What do you do if your IT Outsourcing employees feel left out of decision-making processes?

Start by acknowledging that exclusion from decision-making can impact employee motivation and job satisfaction. Conduct surveys or direct interviews to gather feedback and identify specific areas where employees feel left out.

Continuous improvement activities should be ongoing and involve all areas. This allows everyone to contribute. And senior management is asked to govern this as an ongoing improvement program and (re-)prioritize in alignment with account situation, contract and customer

Develop clear policies that involve employees in decision-making processes, especially those that directly affect their work. For instance, include team members in the planning stages of projects they will be working on, and make it a standard practice across all departments.

Feeling excluded from decision-making can demotivate your members. Actively involve them in the process. Schedule meetings at convenient times (considering time zone differences) and utilize video conferencing for a more personal touch.

Regular, transparent communication is key to inclusion. Implement open forums and regular meetings where employees can express their thoughts and contribute ideas. For example, monthly town-hall meetings can be a great way to keep everyone informed and involved.

Empowerment can be a significant motivator. Allow employees to lead projects or parts of projects to give them a sense of ownership. Training programs that enhance decision-making skills can also equip them to contribute more effectively to strategic discussions.

Recognition goes a long way. Acknowledge and reward the contributions of your outsourced employees. I’ve worked with teams where simple recognition significantly improved engagement and motivation. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to be committed and proactive.

Trust is fundamental in any relationship and is built on consistency and reliability. Show consistency in your commitments and actions. Acknowledge the contributions of outsourcing staff publicly to build a culture of trust and respect.

Always look for ways to improve participation in decision-making processes. This could involve revisiting and adjusting strategies based on feedback and changing circumstances regularly.

Think about the tools and systems you use for communication and project management. Are they accessible and effective for team collaboration? Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana can facilitate better collaboration and ensure everyone is on the same page.