Why “Just Hire a VA” Is Not a Scalable Strategy

You’ve probably heard it (and maybe believed it):

"You just need to hire a VA."

And if you’re running a 6-figure business and doing way too much yourself, that sounds tempting.

But here’s what no one tells you:

Hiring a VA won’t fix broken systems.

Hiring a VA won’t replace your leadership.

Hiring a VA won’t scale your business.

If your business isn’t ready to scale, “just hiring a VA” is going to cause more stress—not less.

I’m Yolanda K. Churchwell, The CEO’s Fractional COO.

I help women CEOs streamline, scale, and systemize their businesses—and this is one of the biggest traps I see every day.

Let’s break it down.

1️⃣ Relief Hires vs. Results Hires

If you’re hiring because you feel buried in busy work, you’re making a relief hire.And relief hires almost always backfire.

When you hire in survival mode:

• You aren’t clear on the outcomes you want.

• You haven’t documented what success looks like.

• You’re trying to hand off chaos—and it stays chaotic.

A results hire is intentional.

• You know what tasks and outcomes the role will own.

• You’ve created SOPs or documented workflows to support them.

• You hire strategically—not reactively.

Relief hires give you temporary breathing room.

Results hires move your business forward.

2️⃣ Why Most CEOs Hire Too Fast and Fire Too Often

It’s not that there aren’t good VAs out there.

It’s that most CEOs aren’t ready for one.

Common mistakes:

• No clear role definition → The VA can’t win.

• No documented processes → The CEO ends up micromanaging.

• No onboarding → The VA spends weeks guessing what you want.

Result? You fire the VA, feel burned, and swear off hiring.

The real issue isn’t the person. It’s the process.

Before you hire:

• Get clear on what you do.

• Define what needs to be done.

• Systemize before you delegate.

3️⃣ How to Build a Hiring Strategy Aligned with Your Goals

If you want a Dream Team—not a dependency—you need a hiring strategy, not a warm body.

Here’s where to start:

• Define your vision: Where is your business going? What support will it need?

• Map your processes: Document what needs to happen before you ever hire.

• Clarify outcomes: Don’t hire for tasks—hire for outcomes. What should success look like?

• Build a scalable hiring roadmap: Know which roles to hire now, and which roles you’ll need next.

When you hire from clarity, you build a team that scales WITH you—not a team you constantly manage.

Actionable Strategy

Before you post your next job opening:

Write down the top 3 outcomes you want that role to drive—then document the core processes that will support them.

Don’t hire out of desperation.

Hire to move your business forward.

How I Know This Works

Every client I’ve helped scale their business has faced this trap.

I’ve watched CEOs waste time, money, and energy on repeated failed hires—because they weren’t ready to hire.

When we step back and implement the Dream Teams that SCALE framework:

✅ They stop hiring for relief.

✅ They build documented systems.

✅ They hire strategically.

✅ Their teams deliver with excellence—and the CEO gets their time back.

You can’t scale chaos.

You CAN scale with systems, structure, and the right team.

Key Takeaway

If you’re tired of trying to “just hire a VA” to fix what is actually a systems problem—let’s fix the root issue.

Join me for my free webinar:

How to Hire Without Firing: 3 Steps to Build a Lasting Team and Delegate Like a Visionary CEO

📅 Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 10 am EST

You’ll walk away knowing:

✅ Why your past hires didn’t work

✅ How to systematize your business so your team can succeed

✅ How to hire from strategy—not survival

🎯 Click HERE to register

Build the team your business deserves—without wasting time or money.