Collaboration v Competition: maybe we need both?
Plus recommendations, podcasts and f*ck ups
We’re back! Thank you SO much for your support for our debut newsletter last month. It is hugely appreciated, as was all your feedback and comments. As I said, we want this to be a real resource for the community, so if there’s something you want to hear more about, let us know in the comments.
Last weekend, I was incredibly proud to win Outstanding VA on behalf of the Upsource team at the UK VA Awards AND to see our team member, Kirsty Walton win not just Associate of the Year for her work with Upsource, but also Best Newcomer ! 🎉
The UK VA Conference and Awards is a highlight of the year for me, to be able to connect with and celebrate the wider VA community, if you haven’t been before, I definitely recommend coming next year. I’m proud to say I’m a friend, supporter and collaborator with all the VAs that won this year.
Speaking of which, this month, I’m talking about collaboration and competition, healthy and otherwise, and how competition got me compliments 😉
Points of Business: Collaboration v competition, maybe we need both
Collaboration over competition is literally the VA motto.
BUT (there’s always a but, right?)
Competition isn’t always such a bad thing, so why do we often give it such a bad rap?
Are we mistaking competition for rivalry, and is a little healthy rivalry always a bad thing?
Sometimes I think competition is in my blood. The world of performance (I was an opera singer in a past life) is full of friendship in my experience, but often there was literally one role, one winner, and you were up against your friends. And honestly, that drove me.
I started a weekly barre class this year. The teacher is amazing, an ex ballet pro, but like most local gyms, my classmates have varied experience; usually I’m the only one that has a dance background. This class is a huge source of joy for me.
Then, she walked into class. I’m talking legs made for ballet, she might as well be called Darcy Bussell. This woman has to be professionally trained. And, honestly, she’s a joy to watch.
A few months later, suddenly I’m getting lots more compliments from the instructor.
Why?
Darcy is the competition I needed to drive me to work harder in class, and the instructor and I are seeing the positive changes. (Really I should thank Darcy, but, let’s be honest, I’m yet to actually speak to her 🙃)
But sometimes it is just rivalry, otherwise known as comparison; the unhealthy approach to competition.
At the agency I worked at before starting Upsource, the culture quickly shifted from supportive to ‘not enough seats on the leadership team’. We became rivals almost overnight in a bid to progress our career. The culture wasn’t collaboration, it was fierce competition, and it was SO demoralising. None of us could thrive in that environment.
Working with my current business coach (aka my Dad!) we were talking about some HMRC rules and whether our current freelance model would continue to work, and he suggested keeping an eye on what my competitors are doing. So I can be connected with the wider industry best practice and see what’s happening in the agency space, NOT so I can undercut the competition.
Community and Collaboration are literally the strapline for this newsletter, and for Upsource. But a little healthy competition does keep things interesting 😉
Actions:
You can access my Your Virtual Assistant Journey: Start Here webinar for FREE via the Moms Make Money Bundle to create or bolster your new VA career along with resources from 30+ other mums in business. Available until 22nd October!
There’s still some time to apply for a £3000 grant from Enterprise Nation! Applications close 31st October
Get tickets for the Strategic PA Awards on 4th November - see you there!
Keep your eyes peeled - I’ll be hosting a central London Christmas breakfast & co-working. Spaces are very limited, more information soon 🎄
Next Steps:
In the spirit of collaboration over competition: Kathy Soulsby is a fellow VA agency owner, and we collaborated on an episode of her podcast Productivity Nerd. Kathy was the extremely deserving winner of VA with a Large Team and Team of the Year at the UK VA Awards - well done Kathy!
Questions/comments:
Is there a subject you’d like to discuss? I’d love to hear what you want to see more of in the newsletter, share your thoughts in the comments
Suggested reading
Working with your clients is the ultimate collaboration for a VA, but we all know sometimes clients find it hard to let go. Share this with them: How to Work With Your VA
F*ck up of the month
Major mistake from me this month. I did not record a WHOLE podcast conversation. It was completely my fault, I just didn’t do the set up correctly. Luckily, my guest was incredibly gracious about it and had the time to re-record the whole thing straight away. The Bump to Business Owner episode with the very generous Petra Gatto, personal brand strategist, is out on Thursday, make sure you’re subscribed to hear my grovelling apologies!
Got a fuck up you’re happy to share? We all do it, let’s own it. Share your (anonymous!) fuck up here. Next month I’ll be diving a little bit deeper into why it’s so important to share our mistakes.
AOB
Good luck 🍀 to our winning Upsource teammate, Kirsty Walton, who is nominated at next month’s Strategic PA Awards🤞🏼(And won TWICE at the UKVA Awards!)
Know a fellow VA who might find the Agenda useful? Please share!
Back next month, can’t wait to hear some of your f*ck ups!
Speak soon,
Caroline x