An ISSP in Nairobi, Kenya
The first wave of ISSPs blazed a trail that many generations will follow. Along the way, these early adopters learned a few lessons the hard way. Luckily, these lessons can be passed on to future generations of ISSPs. Here are a few best practices newer ISSPs can put in place to provide more effective service to both businesses and workers:
- Focus on delivering value, not corporate social responsibility (CSR). Some ISSPs approach businesses with a CSR-related sales pitch. ISSPs have found that by first pitching the value of Impact Sourcing to an organization, businesses are much more receptive. ‘Value’ might involve scaling client operations, meeting their cost objectives or delivering high-quality service.
- Develop unique skills. By specializing in one area of expertise, some ISSPs have found they are able to train and manage a pool of talent in one area, rather than trying to fulfill a wide variety of generic needs across multiple industries.
- Build client confidence. Some ISSPs get themselves in trouble by trying to grow too quickly. Start with contracts that involve simple processes and tasks, then gradually take on more complex processes with a larger number of clients. This helps ISSPs build a reputation for exceeding expectations in quality and turnaround times.
- Use today’s technology tools. One mistake some ISSPs make is in using outdated technology to handle modern issues. Various cloud computing tools can provide better collaboration on projects to ensure they progress as smoothly as possible: Google Drive, Dropbox, iWork for iCloud, Adobe Creative Cloud and more.
This is part one of a two-part series. We’ll cover more ISSP best practice tips in part two of this series.