What is outsourcing?
Outsourcing is the business practice of hiring a party outside your company to perform the services that traditionally were performed in-house by your company’s own employees and staff. When done correctly, it can help you scale your business and maximize your resources.
However, outsourcing only works when a remote team is managed properly. Here are some quick tips on how to effectively manage your outsourced team:
To maintain a harmonious relationship with your outsourcing team, it is important for you to be transparent and set up a direct channel of communication. Regardless of the size of your business, communication is the number one key to success in managing your outsourced team.
Take advantage of technology. For example, by using a software tool that has video conferencing features like Skype or Zoom, it helps to add the personal touch. Put your face with your voice and it virtually changes the environment. Video calls are also a great way to create a professional community that makes it easier to connect compared to emails, texts, and phone calls.
Our world is a big place. We come from different cultures and time zones. At times it can be a challenge to maintain your team. To keep everyone in the loop, and to do this we’ll go back to the number one tip!
Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!
Your key challenge that you will need to solve is how are you going to obtain cohesion within your in-house and outsourced teams? Example: what single communication tool are you going to use? (See 1) Once you’ve decided what software tool you’re going to use make sure that your teams are aligned and are able to communicate, because when everyone is on the same page your business keeps turning forward.
How do you make your goals clear?
This can be accomplished by having your team understand your mission statement. Mission statements are oriented on action. It helps cut through the noise and allows people a better understanding of what you are wanting to accomplish.
On a more granular level, make sure that each project has a clear definition of its purpose and how these individual projects contribute to your company’s goals.
And, instead of delegating a task, it is better for you to let the team know “why” they are doing the task. This allows them to feel part of your mission and will help them to want to stay focused on the task at hand.
It’s never easy to trust someone until you know someone. However, when you can remind yourself that you hired your outsourced team because of their experience and expertise that will give you a sense of peace in knowing that you’re both working towards the same goal.
Ask their opinion and let them understand that their roles are critical in a project or in a task. Encourage your team to ask questions and allow them to make decisions based on their professional judgement, because it’s true… teamwork begins by building trust.
An increase in productivity levels reflects how much knowledge was shared between your company and your outsourcing company. By having a solid process documentation in place, you no longer need to be fully hands-on in managing your team’s processes because the document is already with them. With it, less risks are mitigated upfront and opportunities for improvement can be realized.
People are more motivated and productive when they know that they are appreciated. Even the smallest gesture of gratitude can go a long way. Not just on a professional standpoint, but also within your team’s personal lives.
You can also boost your team’s productivity by adding an incentive as an award for a job well done. Incentives are not only about rewarding good work, but also provides for more opportunity for you to get involved with your team and express your appreciation for them… because while people work for pay, it’s the “thank you” that keeps them coming back for more.
We, at Staff Boom, understand the challenges of outsourcing. With our guidance, we can develop the right outsourcing strategy that suits your business, allowing you to run your business and make the most of your resources.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
