Chapter Seven. What is outsourcing? In this chapter we are looking at outsourcing by asking and answering the following questions. What is outsourcing? Why would I need to outsource? When to outsource?
What duties Could I outsource? Where do I look to find outsourcing? All right, there's a bit to cover. So let's get started. What is outsourcing? This is a very simple answer.
Outsourcing is contracting work outside your place of business. This can be done by street to a local accounting firm or offshore to hire a VA virtual assistant who can be a jack of all trades are detailed to a specific task. Why would I need to outsource? Earlier in the book I talked about the type of operator you might be a business opportunist, the supervisor or a skilled worker. I also said in a perfect world, a balance of all three would be the best. That's not being realistic.
And I know how difficult it can be be setting up a great organizational system will help alleviate many responsibilities that are currently falling on your shoulders. But you will find some duties or responsibilities that would be difficult to complete by you or your present staff due to lack of time or expertise. This is where outsourcing can help. big businesses have long seen outsourcing as a strategy. And today's technology has made it a more accessible tool for small businesses. And for many outsourcing has made a powerful impact on their growth, productivity and bottom line.
Most business owners have great talents, but many times they think they can do it all. Does this sound familiar? In reality, you might think or wish you could do it all. But if you step back, you will soon realize that there are other people out there that can not only do a better but also do it cheaper than your time is worth and the result will be far better. Take The first steps towards outsourcing can be time consuming, but figuring out how to build your business with the help of outside professionals can offer increased efficiency and profits. By letting go of some of the reins, you will free up more time to focus on more important things in your business.
When to outsource. When you and your current employees are unable to manage the day to day business of your property, it may be time to consider outsourcing. I would not wait until it was too late. As soon as you see the workflow becoming too hectic, but you can't justify hiring new in house employees. Take a look at what duties could be outsourced. What duties Could I outsource?
These days technology has an advantage to the point where professionals are able to work from anywhere in the world and with a little time you'll be able to find extremely qualified professionals. Before you start, just a word of caution because you can outsource a task doesn't mean you should before deciding which tasks can be outsourced, take a hard look at your business and determine your strengths and values. There might be some things you like to do or would like to get off your plate. But be careful of the things important to your core business or for security reasons, you should not surrender. Okay, that aside, here are the type of tasks you could outsource. They fall into three different categories, highly skilled or executives with expertise.
For example, find a human resource expert who could come in a few times each month to provide consulting advice, employee evaluations, motivational programs, etc. This without paying them a full time salary, highly tedious tasks, accounts payable, data entry, and shipping inventory are a few examples. expert knowledge examples might include IT support for your accounting system or your network, social media consultants, web designers They're all very important tasks, but you or your staff might not have the expertise. Here are a few more examples of commonly outsourced duties for virtual assistants, marketing directors, graphic designers, transcriptionist, web designers, HR consultants, PR directors, IT specialists customer support accounting, tax preparation, manufacturing, data entry, research and development, legal services, creative services, health care services, building maintenance, shipping and inventory purchasing, food and cafeteria services, security, fleet services, video creation and the list goes on. What do I look to find outsourcing.
You want to make sure you find the right outsourcing partner. The first place you should look is in your own backyard. Your neighborhood other business owners or your accountant, lawyer, or banker if they can recommend a provider offering services you need. Using online platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter make it easy to expand your personal networks and are places to ask for recommendations. If that does not work for you. Other options could include placing ads on work at home websites, for example, flex jobs, the home worker, up work, work at home mom revolution, rat race rebellion, workers bored all stay at home freelance mom.
What's the next step? After you found a provider your work isn't over, asked for and check their references, and then take the time to create a specific contract that outlines exactly what performance is expected. Explain your expectations and the steps included in the job. Clearly. Never assume that contractors are thinking about what you're thinking. But it's very important that the requirements and expectations are laid out in the beginning.
Don't assume anything. Be prepared, there will be a learning curve on the team member side. So initially plan to spend more time with them. And as your team member gets better, you will have the freedom to focus on more important tasks. Once you've spent time with the new member, and they've proven they can do their job, step back, relinquish control and allow the new team member to do the job you hired them to do. If you're going to micromanage, your outsourcing, the savings and your time will be gone and the whole point of outsourcing will be lost.
While outsourcing has its great advantages for a small company, it can have its challenges. If you choose to work with offshore providers, language barriers and time zones could be an issue. However, focusing on making your own communication clear can help overcome confusion for those who are not native English speakers, and time zones create more opportunity than inconvenience. Assign a task at night, and the next morning wait to find a completed waiting for you. The benefits of outsourcing offer business owners great advantages. It allows you to build a team of skilled professionals without adding the expensive full time employees and avoid getting bogged down with the tasks that can be completed without your attention.
It's an inexpensive alternative and a proven strategy for growing a business without letting it take over your life. When you outsource, you can focus your time, attention and resources on your company's main abilities and spend your time setting new goals and finding ways to achieve them. This is the end of series one, your hospitality property organizational structure. And the next series of chapters. I will be covering employee development and that will include the following topics. the right mindset, how to hire winners can't afford employee training.
Programs think again, how to train for success. effective communications will improve your property, enhance your customer service, how to handle customer complaints, how to upsell, how to fire employees.