Leverage Your Tech Team to Accelerate Growth
Entrepreneurial, gritty, hard-working, and strategic are adjectives I happily use to describe printing business owners and their senior teams. But sometimes, I have to use stubborn, and stuck in the “not invented here” cavity. What am I talking about? All companies have their core competencies that drive their economic engine. They also have technical support services for both internal and external solutions that work to keep those engines well lubricated and humming to peak performance. There are occasions though when the problem to be solved is either beyond the scope of their internal capabilities or will push the limits of their internal bandwidth – which can inhibit growth.
We hear the “yeah, but you don’t understand, we are different.” Okay, sure. We’ve seen companies toll at developing an in-house solution when there may have been a great external resource available for less total money and far less time.
We hear the “yeah, but you don’t understand, we are different.” Okay, sure.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to all solutions and workflows. But by selecting the projects that can be shipped out, hours and weeks of internal bandwidth and institutional knowledge can be reallocated to solving the problems that truly are unique to the business. In addition, it can be very difficult for an internal tech team to keep up with the rate and pace of innovation in technology. For example, when was the last training or professional development investment you made for your tech team? I thought so.
You’ve undoubtedly built a great tech support team for your business, and you should be proud of that. Let them know how happy you are with them. Continue to invest in their development and provide them with the tools necessary to keep your engines going. As a forward-thinking business leader though, one of your key responsibilities is resource allocation. Make sure that your tech team is working on the right projects, and that you enlist the skills of the outside folks when needed. Your team will thank you and your employee and customer satisfaction ratings will reflect the smart decisions you’ve made.
These are some ideas that I think are important, and that you should consider. But what’s working for you? What are some of the ways you’re guiding your tech team to work on the projects that fall within their capabilities and current bandwidth? Please add your thoughts and comments below.
Mike Philie advises Graphic Communications industry leaders on agile leadership, business management, and growth strategies. Mike offers direct guidance to navigate market shifts and achieve growth. Mike provides advice for strategic integration during mergers, ensuring success beyond financial considerations. His practical insights and strategic direction empower businesses to thrive, anticipate change, enhance leadership, and succeed confidently in transformative markets. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.
Mike Philie leverages his 28 years of direct industry experience in sales, sales management and executive leadership to share what’s working for companies today and how to safely transform your business. Since 2007, he has been providing consulting services to privately held printing and mailing companies across North America.
Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the graphic communications industry by providing direct and realistic assessments, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion, and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach.
