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Leadership (61 articles)

How Women-Led Teams Thrive on Collective Strength

As someone who has worked in and with many organizations and has been led by men and women alike, I have noticed that there are significant differences in...

Client Spotlight—Julie Couret

Julie Couret, New Orleans business coach, shares how Trusty Oak VA Dana Goldman transformed her business with expert calendar and inbox management.

Love the Change: VAs and Clients Embrace Growth

As professionals, we all know that change is inevitable in regards to business whether your company is restructuring or trying out new tools or strategies....

Reimagine Workflows: Small Tweaks, Big Gains

Workflows are the backbone of your business, influencing how tasks are executed and impacting every area of your operations. While their importance is widely...

Client Spotlight—Ruth Calabrese

Executive leadership coach Ruth Calabrese shares how Trusty Oak VA Alisha Soukaseume helps her focus on coaching while managing operations seamlessly.

A Year of Mindful Self-Care: Flourish in 2025

We're already halfway through the first month of 2025, and I hope you've taken a moment to plan your self-care strategy for the year! As the calendar resets,...

How a Great Routine Fuels Lasting Productivity

Jump-starting your day can be tough for many people, and 2024 brought its fair share of challenges for professionals—myself included. Yet routine is the one...

Delegate Your Way to Success and Growth in 2025

At Trusty Oak, our values-driven model is focused on the benefits that arise from transparent communication, a shared interest in growth, and a spirit of...

Unhurried Leadership: Lead With Clarity

Slowing down isn't a barrier to success — it's a catalyst. Unhurried leadership: how to lead with clarity and purpose in a hustle-culture world.

The Gratitude Factor in Client-VA Relationships

As a seasoned Virtual Assistant VA, I have worked with a decent number of clients from many different industries. Despite coming from various backgrounds and...

How Slowing Down Boosts Productivity

In today's fast-paced world, many entrepreneurs believe working harder and faster is the only way to succeed. But what if slowing down could actually boost...

Maintain Trust and Communication in Busy Season

In the final stretch of 2024, business owners are planning out tasks and goals for Q4 and gearing up for the holiday season. While crossing things off the...

Effective Leadership: Delegating to a #2 to stay #1

During a recent conversation with Bex Howell, our Business Development Specialist, a client shared a profound insight about delegation.

Business Operating Systems + VAs: A Winning Combo

From scaling a solo VA business to seven figures — the transformative power of business operating systems and the right virtual assistant partners.

How Feedback Creates a Culture of Trust

Feedback isn't just for writers — it's how trust and communication are built. A Trusty Oak VA on the role of feedback in great client partnerships.

Meditation to Build Resilience for Founders

Resilience and a growth mindset are non-negotiable for founders. How meditation builds the mental strength to go from stress to success.

7 Ways Quitting Booze Makes Me a Better Leader

It has been 365 days since I quit drinking alcohol, and I'm noticing some incredible benefits that have helped me at work. I quit because I signed up for a...

Asking for Feedback from Your Virtual Assistant

When you're in a partnership with a virtual assistant, there will be moments when you need clarity. You might be working on a project together, and you might...

Stop Letting Two Excuses Hold You Back

Why is delegation one of the most challenging skills for leaders to master? There are two critical components of effective delegation: a competent delegatee...

Your Mindset is Everything for Business Success

It's never easy starting anything. A new job, relocating, or even getting married, can all be mind-boggling and nerve-wracking. Then there' s starting a new...

Quiet Quitting: A Problem or a Reminder?

If you get on any sort of Social Media site or watch or listen to news regularly, you've likely heard or seen the term 'Quiet Quitting' being thrown around...

Operational Processes Set Small Business Free

Beyond the Chaos helps small professional services businesses owners up to 25 employees simplify their operations and manage...

Roadblocks That Keep Us From Achieving Our Goals

Kristin Burke's mission is to help others maximize their potential and achieve their definitions of success. As a goal achievement...

3 Tips for Managing the Unexpected

Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans. Three tips for managing the unexpected at work without losing momentum—or your sense of humor.

Personal Tasks to Delegate to Your VA

Many of our clients at Trusty Oak delegate /blog/virtual-assistants-for-non-profitsprofessional and business-related tasks to their virtual assistants - from...

How Smart Leaders Onboard and Retain VAs

If you're looking to onboard with a new virtual assistant/blog/why-hire-a-virtual-assistant, you're likely also looking for ways to make sure you do it right...

Women-Led Companies Transforming Remote Work

How women-led, values-based companies are transforming remote work — collaboration, empathy, and transparency over hierarchy.

This Coaching Software Helps Us Work Better Remotely

The coaching platform our virtual assistants use to stay sharp, accountable, and aligned—and how it changed the way our remote team learns and grows.

Why Entrepreneurs Should Try Podcasting

Podcasting is one of the most popular ways to build brand awareness. Why entrepreneurs should jump on the trend — whether hosting or guesting.

5 Tips for Building Your Author Brand

Writing a book is a huge accomplishment. Five practical tips to build your author brand and turn a new title into lasting reader engagement.

Personality Tests: Are They Really Useful?

There are many different personality tests out there and you may have even taken some but...how useful are they really?

Reading List for Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Leadership development should be a continuous, ongoing process. As a leader, it is important to understand that you will always need to improve your...

Dr. Lynn Chang: Do What You Love, Now

Dr. Lynn Chang blends Eastern philosophy and Western psychology to guide you toward career fulfillment — follow your heart and land your dream job.

Kelley Dwyer: Protect Your Business From Crisis

Attorney Kelley Dwyer shares essential legal advice for entrepreneurs on business entities, LLCs vs DBAs, business insurance, and crisis protection strategies.

How Non-Profits Can Fundraise During Covid-19

Nonprofit fundraising strategies during crisis — donor engagement, virtual events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and emergency audit planning.

Jeremy Self: 5 Things I Know About Investing

Financial advisor Jeremy Self shares five investing tips for staying calm during market volatility and maintaining a long-term investment perspective.

Focus on Business Growth Instead of Fear

Turn uncertainty into opportunity for business growth. Three strategies to use challenging times for planning, creativity, and building stronger relationships.

How to Recession-Proof Your Small Business

As we've all experienced recently, the economy can change overnight with global events and uncertainty. If you're a small business...

CEO's Desk: 10 Books to Add to Your List

Discover 10 must-read business books for entrepreneurs — covering subscription models, profitability, delegation, and leadership.

How to Show Holiday Appreciation—Remotely

Creative ways to show appreciation for remote employees during the holidays. Ideas include virtual parties, Secret Santa games, and personalized company gifts.

Stop Chasing Productivity: Optimize Your Energy

Stop chasing productivity and focus on organizational efficiency. Use CRM software and process documentation to scale your business through delegation.

Challenge and Change: 2 Takeaways from GLS 2019

Austin in August is hot, y'all. So why was it the best time to visit this year? Because it meant that part of our remote...

3 Lessons for Leaders of Remote Teams: It All Starts With Trust

Last month, I had the opportunity to spend a full month away from Trusty Oak's Austin, Texas-based headquarters, and wow, was it an adventure! Although part of...

Entrepreneurs Hate Asking for Help. Here's Why.

At Trusty Oak, we're all entrepreneurs: from our CEO and founder, Amber Gray, who created our company, to each and every virtual...

How to Build a Winning Remote Team Culture

Whether your team is remote or in a classic office, you can build a winning team culture. For a lot of employers and employees, a positive team culture seems...

How I'm Committing to My Remote Team's Growth

Insights on leading remote teams from Trusty Oak's CEO. Learn about unique challenges, building culture across time zones, and investing in team development.

Launch Your Business for Under $2,244

As a founder who is passionate about every aspect of my company, I often catch myself talking a lot about my work when socializing.

Visiting Boise: Leadership Lessons From the Field

Visiting our five virtual assistants in Boise, Idaho reminded me what leadership looks like in the field — a full heart and hard-earned lessons.

Entrepreneurs, Self Care, & Burnout

Working for yourself as a business owner, contractor, or freelancer means you set the rules; it's one of the many perks that draws ambitious people to this...

4 Important Ways Effective Leaders Communicate

Master leadership communication with four proven strategies. Learn to share your vision, listen actively, stay positive, and delegate effectively to your team.

Look Like a Fortune 500 Before You Are One

Build a professional brand presence on any budget — brand identity, website design, and the small details that make your business credible.

Want to Grow Your Business? You Should Read More

Successful CEOs read constantly. Discover practical tips to read more and seven recommended business books for entrepreneurs seeking inspiration and growth.

When Culture, Productivity, & Success Meet

Shaking off the holiday funk — what happens when culture, productivity, and success meet, and how to set the tone for the year ahead.

A Gift Guide for the Entrepreneur in Your Life

A holiday gift guide for the hard-working entrepreneur or business owner in your life — thoughtful ideas for the person who really needs a break.

5 Habits of Highly Productive People

Productivity isn't doing more things faster. Five habits of highly productive people — what truly drives results when the to-do list is endless.

3 Questions to Ignite Business Growth

As we head swiftly into Q4 and our third year of business at Trusty Oak, I'm feeling a strong urgency to take a pause and evaluate some of our successes and...

Be a More Effective Leader by Removing Yourself

Become a better leader by removing ego from your management style. Learn practical language shifts that empower teams and foster open communication.

This Leadership Skill Can Predict Success

Entrepreneurs and business owners are driven people who aren't scared to work hard, burn the midnight oil, and sacrifice to make their dreams a reality....

2 Key Tips to Improve Your Communication

In January I shared with you 'Three Ways to Build Rapport in Business Relationships.' You're thinking, 'Okay....'

3 Ways to Build Rapport in Business

As virtual assistants we know that building trusting relationships with clients is key to ensuring everyone's success. We strive to build trust through...

How & Why Entrepreneurs Should Take Vacations

Several months ago, I was invited to attend a friend's wedding in St. Lucia. I hesitated to book the trip because I already had another trip planned to NYC...