The benefits of delegating & outsourcing
Are you having trouble finding the right people for your team? Hiring a new employee is an important decision, whether you’re just starting out in business or are already established. A good team can be your business’s greatest asset.
Unfortunately, when it comes to recruiting and retaining the right people, a lot of small-business owners take a ‘see how things go’ approach. If the outcome is unsuccessful, it can be mentally exhausting and financially draining.
Finding the right people
Before you employ someone, you need to consider the type of people you want on your team and the skills you require to meet your goals. The best people for any small business are those who are capable of multi-tasking and working across many different roles. They need to be consistently flexible and have a can-do attitude.
As the business owner, you need to be able to trust each member of your team to act appropriately on your behalf and to support your goals. You must also be able to ensure the ongoing availability of work.
Next, you must consider the financial commitment of employing a staff member. In Australia, there are a range of obligations that, by law, all employers must adhere to. These can include the provision of:
- insurance
- tax and superannuation
- employment records
- staff health and safety
- legal obligations
- paid parental leave
Is it all starting to sound too difficult? If so, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, too many small-business owners try to juggle the entire load and do everything themselves – but this is likely to end in tears. Don’t be one of them.
Try outsourcing
As the business owner, you have choices to make. If the obligations set out above are too much to think about then subcontracting or outsourcing your tasks to a specialist company could be the way to go.
In essence, a subcontracting arrangement is a business-to-business relationship. You hire out another business and delegate certain tasks to be completed at an agreed price.
You only pay for the work agreed upon and only when it’s completed.
Who do you delegate to?
There are small businesses that operate as a ‘virtual PA’ – this means they can carry out any tasks that you would normally delegate to your team or personal assistant.
A virtual PA company will operate from their premises and will generally have their own team of key people who have a range of skills.
You delegate the work and it will be completed on time, on budget and with results. You won’t need to pay for electricity, equipment, staff, office resources or downtime.
One fundamental skill in operating a small business is knowing what to delegate or outsource.
One fundamental skill in operating a small business is knowing what to delegate or outsource. Jobs that need to be delegated include those that you don’t have time for, those you lack the skills or knowledge to complete and those that you simply don’t like doing.
Some of the most common tasks that are delegated or outsourced include:
- client contact calls
- appointment booking
- direct marketing
- electronic mailing
- graphic design
- copywriting
- phone-answering services
These all require a certain amount of skill and knowledge to be accomplished successfully.
Outsourcing makes sense
Whether you’re planning a new venture or are already operating a small business, outsourcing your administrative and marketing tasks makes good business sense.
It ensures the work will be completed on time and on budget. There will be no unforeseen delays due to staff absenteeism and your overheads are kept down. In addition, you won’t incur any unexpected expenses, as your budget is set prior to the commencement of work.
Outsourcing frees up your valuable time to focus on the bigger picture.
Leticia Hansen, Manager and Director, Adminlink Plus
