One of the most extraordinary assets your business has is you! You and you alone control the ability to grow your business to the level you desire and make your capital investment flourish. Whatever the original reason we choose to go into business, sustaining our investment is the ultimate end goal. With the state of our recent economy, many of us have been put to the task of endurance, perseverance and creativity to stay afloat. Some of us have been successful, and others have struggled, however, all of us have learned invaluable lessons.
Most business owners and entrepreneurs possess certain core qualities of expertise which drive them. Usually, they are risk takers with an insatiable appetite to make a difference. They are quest driven, visionary, and typically consumed in micromanaging every aspect and every detail of their business. It would stand to reason with all of these qualities, they would all be successful. So why aren’t they? Why do some succeed where others do not? Drive and determination are admirable qualities, but along the way, you can drive yourself into the ground from pure exhaustion.
Micromanaging is not the answer to success. It is important to recognize you can’t be all things to all people all of the time. The buzz word of the 1990’s was “work/life” balance which led to many transformational ideas on how we do business. For many, the secret was simple, too much personal time effects work, too much work effects personal life. The answer comes with all things in balance. Well today, in the 21st century, beyond the “super-person” persona, the answer lies in time management. The key to success can be found with a little forethought and some organized planning.
Let’s start with your workload. It is imperative to recognize where and when to delegate and outsource for help. Cut-backs have left many offices unable to work to its optimum efficiency. In order to maintain your end goal, it becomes necessary to delegate work accordingly and manage your time professionally. As we stated earlier, each of you possess a core expertise to your business. This is where your time is best spent. Growing your business, maintaining the function you do best. Many businesses and entrepreneurs find outsourcing non-core functions of their business allows them time to focus on growth and end goals.
One area proving to be an outsourcing success story is Human Resource functions. Though HR is a core function to any organization because of the importance of choosing the right people; the actual task elements could translate productively into task related functions. Take for example hiring and training. Interviewing, hiring, and training can be a time consuming process. Hiring the right people and training them properly equates to the successful daily operation of your business. Taking the time at the front end to be thorough in your hiring process will assure making solid business decisions to save time and money in the long run. This process can be easily maintained and monitored via outsourcing services. Additionally, when done properly, the task of hiring and training is not something your business requires on a daily basis. A professional outsource company can be retained to train and facilitate transition of a new employees on an as needed basis. They can transition new hires into your organization with:
• Training of Company Policies and Procedures
• Set up their Compensation and Benefit Packages
• Organize and Schedule Safety Training
• Job Training & Progress Monitoring
Establishing proper procedures to contract hire, the HR person becomes an invaluable extension of your business. Additionally, you will be presented with a long term cost saving solution which will affect your bottom line by increasing productivity.
Of course, there are many time and task management possibilities offering a cost saving solution for your business. Social Media is no longer considered a luxury or “just for fun”. It is a crucial and imperative tool to monitor and manage your customer relationships. This time consuming task can be delegated effectively by implementing policies and benchmarks, to drive and maintain successful business relationships. A crucial component to outsourcing is choosing the right jobs. Here are a few ideas of jobs that translate effectively through outsourcing:
• Special Projects
• Customer Relationship Management.
• Customer Follow-Up
• Lead Generation
• Email Monitoring
• Bookkeeping
• Billing
• Article Writing
• Presentations
• Social Media
• Marketing Campaigns
• Concierge
• Scheduling
• Event / Travel / Meeting Planning
In addition to the importance of choosing the right job, choosing the right outsource company is equally important. Consider the task you are seeking to fill. Many freelance assistants offer a multitude of services where they can serve as your one stop source for coordinating all your needs. Additional considerations include whether you need service hour by hour or on retainer monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Managing outside talent requires different techniques. Micro-managing should not be necessary with the person you are contracting. You need to set specific measurable goals that will equate to your definition of success. Equip your outsource assistant with the necessary tools and information to get the job done right. Ask yourself, does this person appear professional, sincere, and genuinely concerned with learning your business? Does this person understand my end goal? Can they see the big picture? There are many steps you can take to assure hiring the right person, but most importantly trust your instincts. Does it feel like a good fit for you?
Upon hiring your outsource company/person, be sure to include a non-disclosure agreement along with clear and definable benchmarks. You will find outsourcing with same assistant service will provide you with an added benefit that temporary services can not compete. Outsourcing services providers have the ability to grow with you and learn your business without the added overhead of a full-time staff. Many will provide in-house service as well as virtual assistance. Whichever you prefer, remember, you want a highly skilled independent professional. You should look for someone who is willing to becomes an extension of your team and be willing to customize your needs. Technology is advancing the capabilities of outsourcing by offering flexibility for employers as well as service providers. These advancements are transforming businesses from overworked to achieving growth and success. What we have now discovered is balance comes with proper planning and professional management between our most precious commodity and valued asset, time and you.
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