WHY OUTSOURCING SHOULDN’T BE THE MONSTER UNDER THE DESK

By Meredith Nowlan –The Regional OBM

Are you scared to death by outsourcing? You may be up until 1am catching up on the bookwork or your client experience is more spotty than the internet, but you feel that has got to be better than waking up the monster that is outsourcing.

Rather than actually contracting someone to assist you in your business. You chant to yourself that:

• it’s too expensive

• it’s not the right time

• training new people is just too timeconsuming and you don’t even know where to begin anyway

• I can’t until I’ve got [insert extremely unachievable goal here] finished…but you actually don’t know how to do [insert extremely unachievable goal here].

When I threw this question into a Facebook group recently, these were just some of the answers I received. And throughout all of the answers, a fear of the unknown was the underlying message.

And I get it. I’ve been a victim of each one of these hesitations at one stage or another. Still, as I move further into the virtual space, I come to realise that it’s the newness of virtual services as a whole that frightens people away from outsourcing. Gone are the days when you sat down, eye to eye with potential candidates. Nowadays, we utilise Zoom, and hell, they might not even be wearing pants during the interview! How could you trust a person with your business when there are so many unseen variables?

There are simple steps you can take to gain a better understanding of how to successfully outsource. These practical steps can help you take control of your outsourcing fears and go forward with confidence.

1. GET SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT FROM YOUR OUTSOURCING QUEST

Don’t go into your first outsourcing venture blind or with unrealistic expectations. To find the right fit for your business, get specific about the tasks you need to take off your plate. Once you start listing tasks (e.g. email management, social media creation, website updates), you may realise these tasks may require very different skill sets and that’s ok. It’s better you start looking in the right direction than for an Administrative Unicorn that doesn’t exist.

If you aren’t sure about what tasks you need to take off your plate, start thinking about what you don’t enjoy doing or what you are leaving until last (and taking ages because you are dragging your feet or you know it’s not income producing). Nine times out of then, that’s where you should start.

2. FIND SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Oh my gosh - outsourcing for the first time is similar to when I let someone look after my firstborn. You aren’t keen to do it with someone when there is no existing relationship. So turn to a business buddy who’s been down this road before. Tell them your plan and ask them what their experiences have been. Can they recommend someone? What did they like best about them? Where did they struggle?

Word-of-mouth recommendations are powerful. People don’t make the effort unless they feel it's deserved. If trust is a biggie for you, this is the route I would take. You can also ask a service provider if you can contact some of their previous clients or have a paid trial run to see if you will work well together.

3. PREPARATION IS KEY

So you’ve found someone suitable. But have you given them any instructions for the task? If the person you are outsourcing to is a seasoned pro, chucking them in the deep end might not phase them. However, you should brace yourself for more backand-forth communication and the need to give feedback and constructive criticism on the finished product. Without guidelines, a standard to work against, and setting aside time for some task familiarisation, you will spend more time onboarding your new team member than you wanted.

Before onboarding your new team member, map out the process from start to finish, focusing on tasks that each of you will be responsible for (this is called creating a workflow). Write down where all of the templates/links/assets you’ll need for the task can be found and use a screen recording app (such as Loom) to show and explain exactly how you have been completing the tasks. This step will change your life and your new team members will thank you for it.

4. SET A BUDGET

If spending money or having the project blow out is one of the factors that is holding you back, then knowing exactly what you can afford to spend is key. During your research stages, you’ll be able to gauge if this is a realistic amount or not. You may need to tailor what you outsource to your spending.

Implement these actionable steps to your outsourcing and that lurking monster turns into a kitten. Yes, there might be some teething issues in infancy, but this next step for your business is not scary. Not only is it very doable, but it’s also the key to achieving growth in your business as you get to focus on your zone of genius for longer. Saying goodbye to burnout and hello to a better work-life balance is definitely a great recipe for success!

Meredith Nowlan –

The Regional OBM

I’m Meredith, a mumma to 3 girls, lover of smoko time (twice a day, please) and an avid gardener - although my husband thinks I’m more of a garden planner than the get-dirty kind. Don’t listen to him.

With over 18 years of experience in Administration and Planning roles, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks about how to be an Organised Queen. In 2020, I decided to found a gift parcel subscription service that stocked only rural and regional women-led businesses. It allowed me to champion my favourite kind of people and challenge myself to learn more about systems and tech than ever.

It also gave me much needed clarity about how much more I could be doing to help service-based businesses, so in 2022 I sold my sub-box service to focus on helping frazzled and overwhelmed business owners implement systems, utilise automation and how to outsource to suit them and their business.

Web: theregionalobm.com.au theregionalobm.com.au/book-a-call

@theregionalobm theregionalobm

Providing people just like you with the systems and tools you need to own your time and grow your business gives me a seriously happy vibe. Similar to the one I get when I take a messy house and make it tidy (however the kids aren’t usually as keen on my suggestions and transformative powers).

If you feel like you need a little more help inside your business, why not book a free discovery call to see how I can help?