Business Link

outsource the balance

by Jane Stevenson

So you’ve got yourself a “Virtual Assistant” in Bangalore. Or you’ve appointed a team of web-developers in Beijing to vamp up your website. Probably a great idea – as long as you do it right! The world is a small place and outsourcing has gone way beyond our borders.

Here are some tips on making outsourcing work well.

Communication is key

If you are not clear about what you want done, you are wasting your money. Often the person you are dealing with has English as a second or third language. Be explicit and detailed in your instructions & show examples.

Systems are smart

Create a system for starting new tasks, monitoring progress, sharing documents, making payments. Don’t reinvent the wheel on each new project.

Milestones

Once you’ve got your outsourcer started on a project, ask them to send you a sample of what they’ve produced after a week or so (depending on project length – you want to check up around 10% of the way in).

Consider putting a “cap” on a project – both in terms of time and money.

Chop projects into smaller tasks, and set deadlines of 72 hours or less for the task – this prevents your work being moved to the “back-burner”.

Tie payments to project milestones rather than dates.

Rewards and feedback

At the end of a task or project, hold a review session with the outsourcer. What went well, what didn’t? How does the outsourcer feel about the outcome? Congratulate the outsourcer for a job well done, or gently point out any disappointments or shortfalls and suggest ways to improve next time.

Outsourcing, done properly, frees you up to do what you are best at. Leverage it for all it is worth!