How can you build a network of trusted advisors for BPO success?

1 Identify your needs

Before you start looking for advisors, you need to have a clear idea of what kind of support you need from them. Do you need strategic guidance, operational expertise, technical skills, or industry insights? Do you need them to help you with specific tasks, projects, or processes, or to provide ongoing mentoring and coaching? Do you need them to be local, regional, or global? By defining your needs, you can narrow down your search and target the most relevant and qualified advisors for your BPO objectives.

2 Seek referrals and recommendations

One of the best ways to find trustworthy advisors is to ask for referrals and recommendations from your existing network. This could include your colleagues, peers, clients, partners, suppliers, or industry associations. Ask them if they know anyone who has experience and knowledge in BPO, and who would be willing to share their insights and advice with you. You can also use online platforms, such as LinkedIn, to search for potential advisors based on their profiles, credentials, and endorsements. However, make sure to verify their reputation and credibility before reaching out to them.

3 Establish rapport and trust

Once you have identified some potential advisors, you need to establish rapport and trust with them. This means communicating with them regularly, showing genuine interest in their work and opinions, and expressing appreciation for their time and input. You also need to be transparent and honest about your BPO goals, challenges, and expectations, and invite feedback and suggestions from them. Moreover, you need to respect their boundaries and preferences, and avoid imposing on them or taking advantage of them. By building rapport and trust, you can foster a mutually beneficial relationship with your advisors.

4 Learn from their expertise and experience

The main reason you need a network of trusted advisors is to learn from their expertise and experience in BPO. Therefore, you should make the most of every opportunity to gain valuable insights and advice from them. You can do this by asking relevant and specific questions, listening actively and attentively, taking notes and following up, and applying their recommendations to your own BPO projects and processes. You should also seek feedback and guidance from them on your progress and performance, and acknowledge and celebrate your achievements and improvements.

6 Maintain and nurture the relationship

Finally, you need to maintain and nurture the relationship with your network of trusted advisors, and keep it alive and active. This means staying in touch with them regularly, updating them on your BPO goals and results, and showing interest and support for their BPO endeavors. You should also look for opportunities to meet them in person or online, and to exchange ideas and best practices. Additionally, you should express gratitude and appreciation for their support and assistance, and recognize and reward their contributions to your BPO success.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?