Outsourcing can be tricky if you lack stable and trustworthy relationships with your collaborators. In order to avoid getting “schemed”, research had to be done. This way, we can clearly find out what is that makes outsourcing not successful at times.  Although expert advice and work from specialists from outside the house are convenient, here is what has come to light.

One of the advantages of outsourcing is that you can rely on other people’s expertise to strengthen those points that make you weak. It is actually more productive to know where you lack knowledge and skill, admit it and use tools that can make up for it. Outsourcing is a great tool in this case.

Here are the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs tend to make:

  • Unreliable contracts with the wrong company
  • Poor description of their needs to the outsourcer
  • Use outsourcing too soon
  • Keep a strong grip on a poor connection
  • Fail to maintain a good relationship along the way

You can overcome these factors through these 5 steps:

No. 1 Set a clear goal and direction

Before you dive into outsourcing, analyze your needs and make sure you have a clear direction. After careful assessments, you should know your whys and hows of the business. This answers to your needing outsourcing as well. Maybe your money could be put to better use.

For example, let’s assume that you pay someone to write a business plan for you in order to impress potential investors and interested parties. You spend 40 000$ on this alone, but you lack a concrete product or market target. No interest will be raised and your money wasted.

 No. 2 Find the right contractor for you

Be thorough with your search for a good outsourcer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their background, ask for hard evidence on previous work and, most importantly, make sure they understand what your business is about. How can an outsider deliver quality work on something they don’t fully comprehend!?

You need to find the perfect blend of attributes for your particular business. That means great expertise in the field mixed with the right personality and attitude to drive your endeavors.

A firm that uses specialists should always understand and quickly pinpoint what you need in order to make it work. A rookie with assistant experience will never do an efficient job, although it will be cheaper.

Nevertheless, trust your instincts. Knowledge and proof are essential, but so is the vibe you get from someone. If you both feel comfortable, you will collaborate better.

No. 3 Define your milestones and deliverables

Know exactly what you want to accomplish in a given amount of time. Explore your resources, tools, workforce, and budget. Anticipate potential obstacles and have a plan on how to conquer them.

Once you reach out to your outsourcer, you will be able to explain plain and simple what you expect from them. Failing to do so leads to the hired company making assumptions or wasting time by trying to connect with you and understand.

It is essential to have a concise plan, know your goals and what you expect to be delivered and when. Without these main pillars, your outsourcing experience might be dreadful, your money poorly invested and your contracting firm misjudged.

No. 4 Make peace with current losses

Signs of an inefficient outsourcing relationship could be:

  • Poor communication or failure to get in contact
  • Little or no results
  • Uncomfortable collaboration
  • Blurry lines of the work getting done

When you feel any of these symptoms, it is time to cut your losses and move on. Continuing on this path will only account for more losses in the future. Draw the line, see what you spent and make a list of all that has gone bad. Read it, memorize it, make sure you learn from past mistakes and avoid them.

No. 5 The Golden Rule – use it!

Even though outsourcers work from afar and are not a long-term part of your team, treat them as one. The golden rule applies in every aspect of life: if you want respect, give it, if you want clear results, give clear guidelines, if you want people to be on time and available, make yourself available and never miss a call or a minute in a meeting.

All of these pay off when your contracting firm is in the loop as much as your permanent squad. Let them know your company’s vision, your long-term, and short-term goals and include them. They will be more likely to deliver good work if they feel they belong and share your goal, albeit temporarily.

After all, you get what you pay for. Experts that outsource their services are of great value if used properly. Often times, you cannot put a price on reliability, results, focus, and skills, so don’t aim for bargains.