DA MIA. You may ask, “Why is my distant assistant not showing up?” “Where could my DA possibly be?” Or express a line of disappointment, “How could he be so eager in the application only to end up missing in the actual work?” However you opine, it’s unarguably frustrating when all of a sudden your distant assistant is not around. Here are the 5 Epic Reasons Why Your Distant Assistant is Missing in Action. Consider the different situations and understand how you can overcome them.

1. Acts of God

Whether you believe in God or not, there are natural phenomena that even the most successful business owner cannot control. Think about the strike of lightning, the emergence of flood, the eruption of a volcano, or the death of a loved one.

People may run from them, but they cannot keep them from happening. There are forces of nature that are just too mighty to cease. And, they bring a negative effect to anyone and anything they pass by.

When Hurricane Katrina swept over New Orleans in 2005, it amounted to more than $100 billion worth of damages. Millions of lives were affected, thousands of jobs were lost, and prices soared like never before. And, its effects even carried on to the national level.

The thing is…

Your distant assistant may also experience such tremendous acts. It could take away his computer, his internet connection, or worst his life. And even if he wants to continue working, he could be left with no choice but to wait for things to settle down.

According to the World Risk Index, as of December 2016, the top 7 countries that are least likely to experience such risks are: Qatar, Malta, Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Grenada, Iceland, and Bahrain.

You would want to hire a distant assistant from these countries if only natural risks are to be considered. But exposure to natural risks is not as important as a country’s capacity to overcome it. You also think about how they cope and adapt.

When this happens…

Like they say, you can choose to act or simply react. If your budget allows, you might want to hire a distant assistant from a different region. It’s like having a spare key or insurance when disaster strikes.

This is why careful business planning is critical. You need to identify what actions to pursue in case something happens. When a distant assistant is missing in action, you can check on news about his area to verify your thoughts—and take definitive actions to avoid further damages in your business.

2. Public Unrest

Many sought-after distant assistants come from countries with low costs of living. Their pay rate is much lower in contrast to others. What’s even great is they can also provide good quality results.

But, you may find that a number of them come from marginalized backgrounds.

“As we’ve seen in South Africa and Nigeria, poor economic performance is also a critical bellwether for the likelihood of civil unrest.” -Charlotte Ingham, Political Analyst

Poverty and failure in government administration may result into lawlessness and disorder. When it happens in an area near your distantassistant, your DA can get carried away as well.

Public riots and protests can turn into utter chaos. That’s when military forces and defense authorities come in to mitigate the issue. The battle between the bad guys and the good still continues.

The good thing is…

Such uneventful scenarios can be an isolated case. It may not directly affect your distant assistant, and he may still be able to continue with his work. But when it does, you can ask him to notify you firsthand.

That way you have a gist of what may have occurred if your distant assistant is missing in action. Still, preparation is key and so is communication.

3. Power Outages

There are different scenes for every country. In Germany, for example, a distant assistant may suffer from a power outage due to a technical problem or bad weather.

One example…

Francis shares the hassles of having to find an internet cafe and the expense it cost him. It took him awhile before finding a good place to continue his work. This is a typical scenario in other countries as well.

Another example (from the Philippines)…

One thing unique about this country is that the power outages are scheduled. At times, it even reaches up to 9 hours in particular regions. This is because there is not enough power supply.

As funny as it may sound, citizens experience rotating power outages. They take on shifts as to which area will not have electricity and which ones will have. Once electricity is restored in one area, another area shuts down.

It takes patience and a understanding to bear with such situations. Unfortunately, even internet cafes may not be available as well. Having a portable backup connection helps.

4. Lack of Communication

You may have heard this over and over again, but it’s true: consistent communication is critical in any organization. It can be done to achieve purposes, such as: completing a project, creating workflows, and providing feedback.

Nowadays, more tools exist to make things convenient for both client and distant assistant. You don’t have to wait until your distant assistant is missing in action.

Sometimes you could be too wrapped up in other tasks that you neglect your distant assistant. For effective communication, you can take on the lead and ask your DA how things are going.

He might already be having a hard time with a project, or is having some issues in his personal life. Either way, it affects the quality of work they produce.

5. A Life of His Own

It’s frustrating sometimes when a DA suddenly takes on a leave just to pamper himself. Well, he is also capable of getting tired and bored—everyone does from time to time. But it’s better if he notified you beforehand, isn’t it?

You can take time to assess how much work he’s been doing. He just might need a break to power up his energy. Communicate with him to clarify the situation.

When Your Distant Assistant is Missing in Action…

There is truth in the saying that goes, “There’s a story behind every person. There’s a reason why they’re the way they are.”

Just like any other worker, distant assistants have their own stories to tell. Every day they deal with different scenarios in life just as any normal human being does.

When they are missing in action, it’s natural to worry about how it will affect your business. This is why it’s important to be clear on your expectations before delegating any tasks. When the going gets tough, you can verify what’s really happening and act on it.

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