A Roadmap to Excelling in Managing Outsourced Teams

With the increasing efficiency and benefits of outsourcing, it’s important to understand how to build and manage a successful outsourced team in 2023. In this article, we’ll explore valuable tips and strategies to ensure your outsourcing endeavors are fruitful.

Mastering People Management

Managing an outsourced team effectively requires the right approach and a strong focus on your people. While outsourcing can be a game-changer in various industries, implementing the right tactics is crucial for success. Here are some tips for managing an offshore team:

1. Allow a learning curve: Since remote teams operate from a different location, it’s important to provide adequate time for them to familiarize themselves with your business. Offer training and support to help them understand your products or services and assimilate your company culture.
2. Regular communication: Establishing a communication rhythm is vital for building a successful outsource team. Leverage virtual tools to maintain regular contact, whether it’s through daily catch-ups, weekly meetings, or monthly reviews. These interactions enhance connectivity and engagement.
3. Share valuable feedback: Recognize and celebrate your team’s accomplishments. Offering positive feedback and acknowledging their good work fosters loyalty, boosts morale, and increases productivity. It’s essential to make your team feel valued and appreciated.
4. Monitor performance: Overcoming the geographical distance can be challenging, but monitoring your team’s performance is crucial for success. Implementing a performance review program helps align staff, resources, and systems to meet your strategic objectives.
5. Promote continuous training and development: Encourage employee growth within your outsourced team by investing in their training and development. Enroll them in relevant programs and provide opportunities for acquiring new skills. This not only enhances their expertise but also builds confidence and trust within the team.
6. Keep them engaged and motivated: Combat feelings of isolation among offshore team members by integrating them as an integral part of your company. Treat your onshore and offshore teams equally, involve them in team meetings, encourage collaboration, and listen to their suggestions and ideas.

Structuring for Success

Establishing a well-defined organizational structure is essential when venturing into outsourcing. It allows you to align your business objectives with global goals and effectively manage your outsourced team. Consider the following structural tips:

1. Assign a team lead / onshore lead / POC: Designate a person responsible for the overall cohesiveness of your outsourced team. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact, conducting regular catch-ups, providing ongoing support, leading status reviews, and driving improvement initiatives.
2. Drive accountability: Clearly define roles and responsibilities for your outsourced team. Explain your expectations, discuss project assignments, outline key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensure they are aware of prioritized activities. By aligning expectations, your team can take ownership of their work.

Optimizing Processes

Efficiently managing offshore resources and maximizing their potential require well-defined policies and procedures. Here are some process tips to enhance your outsourcing endeavors:

1. Build standard policies and procedures: Developing standardized processes plays a significant role in building a successful outsourced team. It enables seamless integration of outsourcing strategies into your business operations. Well-documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) provide a baseline for managing processes, measuring performance, and facilitating continuous improvement.
2. Examples of SOPs: Consider creating SOPs for various business areas such as accounting tasks (invoicing, purchasing), HR functions (recruiting), customer service (responding to inquiries), sales (order processing), IT tasks (maintenance), and logistics (inventory management).

Outsourcing has become a vital strategy for businesses to streamline their operations and focus on core competencies. By following the tips and strategies mentioned above, you can build and manage a successful outsourced team in 2023. Embrace the power of offshoring, tap into global talent, and unlock new opportunities for growth and efficiency.