Outsourcing has been in play for many years, but some management teams still have trouble with the solution. Some are concerned with a perceived loss of control, while others have a skewed idea of what the costs may be. Let’s face it, while technology has made it easy to delegate responsibility to a managed services firm, there are still emotional and financial roadblocks in place.
We know that most business people are carrying a substantial workload, and delegation is critical to avoid burnout and exhaustion. Whether a CEO cannot delegate to those below him, or an IT department is afraid to hire a managed services firm, the failure to delegate can have catastrophic consequences, including making mistakes that may have been avoidable. One of the most practical ways for IT leaders to overcome these challenges is to simply learn how to hand off tasks to other individuals, whether inside the organization or without. If IT leaders are able to embrace delegation, it will be likely that they can build a qualified team of professionals who can all have a role in transcending any business challenge.
Contemporary IT infrastructure demands delegating responsibility – at least if the company wishes to be efficient. IT has evolved to include a spectrum of services that involves both complex network systems on one end and end-user support for laptops on another. Organizations must identify their technology goals – such as security and performance – and delegate responsibility for tasks that fall outside these primary goals.
MSP Tech News recently published quotes from industry leaders regarding the value of delegation. The following statements are from that article, and provide deep insight into the importance of outsourcing those activities that fall outside a defined scope.
”Many IT leaders think that in order for them to maintain the respect of their IT staff, they have to stay involved in the day-to-day delivery of IT service. They also tend to micromanage and are prepared to jump in and save the team from a possible disaster at any time. This approach does nothing to empower the staff. It actually can have the opposite effect and can create a power struggle between a good IT person and the leader. ” Jack Smith of Initial.IT.
”An exceptional IT manager would know when to bring in a managed service provider (MSP) to help enhance the overall IT departments effectiveness by offloading many of the day to day repetitive tasks and support to a third-party company that has broad expertise in many areas that specializes in supporting an IT infrastructure. This will allow the IT department employees to work much more efficiently and give them a brain-trust that they can refer to as needed, thus making the entire IT department have time to spend on tasks that would normally be put off due to lack of time.” Anthony Buonaspina, BSEE, BSCS, CPACC CEO and Founder of LI Tech Advisors.
”Low-level IT tasks should always be handled by subordinates who require little to no supervision. These tasks include basic support and installations, updating tickets, and fielding general inquiries from clients. Offloading the most basic and time-consuming tasks allows managers to concentrate on larger projects and growing their business.” Joe Cannata of Techsperts, LLC.
”I have seen poor IT leadership firsthand when IT directors take every task, no matter what it is, and add it to their plate. All of a sudden, the focus is shifted from high-priority IT items like security and server stability. Goals become murky as every little matter becomes the main focus of the entire team. Instead of delegating one person to a minor issue, we have IT directors tying up teams of people to accomplish one minimal task. From the recent ransomware hacks, it is clear that leadership is vital to the role of keeping every IT personnel focused and on point to critical tasks.” Nick Martin of Mainstreet IT Solutions.
In Conclusion:
Experts agree that delegation is crucial to the success of the organization. One way to delegate responsibility and keep laser-focused on the task at hand is to hire a managed services firm. MSPs provide strategic teams of experts to handle specialized tasks that your organization may not be qualified to handle. To learn more, call the team at Alliance IT. We have the expertise to help your organization to streamline processes and thrive in the new economy.
