We have talked in detail about why outsourcing certain aspects of your company’s operation is a smart thing, here, here and here. However, just as important as making that decision to outsource is how you approach this new partnership. Of course, it goes without saying that you will want your new partners to provide you with the best service they can but if you thought this depends solely on them, you were mistaken. You are also part of this relationship and you need to know how to contribute to it. You can do plenty to get the best possible results from your outsourcing partners.
Make Sure You Have the Right People
One of the most important things to do for your outsourcing relationship is to get in the right one. Namely, if you choose the wrong people to handle work for you, there will be very little that you can achieve by breaking your back over helping them and forming that mutually-beneficial relationship.
Because of this, you will want to hire your outsourcing partners very carefully and only when you are certain that they will be able to handle the work. You can always consult someone like Globality Consulting who will find just the right people for you, of course.
Make Sure They Understand Their Job
Once you have hired someone to outsource a part of your operation, the most essential thing to do is to explain them at great lengths exactly what it is that you are expecting of them. For instance, if you are outsourcing your marketing efforts, you will let them know exactly what kind of market penetration you are looking for and how big of an increase in customer base you need.
In order to accomplish this, you need to be as clear as you can, explaining every detail of your future relationship and cooperation. You should go out of your way to ensure they have everything in front of them. Also, make sure that they ask questions if there is anything left unclear. It is better if they bombard you with questions early on than to have to correct everything they had done just because you weren’t on the same page.
Provide Them with Every Help You Can
The biggest mistake you can make when hiring an outside partner for your business is expecting them to do everything without your help. Sure, you are paying them to do a certain job, but they will be much better at that if you give them a hand. You are working together and if you come into possession of new facts or data that will help them do their job better, make sure to share it with them.
Also, if you notice that they are struggling with something, for any reason, approach them and ask them if they might use some help from you. Perhaps they never did any work for someone from your industry and they are not sure how this industry breathes. You are and you can be of huge help to them, and subsequently yourself, of course.
That being said, you will want to avoid being overbearing, meaning being too nosy and bothering them every few days with your inputs and suggestions. These are professionals who know how to do their job. They do not need you hovering over them like some sort of annoying drone.
Reward Their Good Work
If you are very satisfied with the work your outsourcing partners are doing for you, it is very important that you show them this. They need to know that you are satisfied and that their work is appreciated beyond the money you are paying them for their services.
For example, if a certain team from their company is doing a particularly great job on your account, you can make out custom gift cards and send them to the members of this team. You do not have to load them with too much money; it is the gesture that counts. You can rest assured that these people will continue giving their best and handling your account like no other.
Closing Word
In the end, it all comes down to what you would want to get from this relationship if the tables were reversed. You would want a job that you can handle; you would want to get help from the client and you would appreciate it if you felt appreciated. It is all common sense.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com