We recently connected with Jaime Nacach and have shared our conversation below.
Jaime , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is your team able to work remotely? If so, how have you made it work? What, if any, have been the pitfalls? What have been the non-obvious benefits?
Since I embarked on the idea of Virtual Latinos, I’ve nurtured a vision of creating an entirely remote company. This choice was driven by a desire to embrace emerging work trends and capitalize on the advantages they offer. Consequently, right from the inception in 2018, I dedicated thought to crafting a comprehensive strategy and model for Virtual Latinos to thrive in a remote environment. This approach grants us a significant edge, as opposed to some companies that have had to scramble to adapt, which often proves more challenging.
I initiated an extensive exploration of the dynamics of remote work, delving into various tools that could facilitate both my tasks and those of my team in a remote setting. This exploration included communication platforms, project management tools, CRM systems, and more. Gradually, I began to establish the protocols and practices of remote work within Virtual Latinos.
To illustrate with examples, some of these practices involve setting up dedicated communication channels. This makes it simpler for the team to ask questions amongst themselves during work hours. Similarly, ensuring that all team members have the necessary resources to effectively fulfill their roles is crucial.
During the initial months, we conducted necessary adaptations wherever we recognized opportunities for improvement. For instance, emphasizing organizational efficiency with the utilization of platforms such as Google Drive and project management tools aids in the systematic monitoring of all our tasks. These adjustments were essential in ensuring that Virtual Latinos operated at its optimum capacity. Now, we continue to research and adapt as necessary, constantly enabling our team to work remotely more effectively. It’s a result of dedicated effort, meticulous organization, and the invaluable technological resources that empower seamless remote work.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Certainly, my company is named Virtual Latinos. We function as a virtual recruitment agency with a distinctive role: connecting highly skilled professionals located in Latin America with visionary entrepreneurs and companies primarily based in the United States and Canada.
Our core offering revolves around a cost-effective talent recruitment solution designed to empower business owners and entrepreneurs in realizing their ambitions and achieving their business objectives. In simple terms, if you find yourself seeking to delegate or outsource roles spanning marketing, sales, customer service, legal assistance, accounting, administration, and more, we’re here to assist! Our commitment lies in identifying the finest talent from our expansive pool of over 6,000 members, tailored precisely to your requirements.
At Virtual Latinos, we are dedicated to harnessing Latino talent, which translates to having our professionals situated exclusively in Latin America. Consequently, they share compatible time zones with you, facilitating seamless collaboration during your work hours. Furthermore, we have implemented a thorough application process for our professionals. This guarantees that they not only possess the requisite skills and abilities to collaborate effectively with our clients, but also exhibit a proficient command of the English language, essential for the successful completion of their tasks.
Our approach creates a “win-win” dynamic that serves the interests of both our clients and Virtual Assistants (VAs). On one hand, clients experience top-notch quality service, aiding them not only in reaching but surpassing their business objectives with the support of our exceptional professionals. On the other hand, our VAs gain access to a platform that not only connects them with exciting job opportunities but also offers them higher earning potential compared to what they might earn in their respective home countries. This opportunity for enhanced income, coupled with the chance to work in roles that align with their aspirations, empowers our professionals to realize their professional dreams. Ultimately, this synergy between clients and VAs exemplifies the core essence of a “win-win” relationship, where both parties thrive and benefit from the collaboration.
Hence, the combination of these elements is what sets us apart as a virtual recruitment agency and positions us as the pioneer dedicated to Latino talent. To date, Virtual Latinos has been instrumental in empowering over 600 companies and more than 1,000 professionals to unlock new levels of freedom, success, and growth. It is truly rewarding to witness the positive transformation experienced by both businesses and professionals through our agency.
Staying true to this commitment, I’m genuinely excited to introduce a project that truly reflects our dedication – our recently launched educational platform named “The VL Academy.” This initiative truly embodies our ongoing mission of helping our community members advance in their professional journeys. After years of careful planning, we’re incredibly proud to finally see this project come to life.
We’ve put our heart and soul into creating “The VL Academy” to help our professionals grow. We’ve carefully curated a variety of courses and certifications that are tailor-made to give them the essential skills and expertise they need. Our goal is to empower them not only to shine in their current roles but also to take big leaps forward in their careers. We are confident that “The VL Academy” will provide tremendous value to both our professionals and clients!
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Over the course of my experience, I’ve pinpointed key factors crucial for effective team management and maintaining high morale. As a result, I’d like to share some practical tips and strategies that have proven successful for me.
Leading by Example: As a team leader, your behavior sets the tone for your team. Demonstrating a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and commitment establishes the standard you expect from your team. By exemplifying these qualities, you create a foundation of mutual respect and shared dedication, fostering a productive and motivating team environment.
Empowering Your Team: I consistently strive to place trust in the abilities of every team member, recognizing that each one was hired for a specific reason. Consequently, I encourage their active participation and grant them a degree of autonomy in their assigned tasks.
Trusting them to take ownership of their tasks and encouraging them to contribute new ideas and make decisions not only fosters a sense of value and confidence but also cultivates a culture of active engagement. When team members feel trusted and empowered, they are more likely to invest themselves fully in their work, driving innovation and boosting overall morale.
Providing Feedback and Encouraging Improvement: Consistently offering constructive feedback is vital. At VL, we organize weekly and monthly 1-on-1 meetings depending on the requirements. These meetings serve as opportunities to connect with each team member, understanding their experience in their roles and providing essential feedback. Equally important, we make sure to lend an ear to their feedback as well.
This practice helps your team identify areas for growth and encourages them to actively pursue professional development. In conjunction with this, effective communication is key. Transparency from the outset—sharing expectations, company goals, and progress—ensures that your team comprehends their roles and responsibilities with clarity.
I hold the belief that when feedback and communication are combined, they create an environment of growth and comprehension, leading to the enhancement of both individual and collective achievements.
Recognizing and Appreciating Achievements: Equally crucial to providing constructive feedback is recognizing a job well done. Just as areas needing improvement should be highlighted, it’s equally important to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and accomplishments of your team. This applies to both individual and collective achievements, regardless of their scale.
An aspect to highlight in this point is that many individuals, upon hearing about the recognition of achievements, tend to immediately associate it with monetary compensation. If it’s feasible and aligns with your business capabilities, I’m certainly inclined to support that approach. Nonetheless, it’s essential to recognize that there are alternative means of acknowledging your team’s accomplishments and making them feel valued within the company. As an illustration, within Virtual Latinos, we’ve introduced an initiative called “Silent Hero.” During certain meetings, we provide an open microphone session at the outset, allowing anyone to acknowledge a team member’s exceptional work. It’s a wonderful practice, as it ensures that a job well done is acknowledged in the presence of the entire team.
Taking the time to recognize and celebrate success fosters a positive working environment and reinforces motivation, keeping morale high. Lastly, it is important to remember that each team is unique, so tailor your approach to your team’s dynamics and needs.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I have a keen interest in marketing, and prior to establishing Virtual Latinos, I founded a digital marketing agency known as Bloominari. This prior experience allowed me to understand the essential marketing actions needed to maintain a strong digital presence. Consequently, since the inception of Virtual Latinos, we launched accounts on prominent social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Establishing a social media presence was a priority for me, and through gradual efforts, we witnessed diverse growth avenues. Our primary focus was on sharing valuable content that not only showcased our presence but also delivered meaningful information.
We were committed to offering content that added value, ranging from useful tips and engaging articles to other pertinent information. After some time, we decided to invest in advertising on Instagram and Facebook, targeting our specific audience. This approach yielded favorable results and remains an ongoing practice for us. Additionally, we employed a strategy of segmenting our social media accounts for clients and professionals. This segmentation enabled us to provide specialized content tailored to each audience segment, enhancing the effectiveness of our communication.
Furthermore, staying attuned to emerging trends and social media updates has been vital to our social media growth. This proactive approach allows us to manage our online presence skillfully. One notable example of this adaptability was our recent venture into TikTok. Seeing its popularity rise during the pandemic, we quickly created a strategy to join this platform. Notably, our TikTok journey began a year ago, and we’ve already grown to over 30k followers! Our success in the fast-paced world of social media is thanks to our strategic thinking, flexibility, and commitment to valuable content.
Building upon this success, we’ve now achieved a significant milestone of surpassing 80,000 followers across all our social media platforms. This support means a lot to us, allowing us to share our successes and valuable insights while continuing to grow. For those just starting on their social media journey, I’d offer this advice: persistence is vital. Dedicate yourself to the process. Also, remember that the quality of your content is what will truly engage and keep loyal followers. With countless accounts out there, standing out comes down to offering content that sets you apart.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.virtuallatinos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtuallatinos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virtuallatinos
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtuallatinos/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VirtualLatinos
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVpzS2xNH0SjLrQzwZWE_eQ/featured
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@virtuallatinos