yourself and do it!

Isaac Mashman

Help scaling personal brands.

Geez, where do I start recommending Dennis? First, he is an absolutely brilliant marketer who understands where marketing is today and where it's going tomorrow. He also has an incredible passion for the International Worker community. The lessons he has taught me from his almost 20 years of experience hiring International Workers have been immense. Most importantly though. Dennis Yu is someone who wants the absolute best for you and is willing to tell you the truth. Dennis sat with me at a point in my business where I was floundering but did not want to admit it. He asked some very straight forward questions to get me to admit my issues, highlighted the issues, and then helped me create a roadmap to success.

Atiba de Souza

International Keynote Speaker | Video Content Superman | Superconnector |

Dennis, which I had the pleasure of working with is one of the most giving, honest and tell you as it is person I ever know. The knowledge this man has is remarkable and he just gives it out freely. He is not pretentious and always entertain anyone big or small in the industry always willing to help. If you ever get a golden opportunity to work with him or mentored by him say YES!. You will notr regret Dennis, which I had the pleasure of working with is one of the most giving, honest and tell you as it is person I ever know. The knowledge this man has is remarkable and he just gives it out freely. He is not pretentious and always entertain anyone big or small in the industry always willing to help. If you ever get a golden opportunity to work with him or mentored by him say YES!. You will not regret

Nixon Lee

The PR Whisperer

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