You Cannot Build Good Training Alone
The best training programs are built through structured collaboration between instructional designers and subject matter experts. An instructional designer knows how to teach. A subject matter expert knows what to teach. Without both, you get either pretty content that is factually wrong or accurate content that nobody can follow.
At Tanta Global Academy, every course module involves SMEs who have actually done the work. VA managers who have hired 20+ assistants. Business owners who work with remote teams every day. Experienced virtual assistants who know what the first 90 days look like. That is the difference between theory and practice.
How SME Collaboration Works
It is not a one-time input session. It is a structured process with clear roles and expectations.
We start with the gap. Before any course is designed, we interview SMEs about what breaks. What do VAs get wrong in their first month? What causes clients to fire them? What misunderstandings are most expensive? What skills have the biggest impact on outcomes? These questions drive the curriculum. We are not building training based on what we think VAs need to know. We are building it based on what actually matters in real operations.
For example, a VA might know time management in theory. But SMEs tell us that the real issue is understanding when to escalate. A VA who wastes 2 hours trying to solve a problem before asking for help costs more than a VA who asks after 20 minutes. That becomes a core learning objective.
Clear communication protocols. SMEs are busy. They do not have time for vague feedback requests. We use defined review cycles, specific feedback formats, and clear expectations about timelines. We ask: "Does this scenario reflect real client work? Would a client actually do this?" We do not ask: "What do you think of this module?" Specific questions get specific answers.
Validation before launch. Every assessment scenario is reviewed by SMEs who confirm it reflects real work situations. A question like "What do you do if your client does not respond to your email?" is useless. A scenario like "Your client asked you for a report by 3pm. At 2pm you realize you cannot find the data. Your client is in a meeting. What do you do?" is real. That tests judgment, communication, and decision-making.
SMEs catch unrealistic expectations. They flag content that is theoretically correct but practically impossible. They point out tool updates that make the training obsolete. They keep the program grounded in how people actually work.
The Result
Training content that is built from real operational knowledge, validated by people who have managed VAs and been VAs. Content that teaches not just what to do but why it matters. Content that prepares a VA for what they will actually face.
This is why our VAs are placed before certification is complete. Clients ask for them by name because they are consistently better. Not because they know more, but because they are trained on what actually matters.
When you hire a Tanta-trained VA, you are not getting someone with a certificate. You are getting someone trained by people who understand your industry because they work in it.
Take the Free VA Candidate Assessment
See how your current hiring criteria stack up against what actually predicts VA success.
Published by Tanta Global Academy.