Depending on your offshoring outsourcing model, the level of control you have on your offshore team may vary. With that said, effective management of your offshore team is still necessary even with the amount of trust you have on your outsourcing provider. Managing your offshoring outsourcing staff need not be stressful.
Here are some ways that can help you effectively manage your offshoring outsourcing team:
Maintain regular communication.
Maintaining frequent and clear communication with your offshore team means you can clear up any misunderstanding and fixing any setbacks can be done in no time at all. Not just regular meetings with the project manager but also with all your offshore staff to ensure that everyone is on the same page. These meetings can also include your in-house team so they can be in sync with your offshore team regarding the progress of the project and how it fits in the bigger picture.
Make Video Calls to your Offshore Team
Keeping online communication with your offshoring outsourcing team just by chatting is not going to cut it. Video calling is one way of keeping in touch with your outsourcing staff. Having face to face interactions with your staff makes it easier for you and for them to connect on a more personal level and having to put a face to the people you talk daily in the chatrooms will let you connect solidly with your offshore team.
Communicate your project goals as clearly as possible.
There is still a matter of cultural differences and do not forget that although Filipinos are proficient in the English language they may still get confused sometimes. Stating elaborately as much as possible on how you want the project to proceed and the specifics you wanted to be done will let your offshore team perform their best and in the most efficient way.
Respect Time-zones.
We have to admit that language is not the greatest barrier in managing your offshore team. It is the difference in time zones. Even though your offshore outsourcing team is readily available to accommodate your business needs, it doesn’t mean that they will be willing to work with you the next time if you don’t respect their time too. You have to ensure that when you schedule meetings it is both agreeable to both parties. This can be an advantage too, as they can work on your projects while you sleep and it will be ready for you by the time you wake up.
Use the same software and online apps
Using the same software and online apps for your in-house and offshore outsourcing team makes it easier to manage the project and makes it easier for everyone to work on the project. You can use various project management tools to help everyone in keeping track of their progress.
Mutual respect is the foundation of genuine harmony. –Dalai Lama
Respect is both given and received simultaneously. As what the Dalai Lama said, Respect is a steady groundwork to build up not just an amicable workplace environment and also a more harmonious partnership. More than likely, your Filipino offshore outsourcing team will treat you like a family if you treat them with respect. Filipinos treat their colleagues like family and that is what makes them more inclined to work productively and that makes them an ideal team for you.
These are just some ways to effectively work and manage your offshore outsourcing staff. As ever, communication is key to any partnership. Regular meetings do not mean you don’t trust them to handle the project on their own, it is only to track their progress and to see if they have some concerns. It also establishes a rapport between you and your offshore staff.
