Outsourcing Without Regret: How to Ensure Your Hires Actually Deliver

Outsourcing can save costs and accelerate growth, but what if the talent isn’t up to par?

A founder’s biggest nightmare is investing in outsourced hires only to find out they:

• Lack the skills they claimed to have
• Don’t align with the company’s work ethic and culture
• Struggle with deadlines and responsiveness
• Deliver subpar results, requiring rework and additional training

This is a real concern. According to McKinsey, 30-50% of outsourcing partnerships fail due to misalignment of expectations. (McKinsey & Co.)

But that doesn’t mean outsourcing is flawed - it means founders need a smarter hiring approach.

How to Ensure You Get the Right People

The best outsourcing relationships start before the hire. Here’s what successful founders do to make sure they get top-performing talent:

1. Use a Provider That Pre-Screens Talent
   • The best outsourcing firms don’t just match resumes to job descriptions - they conduct rigorous vetting for skills, reliability, and cultural fit.
   • Instinct, for example, uses a multi-step selection process to ensure only the top 2% of talent is presented to clients.
2. Test Before You Commit
   • Never lock yourself in to a long-term contract before testing out your provider and their hires. Instinct, for example, offers a 2 week free trial and flexible-forever contracts.
   • If you’re hiring a marketer, have them run a real campaign. If it’s a developer, ask them to debug an actual piece of code.
3. Set Up Clear Expectations & KPIs
   • Instead of vague goals, define clear KPIs like:
     • Response time within 24 hours
     • 90%+ quality score on deliverables
     • At least three proactive suggestions per quarter
4. Ensure Cultural Alignment
   • A great hire is more than just technical skill. They need to align with your company’s work style, communication preferences, and values.
5. Regular Check-Ins & Performance Reviews
   • Schedule weekly or biweekly check-ins to address roadblocks and maintain accountability.

Good Outsourcing Starts with Good Hiring

Outsourcing doesn’t have to be a gamble. By setting clear expectations, rigorously vetting talent, and creating structured performance management, founders can build an outsourced team that delivers beyond expectations.

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