By Darrel Girardier
Although keeping work in-house is ideal, there will be moments when there is simply too much work for you or your communication team to handle at one time. Sometimes bringing in outside help to get the job done is necessary.
Outsourcing work gives you the chance to test the skill sets of others, to see the potential of your brand through someone else’s eyes, and to see how someone else might work on your team.
Outsourcing work can be a big help during stressful times. However, there are a few things to take into consideration when deciding to outsource.
- Document everything. Document all of your processes and clearly establish your branding guide. Keep in mind that even though you may have a clear understanding of what you’ve done in the past and what you’re looking for in the final product, the person to whom you are outsourcing work doesn’t have any understanding of that. You need to spell everything out for them, step by step. The more documentation, the better. Make sure that you document how you want the final product to be delivered and clear deadlines on when you expect the final product.
- Don’t assume anything. It’s important to remember that the person you’re outsourcing work to doesn’t have the same understanding about your church and your product as you do. Try to see the task you’re giving them from their point of view.
- Make sure to include a kill-fee. A kill-fee is a clause that allows you or the person you’re outsourcing to to stop working and part ways if either party isn’t happy with how things are going. Hopefully, neither of you would have to utilize this, however, it is always good to include in case something is clearly not working between both parties. It’s always good to leave a relationship on good terms, so a kill-fee assures the person you’re going to pay some amount of money, even if you sever ties, as a “thank you” for the work that they put in.
When outsourcing work, be sure that you document everything, try not to assume anything, and remember to include a kill-fee as a back-up plan in case the project doesn’t work out like you expect. –
Adapted from Training Pathway: Church Communications. Check out more training videos on Ministry Grid.
Darrel Girardier is the Digital Strategy Director at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN.
