Turn a bad IT outsourcing experience into a positive
Outsourcing your IT function to an IT consultant or cloud computing provider can help you save the time, money and hassle of doing it yourself.
Unfortunately, it can also go terribly wrong.
This article is the second in a series ( IT Outsourcing Disasters #1) of real-life clients who share their IT outsourcing experiences and advise on how to proceed moving forward. Today’s guest is Jeannel King, Big Picture Solutions.
As a solopreneur, I leverage the power of outsourcing to get more done for my business. Here’s the best lesson I’ve learned from one outsourcing disaster:
The little things matter
The way they do the little things is the way they do everything.
If you start an outsourcing relationship with a contractor/vendor, and the way they handle a little detail bothers you, or the lackadaisical attitude they display toward a concern you raise makes you cock your head and think "huh," or makes you wonder if perhaps its just you...STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, and ACT!
Stop...
When that twinge of uncertainty arises, don’t ignore it and keep going. Stop the process and take time to examine what happened and how you are feeling about it.
Look...
Oftentimes, when we take a moment to sit and look objectively at a situation, well see it for what it really is: a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, a non-issue, or a genuine issue. What really happened? Can you see the specific thing that triggered the response for you?
Listen...
Trust your judgment. If you find yourself thinking, "no, I’m not crazy, this really is an issue," then listen to your gut and raise the issue with your vendor.
Act...
Awareness without action can leave you in a more uncomfortable position than when you started. If something in the outsourcing relationship needs to be addressed, do so then and there. Don’t let things sit and drag on. If the relationship needs to end, end it. If there’s something missing in order for you to gain closure around the experience, ask for it. The goal is for you to feel confident moving forward with the outsourcing relationship...or to achieve closure from ending it.
Have you experienced an unsatisfactory IT outsourcing relationship? Share your story below, or get a free guide on choosing the right IT provider for your organization.
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