If there is one thing this situation has taught us, it’s that we can’t do everything alone. There is nothing like forced distance to make you realize how much you need to stay connected. And, there is nothing like an unforeseen circumstance to make you see the gaps in your business. This is where it’s important to consider outsourcing.

So you’ve thought long and hard, you’ve had your meetings and everyone agrees; it’s time for your company to outsource. After a grueling period of prospecting, you think you may have found just the right people for the job. However before you shake on your partnership, there are certain things you must consider. Building a successful partnership won’t be constant smooth-sailing, but these keys offer guidance on how you can make sure you’re getting what you signed up for.

Ensure You Are on the Same Page

Before you fire up the steam engine that is this partnership, your goals obviously have to be aligned. Set the tone for what you would be expecting as well as what should be expected of you, ensuring that both parties have their efforts geared toward achieving that set of goals together. Once you’re both set on what the goals are, be sure they are all outlined on paper, in a contract signed by both parties. As things progress it would be prudent to occasionally revisit this position and be sure that everyone is still focused on the same goals and is working actively toward seeing them come into fruition.

Understand What They Have to Offer

Before you pull out of the station with your partnership, you need to have any doubts you may be having to rest. Have they worked with a company like mine before? What are some of their strategies? What are their three biggest successes? All valid questions. All things that you need to ask.

In entering a partnership, ask to see reports, case studies and read reviews of their past work. Familiarise yourself with their working systems and acquaint yourself with their team. It’s not intrusive, it is necessary. You’ll want to be sure that your company is really going to do well while they steer sales, and you want to know that you’re getting your money’s worth. 

Adopt a Culture of Transparency and Communication

For a partnership to thrive, it is essential that your partner is honest and open with you about prospects, intelligent insights, projections, and strategies–everything along the lines of the job. Right from the very beginning, establish how much you value honesty and insist on open communication at all times. This way, when you probably hit some snags along the way, you’ll feel much better knowing that your partner is going to give you an in-depth analysis and not inflated promises of an impractical solution.

From the beginning, to planning, to implementation, your relationship with your partner will be an open, mutually beneficial one which should see your company’s improved market share. So you must not settle with the first consultancy that walks through the door. There’s so much more to consider.