To outsource or not to outsource?

To outsource or not to outsource?

Don’t do it if it saps your energy! Do do-it-yourself if it is about relationships.

We all have low-value tasks that sap our productivity and keep us from more worthwhile activity. Identify them and outsource them in order to focus on the things that matter.

Know the value of your time. It makes very little sense for you not to pay a PA who might cost $25 an hour to deal with things like email and post. Get support for the hassle-filled administrative tasks that you put off because of the time and effort they take.

You should also outsource or delegate higher-value tasks that need an expert – like an accountant to do your taxes for example. Find the right people for the job; brief them and give them the right tools.

You need to let go effectively too. Some entrepreneurs struggle with letting other people take over. Are you one of the ‘no-one-does-it-as-well-as-I-can’ business owners? Let go! Or do you want to be doing the same stuff that you’ve been doing for the last five years?”

While some struggle with letting go, others find it all too easy- and the reverse of micromanaging those you delegate or outsource to, is showing no interest at all in the task once it has been handed over. This is just as bad – for while leaving people to get on with things is empowering, total indifference is not. So, try and strike a balance.

While it may be tempting to outsource and delegate, there’s plenty you shouldn’t outsource. Business is about people and you can’t really delegate important relationships. You should also hang on to the strategic, broad horizon things.

Can you let go?