Outsourcing
Getting the Most Out of Your Day
05/14/10 02:35 PM Filed in: organization | Processes
As professionals, the biggest challenge we face each day is completing our growing list of important tasks. With reductions in staff and tighter budgets, we are challenged with making the most of what we have while maintaining high quality work. This efficiency is the key to successful delivery of projects, and programs. But how can you boost efficiency without blowing your budgets and burning out your resources?
Rework. Retool. Reinvent.
One way to improve efficiency in your daily workload is to maximize time and cost savings. Reworking or retooling existing materials can often preserve valuable time and prevent unnecessary steps. Core marketing messages or foundational training items may be spruced up or repackaged and save you from starting from scratch.
Make a plan.
Every situation is different, but here are some sensible steps to consider before reformulating your materials:
First, assess all of the tools and materials available to your teams and determine the usefulness of those materials.
Exercise your delivery options.
Repackaging or retooling of items can be achieved through different means and media. You may want to focus on specific elements of a sales aid or on important product advantages.
Keep it together.
Organizing your materials into a library of resources or a toolbox for sales reps to use during sales calls may be helpful approach. When representatives can access all materials in one centralized location, they not only become more efficient but more effective as well. New digital technologies can aid your reps tremendously when they need quick-reference support information during their calls.
Looking ahead.
Adding efficiency into your day can come in many ways. Assessing and prioritizing what you are currently using and finding ways to freshen your materials may be one way to help you accomplish your goals and projects for the year.
Rework. Retool. Reinvent.
One way to improve efficiency in your daily workload is to maximize time and cost savings. Reworking or retooling existing materials can often preserve valuable time and prevent unnecessary steps. Core marketing messages or foundational training items may be spruced up or repackaged and save you from starting from scratch.
Make a plan.
Every situation is different, but here are some sensible steps to consider before reformulating your materials:
First, assess all of the tools and materials available to your teams and determine the usefulness of those materials.
- Is information current? Is your message clear? Is the material relevant?
- Conclusion: If the current items do not meet your sales and business objectives, it may be time to discard the outdated information and explore new ways to deliver your message.
- Is the material still relevant? Is the message clear but the delivery method outdated?
- Conclusion: If the current items only slightly miss the mark, the solution may be to repackage what you have and update the delivery methods to digital or printed pieces.
Exercise your delivery options.
Repackaging or retooling of items can be achieved through different means and media. You may want to focus on specific elements of a sales aid or on important product advantages.
Keep it together.
Organizing your materials into a library of resources or a toolbox for sales reps to use during sales calls may be helpful approach. When representatives can access all materials in one centralized location, they not only become more efficient but more effective as well. New digital technologies can aid your reps tremendously when they need quick-reference support information during their calls.
Looking ahead.
Adding efficiency into your day can come in many ways. Assessing and prioritizing what you are currently using and finding ways to freshen your materials may be one way to help you accomplish your goals and projects for the year.
September: Weathering the Changes
09/30/08 11:45 AM Filed in: Processes
Back to school. Crispness in the air. September reminds us that change is at hand. It's time to reassess our goals for the current year, reevaluate the productivity of our routines, and make positive moves toward profitable change--regardless of politics and quixotic turns in the economy. This last fiscal quarter of 2008 provides a prime opportunity to finish the year on a high note, given the proper insight and planning.
First, it is important to identify both the resources you have on hand and those you need to outsource. This simple task will provide a true assessment of your fiscal assets and burdens, ultimately helping you minimize costs and optimize efficiency. Good questions to ask include:
Next, take a look at the type of outcomes or goals you are trying to achieve:
Divide the goals into distinct categories; personnel, revenue, projects, training, company-wide, or department-focused.
Finally, determine the best way to accomplish your goals and achieve the best results with the resources you have (ie, time, money, people). Again, remember that utilizing both internal and outsourced resources can make all the difference. For example, an internal liaison can provide content while an outsourced vendor can provide expert, efficient editing or design. You may also find that in many cases, outsourcing an entire project can free up in-house personnel, saving you valuable time and resources.
In the end, we all want to be prepared to weather changes and nurture positive outcomes. Revisiting our resources and confirming the process we use to track our goals is a great way to maintain focus and establish a new level of success.
First, it is important to identify both the resources you have on hand and those you need to outsource. This simple task will provide a true assessment of your fiscal assets and burdens, ultimately helping you minimize costs and optimize efficiency. Good questions to ask include:
- When was the last time you assessed the overall needs of your department or your position?
- Are there gaps or holes that you can fill from internal and external sources?
- With reduced resources, how can you creatively fill these deficiencies without compromising outcomes?
Next, take a look at the type of outcomes or goals you are trying to achieve:
Divide the goals into distinct categories; personnel, revenue, projects, training, company-wide, or department-focused.
- Prioritize each goal to ensure that the focus and timeline are consistent with current company directives.
- Move or delete any item that has been put on hold or moved to 2009.
- Determine if multiple target audiences might benefit from your project. If so, you may be able to tap into a partnering group’s budget and resources or even allocate funds from a company-wide allowance. Sharing resources—including valuable personnel talent—offers the promise of successful collaboration, as well as reduced costs for partnering parties.
Finally, determine the best way to accomplish your goals and achieve the best results with the resources you have (ie, time, money, people). Again, remember that utilizing both internal and outsourced resources can make all the difference. For example, an internal liaison can provide content while an outsourced vendor can provide expert, efficient editing or design. You may also find that in many cases, outsourcing an entire project can free up in-house personnel, saving you valuable time and resources.
In the end, we all want to be prepared to weather changes and nurture positive outcomes. Revisiting our resources and confirming the process we use to track our goals is a great way to maintain focus and establish a new level of success.