The Case for Hiring a Virtual Assistant, According to Callum Laing

In a recent LinkedIn post, Callum Laing argues that hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) is a crucial step for professionals looking to optimize their time and prepare for the future of work, particularly the rise of AI agents. Laing frames this recommendation not just as a productivity hack, but as a foundational skill for navigating an increasingly automated professional landscape.

Leveraging Time Through Delegation

Callum Laing begins by addressing the potential surprise this advice might elicit from those in traditional employment structures. He emphasizes the fundamental business principle of time leverage, differentiating between high-value and low-value tasks. Laing points out the cost-effectiveness of VAs, suggesting that outsourcing lower-value activities can free up significant professional bandwidth.

“You need to learn to leverage your time. You have high value time and low value time. You can get a great VA for US$10-15 p/a. Start figuring out what are your low value tasks and outsource them.”

According to Laing, the key lies in identifying these time-consuming, lower-impact tasks and delegating them. This strategic outsourcing, he posits, allows individuals to focus their energy on the activities that truly drive value and growth within their roles.

Developing Remote Management Skills

Beyond simple delegation, Laing highlights that working with a VA necessitates the development of distinct remote management skills. He asserts that managing a remote team member requires a different approach than in-office supervision, demanding greater clarity and specificity in instructions.

Clarity in Communication is Key

Laing elaborates on the challenges and requirements of remote management, noting the absence of the informal observational learning and immediate peer support available in a physical office. As he puts it:

“This is a different skill to managing in the office. You need to be very clear about the outcome you want, if there is a process to be followed, you must be incredibly specific about it. A remote VA can not watch how you do it in the office, they can’t ask your colleague when they get stuck. You need to become better at managing to make good use of a VA.”

This emphasis on precise communication and outcome definition is presented as a critical learning curve that ultimately enhances overall management efficacy.

Preparing for the AI-Dominated Future

Perhaps the most forward-looking aspect of Laing’s argument is the connection he draws between managing VAs and preparing for the advent of AI agents in the workplace. He suggests that the skills honed through remote delegation and management are directly transferable to interacting with and managing AI systems.

“It will train you how to work with AI Agents. There is a very strong chance that the next employee to join your team is going to be an AI. Or 10 of them. Or 100. Those people that are able to effectively leverage their time and manage resources remotely are going to be the ones that thrive in this Agentic world.”

Laing concludes that while building and managing AI agent teams directly is the ultimate goal for some, starting with a VA provides a more accessible pathway to acquiring the necessary skills for this future. In his view, the ability to effectively leverage time and manage remote resources is paramount for success in an increasingly agentic work environment.