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Using an outsourcer: How do you let someone else do?

by silverfern
8 replies
It is often smart business sense to delegate to someone else or pass something on to a outsourcer. Passing on part of a project or an entire project frees up your time to focus on more important things, whether that is time with your family or coming up with ideas for your next big product.

I'm a project manger myself so am always looking after someone else idea. I love working out what needs to be done, tasking it out to the right team members, watching it all come together and seeing the final result. When a project becomes mine -I take it on like my baby - I look after it, nurture it, take care of it and see it through to the end.

I have always been able to convey a feeling of trust, knowledge and 'we know what we are doing' between myself and my clients. And with clients who are not quite convinced or a little bit nervous have had them full of confidence within a few days.

Until recently of course...

Having just finished a project where everything I did was wrong, nothing was good enough and the client was never happy (even through the project was finished well and looks great) I recently experienced the almost impossible task of managing a project when the client was mirco-managing me. This of course was a once off and we have a range of fantastic clients who are always lovely to work with.

However it has got me wondering about those who really find it difficult to relinquish some control, even the smallest amount.

In this particular case outsourcing to us did not free up their time, as they went through and checked every single detail and looked over every single aspect & worried about things that did not need to be worried about.

If your the sort of person who likes to be in control of every aspect of your business how do you make yourself let go?

How do you build up a team of trusted people (outsourcer or in-house) that you are comfortable giving work to?

What else do you look for (besides experience and previous work examples)? What is the X factor that make you confident of them?

Does anyone else have similar stories?
#outsourcer
  • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
    The first step in building a team is to test your potential team members with small projects. For example, have a writer work on a few articles for you before you give them a hundred. Then, you will have an idea of what they can do, how fast they can do it, and what they charge.

    This will also help you to build a relationship with them, which is very important. Your team needs your trust and you need to be able to trust them. The longer you work with them the more trust you will have and the easier outsourcing work to them will be.

    Benjamin Ehinger
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    • Profile picture of the author CFOservices
      Benjamin certainly makes a good point

      I have many clients in this situation where they cannot delegate and when they do delegate they have to scrutinize every nook and cranny and basically spend more time scrutinizing than if they did the work themselves.

      Giving small projects as Benjamin suggests is certainly a great idea. I try to motivate my clients by showing them several examples where their lack of delegation and trust in others is costing them our 3 most important currencies which are Time, Money and Work. Then I show them with example after example that they cannot possibly grow without delegating and trusting. Then I explain to them my overall philosophy and that is if they are not growing and constantly improving they are going backwards as there is simply no state of neutrality in business. However there are still those no matter how much you beat them up on the topic that simply won't change.
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      Michael Barbarita - Part time Chief Financial Officer for Next Step CFO - Providing CFO Services

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      • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
        Originally Posted by CFOservices View Post

        Benjamin certainly makes a good point

        I have many clients in this situation where they cannot delegate and when they do delegate they have to scrutinize every nook and cranny and basically spend more time scrutinizing than if they did the work themselves.

        Giving small projects as Benjamin suggests is certainly a great idea. I try to motivate my clients by showing them several examples where their lack of delegation and trust in others is costing them our 3 most important currencies which are Time, Money and Work. Then I show them with example after example that they cannot possibly grow without delegating and trusting. Then I explain to them my overall philosophy and that is if they are not growing and constantly improving they are going backwards as there is simply no state of neutrality in business. However there are still those no matter how much you beat them up on the topic that simply won't change.
        Yes and those that won't trust others end up hurting themselves with their controlling ways.

        Benjamin Ehinger
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      • Profile picture of the author silverfern
        Originally Posted by CFOservices View Post

        Benjamin certainly makes a good point

        I have many clients in this situation where they cannot delegate and when they do delegate they have to scrutinize every nook and cranny and basically spend more time scrutinizing than if they did the work themselves.

        Giving small projects as Benjamin suggests is certainly a great idea. I try to motivate my clients by showing them several examples where their lack of delegation and trust in others is costing them our 3 most important currencies which are Time, Money and Work. Then I show them with example after example that they cannot possibly grow without delegating and trusting. Then I explain to them my overall philosophy and that is if they are not growing and constantly improving they are going backwards as there is simply no state of neutrality in business. However there are still those no matter how much you beat them up on the topic that simply won't change.
        Thanks Michael, I like your three currencies -I have only been using tine & Money but your right Work is absolutely a currency -just one people want to have less of.

        It is very true that there are some people who you cannot change and in this recent project I think that was the case. I have had some other project managers on the team look through the project with me and they couldn't really see how I could have approached it any differently in this situation.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vikram73
    Originally Posted by silverfern View Post



    How do you build up a team of trusted people (outsourcer or in-house) that you are comfortable giving work to?

    What else do you look for (besides experience and previous work examples)? What is the X factor that make you confident of them?

    Does anyone else have similar stories?
    I've been outsourcing more and more lately and it's working out really well. The key to any of these sites (freelancer, odesk) is pretty simple:

    1. Write clear, step by step instructions on how the task is to be completed.
    2. In the initial post give them clear directions on how to respond (ex. respond to this post with the word 'i love the warrior forum') - if people initially don't listen and follow directions when they're applying for your job they won't at any point in the future.
    3. Avoid agencies - the initial person contacting you won't be the one doing the work.
    4. If it ain't going well email immediately and politely point out that you will deliver negative feedback. Social proof is their life blood.
    5. Go with people who have at least 50+hrs of contracting work and strong feedback.
    6. Go with people who've taken tests and done well on them.

    In general - I think you need to have realistic expectations. If you're paying $2 an hour for a guy to do graphic design don't expect your graphic design to look like it was done by a professional design firm.

    As far as how I build up trust - I've found that if you find someone reliable it's best to tip them, thank them, leave excellent feedback and build some goodwill.

    That will go a long way.
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    • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
      Originally Posted by vikramd View Post

      I've been outsourcing more and more lately and it's working out really well. The key to any of these sites (freelancer, odesk) is pretty simple:

      1. Write clear, step by step instructions on how the task is to be completed.
      2. In the initial post give them clear directions on how to respond (ex. respond to this post with the word 'i love the warrior forum') - if people initially don't listen and follow directions when they're applying for your job they won't at any point in the future.
      3. Avoid agencies - the initial person contacting you won't be the one doing the work.
      4. If it ain't going well email immediately and politely point out that you will deliver negative feedback. Social proof is their life blood.
      5. Go with people who have at least 50+hrs of contracting work and strong feedback.
      6. Go with people who've taken tests and done well on them.

      In general - I think you need to have realistic expectations. If you're paying $2 an hour for a guy to do graphic design don't expect your graphic design to look like it was done by a professional design firm.

      As far as how I build up trust - I've found that if you find someone reliable it's best to tip them, thank them, leave excellent feedback and build some goodwill.

      That will go a long way.
      I agree completely. Especially with expecting top notch work for little cost. You really do get what you pay for with outsourcing and tipping is something that can really show your appreciation. Also, send referrals to those that do a great job for you.

      Benjamin Ehinger
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  • Profile picture of the author jacksonlin
    You have to do the quality control and filtering yourself. To find a GOOD outsourcer you need to go through 10 bad ones.
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    • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
      Originally Posted by jacksonlin View Post

      You have to do the quality control and filtering yourself. To find a GOOD outsourcer you need to go through 10 bad ones.
      This can certainly be true and not even every good writer you try to use will fit what you are looking for.

      Benjamin Ehinger
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