This week I was fortunate to have some time to meet with a colleague I hadn’t seen in a while. Most of our discussion was about how overwhelmed and exhausted he was from running his business. My reply – maybe it’s time to consider outsourcing. If you are finding yourself in a similar situation maybe you need to consider it too.
Outsourcing, simply put, is when one company hires another company to be responsible for a task or activity that currently is or could be done internally. But you may be asking is it really worth it and does it really work? The short answer – Yes! In the business world, outsourcing is a very common practice because it can be very cost effective. It may not be applicable in all situations but here are a few instances where outsourcing is king…
It gives you flexibility
The great thing about outsourcing is that there are fewer rules and more flexibility. One of the main reasons people chose to work as a freelancer is because of the flexible hours. This works best for there schedule but it also helps you as well. They can continue answering customer calls, posting blog articles or responding to social media posts well after normal business hours. Also, many freelancers will also work on holidays when many of your team members take vacations. Your team gets the needed downtime and customers will only see normal business operations.
Technology solutions
We all know that computers break down from time to times. During these times you will need a trained IT person to sort out these challenges. Having a dedicated person hired just for this can be rather costly, especially if you’re running a small business that doesn’t need someone on site 24/7. This is where outsourcing comes in. Using the services of companies like www.pstsonline.com can save you from overspending on unnecessary staff but have you prepared for any unexpected issues. They can also help you stay up to date on any new computer software keeping on par with, if not ahead of, those in your industry.
High customer demand
If you’ve been in business for a few years it’s likely you’ve noticed trends in your sales. For example, at Christmas time, shops tend to be busier because of people buying gifts. During this time stores need to make sure they have enough staff to handle the crowds. The same goes for pretty much any type of business when there’s high customer demand. However, hiring more full-time staff will leave you with more employees than you have hours to give. Outsourcing members of staff will allow you to bring them in for as long as you need them. Oh, and if you are thinking this is just for storefront businesses, think again. As orders for your products or services increase during high demands, you’ll want the extra help to fill those orders. Keep your customers happy by not having lengthy delivery times.
It’s easy…
Finally, one of the greatest things about outsourcing is that it’s so easy to do especially in this day and age. Do you want a content writer for a specific niche? Head to Fiverr or Upwork and post your job for free and allow freelancers to come to you. All you have to do is select the most suitable person for the job, provide them with clear instructions, and pay them when it’s done. A great thing about these services, platforms like Upwork ensure both parties are covered in the event of non-payment or no work produced. Yes, it really is that simple!
If you are used to doing these tasks yourself or having them performed in-house, letting go can be hard. However, the suggestions here are a great way to get started. As for the colleague I mentioned above, he let go of a task that was really weighing him down. He hired someone to handle his website updates and was able to focus his attention where it was needed most. Yes, outsourcing really does work!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments, and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
