How to outsource yourself and not be a consultant

In exploring the various RPOs (recruitment process outsourcing) and PEOs (professional employer organizations) that provide human resources services to third party companies, I got to wondering how individuals could do the same. Though, as that practice seems to be known as consulting, it doesn’t seem to be such a revolutionary concept. Or is it?

Is there a difference between consulting and self-outsourcing (or, SO, as I assign it an acronym)?

Using PEOs and RPOs as examples, after these companies assess the individual needs of prospective clients, the solutions they offer are usually established and proven. They don’t need to reinvent the wheel with each new customer. Their service delivery methods may vary from client to client, but because of customer and employee expectations, they often need to follow certain protocols to be effective and to make everyone happy.

A consultant, on the other hand, usually takes a wide berth in making recommendations and tailors their counsel for each situation they encounter. There is often no system.

What if, in SO, a person adopts the same approach that PEOs or RPOs take in applying routine methods to solve a company’s problem(s)? Take the sales process as an example. The sales process covers everything from business development to closing to relationship management. You can’t have one without the other if wanting to generate revenue and profit. And, every salesperson knows their strengths in the sales process, with some better at hunting then they are at closing or are great at identifying market opportunities but deplore initiating customer contacts. (You may tell an employer you excel at each, but you know if you’re telling the truth.)

Now, once honest with yourself, break down the very specific things you do in that very narrow area and package it. This is what you outsource. If you’re good at 2, 3, or more functions, great. Package those as well. Again using the sales process as an example, say your specialty is business development. You could include services such as conduct research, market analysis, letter writing to new prospects, trade show/networking event activities … any number of things that fall within the scope of that particular activity. With each new client you wish to promote your outsourcing services, your message will be anything but open-ended – as they might fear may be the case if presenting yourself as a consultant.

What can this do for you, especially if you are looking to craft your career? The benefits can range from getting your foot in the door with a company where you’d like to work or as a means to generate more income. However, the most important benefit of being an SO is that it forces you to confront the things you do best and enjoy the most.