Outsourcing Decisions
These days, if you look hard enough, you can find and pay someone to do just about anything for you. On the other hand, many professionals prefer to complete a large number of projects themselves, sometimes so many it becomes detrimental. Think about it. How and when do you decide what to do yourself, what to delegate to your team, and what to outsource? Use this outline to help you with your outsourcing decisions.
TASK:
REASON FOR TASK:
DEADLINE:
RESOURCES:
CONSIDER YOUR STRENGTHS:
Consider the skills and abilities you have acquired that would help you in completing this task.
CONSIDER YOUR AVAILABLE TIME:
…emphasis on the word “available” – this means, after you have completed all of the other things you need to do, consider only the time that is left to complete this task.
CONSIDER YOUR RESOURCES:
When delegating to members of your team, it is important that you consider their strengths and available time as you would if you were delegating to yourself. As an employee and member of your team, he or she is an extension of you for work related matters.
For outsourcing decisions, it is important to consider who you know or who your associates can refer you to that is qualified and would be a good fit for this task (i.e. to perform your root canal, you would consider a reputable dentist but not a landscaper or a chef).
1. Who could you delegate this to?
2. Consider their strengths and available time:
a. Are they capable of completing this task successfully?
b. Have they had any relevant training?
c. Have they successfully completed similar tasks in the recent past?
d. Is there any available (left over/free) time in their schedule?
e. Is that time adequate to complete the task as well as you would like it to be completed?
3. Who could you outsource this to?
CONSIDER THE EXPENSE:
Include all of the expenses (i.e. time, money, stress, quality, lack of input/control, impact on your reputation, etc.) even if they seem small because sometimes it is the large number of small expenses that makes your choice clear.
CONSIDER THE BENEFIT:
This section should include all of the benefits – many of the same items that were an expense in one or more answers above will likely be a benefit in other answers below.
WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS AND DECIDE.
