Richard Tubb's Blog, page 17
July 5, 2024
Why MSP Owners Should Schedule a Mid-Year Business Review
If you’ve been on LinkedIn in the last few weeks or you’re part of a business mastermind or membership, you’ve probably seen people talking about carrying out a mid-year business review.
But if you haven’t done one yet, there is still time. And while I definitely recommend a review of the services you provide to clients, this is an analysis of the internal workings of your MSP.
Back at the end of last year, or maybe January of this year, you sat down and planned out your business and revenue goals. And if you’re organised, you refer to that plan every week and check off the milestones.
But for most of us, that yearly plan is lost in a pile of papers or somewhere in a subfolder that has an unhelpful string of numbers instead of a proper name. That’s fine – life and client demands get in the way.
So now, as we’re at the mid-way point of the year, let’s dig out that plan and see if we’re actually on target to hit those big goals. If you’re not on track, then this is the perfect opportunity to course-correct and see if you can pull it back.
If things have gone really wrong, then now is the time to fix problems. It’s far better to face these issues head-on than get to the end of the year and have to address the hard reality. Depending on what the problems were, your business might actually be facing bankruptcy.
When you’re conducting your review, evaluate performances – not just of your staff, but of your products, services and marketing efforts. Be honest about what’s worked and what hasn’t.
Once you’ve done that, you can reallocate resources to ensure you hit your goals. Involve the senior leadership team and the department managers so they know what’s expected of them. And if possible, eliminate potential blocks to your success.
For any small business, cashflow is always the biggest challenge. I’d expect you to be familiar with your numbers already. Don’t wait until the middle of the year to find out you’ve got several large, outstanding invoices that have been unpaid since February!
Remember that around 45% of businesses fail within their first five years. And one of the biggest reasons for this is capital. So go through the books with the proverbial fine tooth comb and see what’s what.
Are you on target to hit your financial goals or are those outstanding invoices causing a headache? Are your services selling as well as you’d hoped? What about client retention and onboarding new customers? Have you been able to sell any new offerings to existing clients? Is it time to put your prices up?
Don’t forget to review your expenses, too. This includes any software and app subscriptions. I know that MSPs like to try out the latest shiny new tool, but maybe you’re not using that productivity tracker and you’re paying for it anyway…
Having a clear picture of your finances means that you can reevaluate your offerings, pricing and outgoings. Make a strategic decision now (yes, right now) to help you stay on track to the end of the year.
If you want to ensure you have a happy, engaged workforce, then ask them for their feedback. What’s gone well for them in the last six months? Hopefully, your managers are already carrying out regular performance reviews too.
But if you want to retain your tech talent in an increasingly competitive market, then make them feel that their opinion counts. The engineers and helpdesk advisers quite probably have a better idea than you do about which services are doing better than others.
One of your biggest resources is your staff, so they might need to be reallocated at this point. Ask for volunteers for secondment or for projects to help you hit your business goals. They’ll feel valued if they’re picked to help the company grow.
Of course, the mid-year business review might also be the time when you realise that not all of your employees are as valuable as you thought. Redundancies or terminations are never easy and certainly not a decision to take lightly.
But if people aren’t performing, or you need to make cuts to improve your financial situation, then unfortunately you might have to make those tough decisions. In that case, speak to HR before taking action.
As with your employees, you should be meeting regularly with your MSP clients. In fact, I’d encourage you to do this on a monthly basis. This doesn’t have to be a formal, sit-down meeting. A short questionnaire or chat should be sufficient, or if you have a large company, ask their account manager to check in.
You should have built good relationships with your clients so they can be honest about how things are going. At the mid-year point, ask them how they’re doing with reaching their own targets. Is there anything you can help them with to get them closer to their goals?
And look at which tools they’re using the most in their business. Is there a software solution that would make them more efficient and productive? Are they paying for a tool they’re no longer using? Be proactive about reviewing their licences with them and helping them reassess their product suite.
You are marketing your business, right? I know it’s not everyone’s favourite task, but it’s important if you’re serious about growing your MSP. The key thing to remember is that all marketing efforts, whether they’re organic or paid-for, take time to show results.
So while the mid-year point is the ideal place to see how your marketing campaigns have performed, it’s not the time to decide to ditch your LinkedIn posts in favour of TikTok videos! Consistency is essential if you want your content marketing to work for you.
You should be using some kind of analytics tool to see which posts, videos or social updates have performed the best. This data might give you unexpected news – perhaps those behind-the-scenes Instagram photos are more popular than your product update videos. So look at how everything has performed over the last six months.
And then tweak and refine. Ask Linda in Accounts to post more pics of her messy desk, get candid snaps of the Friday team pizza lunch and share Dave the Office Dog’s visits. Do you have hybrid workers? Perhaps you can ask them to share behind the scenes of their home offices.
But don’t do anything drastic. Instead of getting rid of those videos, look at how you can make them more engaging for your audience. Ask your clients what they’d like to learn about. And if necessary, consider getting an external marketing expert to help you.
Ultimately, the areas you look at during your mid-year business review will be specific to your MSP. Maybe you’re still new to business, or you’ve just switched from break/fix. Or you’ve experienced rapid growth and now things are evening out.
There’s all sorts of advice on what you should review, but so long as you’re regularly monitoring performance and finances, you won’t have any nasty surprises when you get to your next check-in point.
Do you do a mid-year business review? Or carry out QBRs? What does your process look like? Let us know in the comments!
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July 4, 2024
SuperOps SuperSummit Virtual 2024: Navigating Tomorrow
The SuperOps SuperSummit Virtual is back for 2024 and – dare we say it – bigger and better? This year’s event is titled: “Navigating Tomorrow: Crafting the Future-Ready MSP”. With all the changes in the industry over the last 12 months, it makes sense to focus on what’s coming next.
Here’s what SuperOps themselves have to say about being future-ready:
“IT and computing are entering a new era. And with digital transformation in full swing, automation, cloud, AI, data, and integrations have become the building blocks of modern IT.
So on one end, MSPs are faced with a tremendous opportunity. But, on the other end, this new reality is marred by ever increasing competition, volatile bottom lines and ever so demanding customers.
So, how can you navigate the threats and zero in on the opportunities to craft your path to success?” Well, one good way is to grab yourself a ticket for the SuperOps SuperSummit Virtual!
What’s Happening at the SuperOps SuperSummit Virtual?The goal for this year’s event is to help MSP delegates to get ahead of the curve. And to achieve that, they’ve pulled together an impressive roster of industry experts to give talks on all aspects of the ecosystem.
And I’m delighted to join so many of my friends and colleagues to share my advice. Along with key SuperOps team members, I’ll share the stage with some incredibly knowledgeable people:
Tracie Orisko of HuntressRex Frank, VP of Academy at Pax8Founder of Gradient MSP, Colin KnoxTubbTalk guest and MSP marketing expert Paul GreenAmy Luby, Channel Chief for MSP RevolutionAnd many more!Plus, there’s networking opportunities galore, a raffle, sponsors to learn about and a virtual awards ceremony. Oh, and there’s $10,000 worth of giveaways and SuperOps swag to grab, too!
How to Register for the EventThe SuperSummit is taking place on 17 July, starting at 9.30 ET (14.30 BST). Click here to register for the event.
Will There be a Recording of the Event?This event will be recorded and available to view for a week afterwards. Click here to register and be notified when the recording is available.
Why Your MSP Needs to be at the SuperOps SuperSummit VirtualCommunity Keynote: MSP predictions for 2024. I’ll be one of 8 panellists sharing my key tips and we’ve got 4 minutes each!Dedicated tracks for both MSP owners and techniciansFree resources and how-to guidesVirtual vendor boothsTalks on AI, cybersecurity, automation and productivityAre you going to be there? Find me in the chat, and let me know if you catch my talk!
You Might Also be Interested inSuperOps SuperSummit Virtual 2023Podcast interview with Juan Fernandez, SuperOps Global Channel Chief: The MSP Owner’s Guide to Becoming a Better LeaderA Blueprint for Success: Sensational Insights Revealed at SuperSummit 2024The post SuperOps SuperSummit Virtual 2024: Navigating Tomorrow appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
July 3, 2024
Bonusode: How IT Glue are Harnessing AI to Improve Documentation for MSPs
Nadir Merchant is the General Manager and CTO for Kaseya’s MSP and IT operations Product Suite. He’s worked in DevOps and engineering. And he also held the role of chief technology officer for IT Glue, the documentation experts.
And today, his work is focused on building out the engineering offer. He spoke to Richard Tubb live at Dattocon 2024.
An Interview With Nadir MerchantThe IT Glue SystemIT Glue is a documentation tool purpose built for the IT sector. And Nadir explains: “We bring standard operating procedures, unstructured documentation. And that’s along with hardware and structured asset information, and passwords together into a single tool.
“Because in our experience, these three different types of information are used together. But they’re typically stored in separate solutions. Technicians have to search all over for the data they need, and then they distract a colleague by asking for help.
“So IT Glue is designed to prevent that. First, we layered a lot of automation to make it easy to create the documentation and to maintain all that asset information. And we also leverage integrations to increase the automation.”
What is MyGlue?MyGlue is a collaboration tool, built for MSPs using IT Glue. It allows their clients to share passwords and data. And it makes it much easier to request documentation – the MSP doesn’t have to send an email.
For instance, they can set up a monthly recurring checklist to update contacts, remove user access and so on. It also gives clients access to a knowledge base, and it integrates with a host of third-party tools.
However, they also built their own discovery technology to live on a network without being reliant on another API. They can scan an environment and document what they find. This can be scheduled or run ad-hoc.
How AI Affects Documentation and the IT Glue ApproachAccording to Nadir, IT Glue have invested in AI technology in order to deliver IT Glue Copilot, – their AI-powered documentation assistant. It was designed to improve the overall documentation experience and increase the value for clients.
“So, we broke the tool down into different areas and looked at how to leverage AI. That’s things like the curation of documentation to make it up-to-date, and making it more accessible. Plus we investigated how we could improve the orchestration of the life cycle management of documentation.”
How to Manage Information Overload With DocumentationAs information overload is often a real problem for many MSPs, IT Glue have introduced their own Copilot, which will offer a documentation health dashboard. This will help organisations to see and understand the current health of their documentation.
Nadir explains: “So this way, the businesses can better curate the documentation and make sure that the information in the system is relevant and being well-used, and there are no duplicates.
“Furthermore, it will provide them with insights into which documentation is not being used. Also, which documentation is being used but isn’t useful. And which documentation is duplicated. Because from conversations we have, we know these are all real challenges.”
How to Connect With Nadir MerchantIT GlueFollow IT Glue on LinkedInLike IT Glue on FacebookFollow IT Glue on TwitterConnect with Nadir on LinkedInHow to Connect With MeSubscribe to TubbTalk RSS feedSubscribe, rate and review TubbTalk on iTunesSubscribe and rate TubbTalk on SpotifyFollow TubbTalk on iHeartRadioFollow @tubblog on TwitterMentioned in This EpisodeMSP conference: DattoconMicrosoft collaboration tool: SharePointIT documentation: IT GlueIT and security platform: KaseyaPassword management: MyGlueITGlue blog: NetworkGlueCloud wifi: Cisco MerakiNetwork solutions: Datto NetworkingTech company: UbiquitiCybersecurity platform: FortinetIT security: SophosAI-powered networking: ArubaAI assistant: IT Glue CopilotYou Might Also be Interested inPodcast: Being a Woman Working in a Male-Dominated IndustryHow to Help Your MSP Clients Stay Safe When Using AI ToolsPodcast: The Importance of IT DocumentationThe post Bonusode: How IT Glue are Harnessing AI to Improve Documentation for MSPs appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
July 2, 2024
Tubbservatory Round-Up #30 – June 2024
Each month, Richard Tubb scours the internet, diligently seeking out essential materials, putting together a bespoke collection designed specifically for IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) striving to excel in their field.
Step into the Tubbservatory – an engaging video series showcasing handpicked articles, podcasts, events, and beyond. Bringing together top-notch resources for IT innovators.
Presenting the Tubbservatory Round-Up #30, your gateway to the June 2024 edition! We’ve compiled all of this month’s episodes for your enjoyment.
You can find the links to these valuable resources at the end of this post.
This month’s topics include events, webinars, productivity, penetration testing, IT solutions, cybersecurity, and AI.
Tubbservatory Round-Up #30: June – Week 1#1 Seven Outsourcing Myths Debunked
Implemented in the right way, an MSP outsourcing is a sure fire path to growth and something all forward-looking MSPs should be well educated on.
The latest eBook from Uptime is Outsourcing for MSPs: The top 7 myths debunked.
The eBook covers:
Why outsourcing doesn’t mean loss of controlHow clients see outsourcing as an improved service from MSPsHow your MSP’s security is enhanced by outsourcingIt’s well documented that I’m a huge proponent of MSPs outsourcing, and this eBook is a valuable resource for any MSP who wants to learn more.
#2 Culture Beats Process Every Time!Culture Beats Process EVERY time, so says MSP Expert Todd Kane in his latest short video.
Process won’t save you from people making mistakes. Look at culture first to solve these issues, says Kane.
#3 Introducing Copilot+ PCsThe big news for MSPs coming out of Microsoft, is that Microsoft has announced a series of hardware in the CoPilot+ PC range.
Built specifically to enhance users’ CoPilot AI experience, these PC’s are manufactured by vendors such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung.
If MSPs were looking for an excuse to speak to their clients about a hardware refresh, this is surely the opportunity.
#4 Cybercriminals Are Leveraging AI in Their Phishing AttacksAnd speaking of AI, a webinar that caught my attention was The Battle of AI: Hackers vs Cybersecurity Professionals with Olesia Klevchuk and Prebh Dev Singh of Barracuda MSP.
With Barracuda investing heavily in leveraging AI to enhance its email security platform, with its powerful detection and response capabilities, this on-demand webinar is well worth MSPs watching.
#5 Channel-Sec: The Security Event for the European IT ChannelJune 26th is the date, and London is the location for the big Channel-Sec conference.
Channel-Sec is a great opportunity for MSPs, MSSPs and IT solution providers to keep up to date with the latest threats, trends and advice on growing your security practice.
Tickets are now available!
#1 Huntress Managed EDR for macOS
Stop Mac Hacks In Their Tracks. Traditionally, Apple Macs have been seen as a safe bet in cybersecurity terms, but times are definitely a-changing. So with that in mind, cybersecurity experts Huntress have announced Huntress Managed EDR for macOS.
And from what I’ve seen, Huntress have put a ton of effort into making this solution a top-tier one for MSPs.
#2 Master Incident Response With Tabletop ExercisesA video that caught my attention was Steve Taylor of RocketMSP speaking to Cybersecurity legend Matt Lee of Pax8 as Lee teaches MSPs to Master Incident Response with Tabletop Exercises.
In the video, Lee explains why every MSP must conduct tabletop exercises to protect clients, offers MSPs a proven framework to plan and execute successful exercises, and explains how to turn tabletop exercises into a profitable service offering.
#3 TubbTalk 153: The Godfather Of Modern Productivity: How To Leverage GTD For TeamsA life-changing book for me was David Allen’s legendary Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity.
Well, Allen is back with his latest book, co-authored with Ed Lamont, entitled Teams: Getting Things Done with Others.
If you want to build a healthy, highly productive team, then this book is one not to miss, and I recently sat down with Allen to discuss the book with the Godfather of Modern Productivity.
#4 How to Purchase an MSP with No Money DownHow can you purchase a Managed Service Provider business with No Money Down?
Well that’s the topic that MSP legends Karl Palachuk, Amy Babinchak and James Kernan discuss in the latest episode of the always entertaining SMB Community Podcast.
#5 CompTIA Community – UK & Ireland Meeting and Spotlight AwardsJune 26th sees the CompTIA UK & Ireland community meet in my hometown of Birmingham, UK.
Expect a day filled with expert presentations, engaging discussions with industry peers, and networking opportunities, followed by a black tie evening for the CompTIA Spotlight Awards.
CompTIA events always provide such great value. This is highly recommended.
#1 What is Penetration Testing? A Comprehensive Guide
We kicked things off in week 3 with a superb resource.
What Is Penetration Testing: A Comprehensive Guide is exactly what it says on the tin!
Cybersecurity specialists Endida have produced an in-depth resource that covers a primer on the benefits of pen-testing, the types of pen tests available to MSPs, how to perform a pen test, and much more.
With automated pen testing becoming the next big cybersecurity opportunity for MSPs, this article is well worth reading.
News that Next-Generation MSP Vendor SuperOps have officially opened their Dallas, Texas office in the United States!
Founder Arvind Parthiban recently cut the red-tape at the Dallas office.
This is the latest Stateside move from SuperOps after they recently hired MSP legend Juan Fernandez as Channel Chief, and a new US-based team featuring former MSPs including Nancy Henriquez.
#3 Tate Talks – with Paul Lloyd, SellerlyNow, a Podcast that caught my ear was Tate Talks with Chris Tate speaking with Paul Lloyd of Sellerly.
With the majority of MSPs needing help with their sales systems and tactics, Lloyd is the perfect person to hear from, sharing insights from his many years of experience in Managed Service sales.
#4 The Converting MSP Website ChecklistAnd talking of MSP sales, your MSP website is key to finding new clients.
So, The Converting MSP Website Checklist from Josh Smith on SmarterMSP is a valuable read.
Smith provides a superb checklist on how you can create a converting website for your MSP.
#5 Must Attend Event for the IT ChannelJuly 2nd 2024 is the date, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands is the location for the Managed Services Summit Benelux.
Celebrating its 7th year, the Managed Services Summit Benelux is now firmly anchored as a leading managed services event for the European IT channel.
Tickets are now available.
#1 TubbTalk 154: How to Use and Sell Microsoft Copilot for MSP Growth
We kick off this week with a powerful conversation I recently had with Eric (Uhst-lund Fohl-keh-reed) of Pax8.
Eric is the go-to market lead for Microsoft AI at Pax8 EMEA, and in our conversation, he shares a wealth of practical knowledge on how MSPs can start using Microsoft Copilot and other AI resources in real-world situations with clients.
With Artificial Intelligence being the hot topic for MSPs, but with few knowing how to actually make money from AI, this conversation should prove a valuable one for any Managed Service Provider.
#2 We Have an Entire Cauliflower Corridor“We have an entire cauliflower corridor” are not the words you’d expect to hear from an MSP, but that’s exactly what ramsac Executive Chairman Rob May said in his conversation with Doug Woodburn of IT Channel Oxygen.
UK-based ramsac provide IT solutions, cybersecurity, AI and support services to small businesses, and the humble cauliflower has taken on a symbolic importance for the company.
Intrigued? Check out the interview to find out more!
#3 Copilot for TelegramBack to AI, and news that Microsoft have recently released a version of its AI-based companion, Copilot, for the popular instant messenger, Telegram.
You can now engage in seamless conversations, access information, and enjoy a smarter chat experience with Copilot, all within Telegram!
Thanks, Guy Gregory of Microsoft for highlighting this news.
An article that caught my eye is “What You Can Learn From Failure” from Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach.
Successful entrepreneurs look at every experience in one of two ways, says Sullivan. Either they see themselves winning, or they see themselves learning.
#5 Sync in to the Power of ChannelCon 2024July 30th-August 1st 2024 is the date, and Atlanta, Georgia is the location for this years big CompTIA ChannelCon event!
ChannelCon is a huge event for the IT and Managed Service industry, featuring global experts descending onto Atlanta to build relationships, learn from each other and all in a vendor-neutral environment.
I’ll be at ChannelCon again this year, and it’s definitely one of my favourite events of the calendar.
Admission is free for CompTIA members!
Links to the Resources Mentioned in this Round-Up
From Week 1Seven Outsourcing Myths DebunkedCulture Beats Process Every Time!Introducing Copilot+ PCsCybercriminals Are Leveraging AI in Their Phishing AttacksChannel-Sec: The Security Event for the European IT ChannelMentioned in Week 2Huntress Managed EDR for macOSMaster Incident Response with Tabletop ExercisesTubbTalk 153: The Godfather Of Modern Productivity: How To Leverage GTD For TeamsHow to Purchase an MSP With No Money DownCompTIA Community – UK & Ireland Meeting and Spotlight AwardsWeek 3What is Penetration Testing? A Comprehensive GuideSuperOps New Office OpenedTate Talks – with Paul Lloyd, SellerlyThe Converting MSP Website ChecklistMust Attend Event for the IT ChannelAnd Week 4TubbTalk 154: How to Use and Sell Microsoft Copilot for MSP GrowthWe Have an Entire Cauliflower CorridorCopilot for TelegramWhat You Can Learn From Failureync in to the Power of ChannelCon 2024
As we wrap up Tubbservatory Round-Up #30, it’s time to look ahead to July!
Have something amazing to share? Whether it’s a useful tool or an engaging resource, drop it in the comments below. Let’s keep the knowledge flowing—your contributions are invaluable!
The post Tubbservatory Round-Up #30 – June 2024 appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
CompTIA UK&I 2024: Remarkable Insights For Excellence And Innovation
The CompTIA UK&I 2024 Community Meeting gives a chance for community members to listen to experts discussing best practice, channel trends and thought leadership.
It’s also an opportunity to highlight how to get the most from the CompTIA community as a whole.
While the Spotlight Awards allow the community to celebrate the success and contributions of its members and partners.
This year we saw keynotes on self-sabotaging and public relations, and discussed the trends currently affecting the channel.
The CompTIA UK&I 2024 Community Meeting and Spotlight Awards took place at the MacDonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham on Wednesday 26th June.
Uptime’s Jason Kemsley was master of ceremonies for the event, making sure everyone kept to time.
The line-up included lots of great speakers. Thought-provoking keynotes, presentations about the state of the channel and open discussions on various topical subjects.
In the evening, guests gathered to celebrate the success of their peers at the Spotlight Awards, hosted by veteran stand-up comic Dominic Holland.
Regional chair Dan Scott and vice-chair Holly Whittles kicked off the proceedings with an introduction on how to get the most of the event.
Here are just a few of the highlights of the meeting.
State of the Channel ResearchTracy Pound and MJ Shoer highlighted some key channel statistic from recent research conducted by CompTIA.
Estimated global IT services spend increased to $1.5 Trillion in 2024 – an approximate 8.7% increase58% of UK and Ireland channel firms reported their businesses in better shape today than it was two years ago52% of UK and Ireland channel firms said they plan to sell generative AI-based solutions to customers in 2024MJ said that data is a goldmine, and a great opportunity for MSPs to exploit.
Tracy said that cybersecurity is such a complex area for businesses, and the expertise that MSPs can provide in this area can make it a valuable growth area. With the suggestion of partnering with MSSPs to deliver more value.
Break/fix business models are still popular in the channel, so Tracy asked why people thought this was true.
Suggested answers from the audience included:
CompTIA has an extensive research library for members to make use of, and it can be co-branded for use in your business.
For more information, you can find the Global State of the Channel 2024 report here.
Protecting Your Crown JewelsA keynote delivered by former law enforcement professional Adam Pilton of Cybersmart revealed a different take on cybersecurity.
“We’re continually giving information away”, says Adam. When we use free wi-fi or install apps that want access to our mobile phones for things it really shouldn’t need access to. That information can be leveraged by cybercriminals to target us.
Prevention is better than the cure, and with the right controls in place, it’s easier to achieve. Cyber Essentials is a great example of this, of course:
Patch managementUser access controlsFirewall and internet gatewaysSecure configurationMalware protectionHowever, having the controls in place is one thing, but it’s all unpinned by having a strong culture.
Culture consists of three elements: leadership setting an example, employee involvement and clear communication.
Pitfalls include insufficient or unengaging training, poor welfare and discipline in practicing what we’ve learned.
To avoid these pitfalls, we need the education and training with feedback mechanisms that fuel continual improvement. And we celebrate the success when it’s achieved.
It takes on average 4 years and 7 months from the time it takes to report a crime to getting a conviction, and it’s increasing year-on-year. AI will only increase this time frame in years to come.
Prevention may be better than the cure, but we still need a cure for when the worst happens.
The CompTIA MSP GuidebookIan Groves of Start Tech raised awareness of a new CompTIA resource that MSPs will find especially interesting.
When it comes to process efficiency in your MSP business, this white paper resource provides excellent guidance for MSPs.
Some of the areas Ian picked out included:
Assess your service portfolioBuild effective teamsInvest in peopleManage vendor partnersYour Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)Your ideal customer is an important focus for choosing the right clients to attract and retain. And it’s something you should review over time.
In Ian’s case, he keeps details of each of his clients, such as:
Business size, geographic location, IT budget, pain points, scalability, compliance, and industry focus.
He said that conducting quarterly business reviews (QBRs) for your clients provides a number of benefits for your MSP:
Relationship building – face to face meetings like this could improve the relationship with your client.
Performance evaluation – to demonstrate your value as their technology partner.
Strategic alignment – understand your clients long term goals.
Proactive issue resolution – resolve small issues before they become huge problems.
Client satisfaction & retention – show you’re invested in their success.
The MSP Guidebook also covers best practices for recruiting new talent, as well as managing vendor partnerships.
If you want to find out more about The MSP Guidebook: Cultivating a Culture of Process Efficiency, you can download it here.
CompTIA UK&I 2024 Community Meeting Keynote: The Art of Overcoming Self-SabotageTeresa Heath-Wareing is a business and mindset coach who delivered a keynote that resonated with nearly everyone in the room.
She began with a story about someone that she used to coach that was trying to start a podcast. This person started out on the right path but slowly found herself getting to a point where she couldn’t finish the task that she’d set for herself.
Several times along the way, the aspiring podcaster procrastinated, and found ways to avoiding going through with launching her podcast. And three years later, she still hadn’t completed her goal of launching a podcast.
It was a great way to help illustrate what self-sabotage is and how it affects us in practice.
What is Self-Sabotage?Teresa described the cycle of self-sabotage as something that starts with GOAL that needs ACTION.
From that ACTION we detect a THREAT.
From that THREAT we’re led to SABOTAGE.
And following on from the SABOTAGE we’re led to REFLECT upon what we’ve done, and then ultimately, we feel SHAME.
The SABOTAGE is just a way of our brains keeping us safe. On an animal level, we’re recognising the fear response, and trying to avoid an outcome.
To break this cycle, we need a pattern interrupt between the THREAT our decision to SABOTAGE.
The reasons we self-sabotage could be anything from:
A fear of failure or embarrassmentA fear of criticismPerfectionismFeeling of inadequacyHaving low self-worthOr even a fear of successWhat will happen if you reach your goal? And what fear are you trying to avoid?
Some examples:
If you’re launching a new service, it might be a fear of failure that prevents you from succeeding.Going live on Instagram might lead to a fear of embarrassment.Bringing on a new team member might cause you to experience a fear of loss of safety.How to Stop Self-Sabotaging Behaviour?Some steps to take to manage your self-sabotaging inclinations:
Notice the pattern – how are you sabotaging; is there a noticeable pattern? how does it manifest?
Question why – what are you trying to protect yourself from? what fears are you trying to avoid?
Rewrite the story – what would it look like if you didn’t feel this way?
Plan a 1% shift – make small changes that get you closer to your goal. Think of ways to avoid the saboteur.
Practice self-integrity – find ways to build trust with yourself and keep a record of the times you do.
Some people find journaling a good way to draw out any fears you might have and put them down onto paper.
However, it’s important to remember that this work takes time — but eventually you’ll get out of your own way and stop being so risk averse!
Each year, the community is encouraged to submit their entries into nine categories that honour individuals and business that have demonstrated commitment and leadership in advancing technology.
The awards are presented at a black tie dinner event that follows on from the community meeting.
Here are this year’s winners from the 2024 Spotlight Awards:
Individual Spotlight Awards
Future Leader:
Winner: Claire Jenks, Director, Jenks Creative
Advancing Women in Technology Leadership:
Georgia Howlett, Manager of Cloud Development, Pax8
Community Leadership:
Dan Scott, IT Nation Community Director, ConnectWise
Cybersecurity Leadership:
Mostyn Thomas, Senior Director of Security EMEA, Pax8
Organisation Spotlight Awards
Advancing Diversity in Technology Leadership:
inSOC
Solution Provider:
Start Tech
Innovative Vendor:
Salesbuildr and Sophos (joint winners)
Innovative Distributor:
Pax8
Associate Member Spotlight Award:
ITbetweeners and Network Group (joint winners)
If you’re thinking of attending these community meetings, they are a great way to learn new industry trends and network with your peers. But there’s a lot more to them than that.
CompTIA are always striving to advance technology and the people that work in the industry. Certifications, research and moving the needle forwards on diversity are what separates this institution apart from other communities.
When we have the opportunity to learn from and connect with our peers, and to celebrate their successes it strengthens the community as a whole.
Did you attend the CompTIA UK&I 2024 Community Meeting? And did you experience the glamour of the Spotlight Awards? Without doubt, Teresa’s keynote was excellent. Did you have a favourite keynote speaker? As ever, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
The post CompTIA UK&I 2024: Remarkable Insights For Excellence And Innovation appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
July 1, 2024
TubbTalk 157: Looking Into The Mindset Of A Successful, Modern MSP
Robert Gibbons is Chief Revenue Officer at Aabyss, and Troy Midwood is the Chief Technology Officer. They spoke to Richard live at Dattocon Europe 2024 and shared their thoughts on what makes a modern MSP successful.
An Interview With Robert Gibbons and Troy MidwoodWhy Peer Groups are Important for MSPsAs a long-time fan of peer communities, Robert is a big advocate for them. “It’s a great place to go if you’re stuck and you need some advice. There’s always somebody ready to listen to you and share their wisdom.
“I believe that my business grew faster in the two-year period after I joined SBSC than it would have done otherwise. Vendors also attend these meetings, so you get to find out about new products. Plus you can give them feedback on existing tools.”
As Robert points out, getting that kind of information first-hand saves you time trying out a solution that isn’t that good. Peer groups help you to make shortcuts to all kinds of valuable business decisions.
How a Modern MSP Can Manage Vendor FatigueIt’s fair to say that today’s MSPs have too many vendor partners, which means too many separate bills and a lot of admin. But there are ways to manage vendor fatigue, whether you’re just starting out or your business is established.
Robert says: “Look at the stack of products you want to have in your business, those that will really help you. And then investigate which vendors are out there who can supply you with multiple products.
“Kaseya have a range of solutions, such as service desk and tech support. And if you want licencing, such as for Microsoft tools, Pax8’s marketplace can help. You could probably build an MSP with just those two partners.”
What Has Stayed the Same in the IndustryTroy says that while there are new solutions coming on the market all the time, the big players are still relevant today: “When we first started, we deployed Microsoft servers with Windows on PCs.
“And we’re still using their tools – all of our clients have Microsoft 365. What HAS changed is how we use the tools and how we run our businesses. Back when we did break/fix, we all wanted our customers to have a problem so we could go and fix them. That’s a terrible business model!
“Clients don’t want their IT systems to go wrong and neither do we. There’s a shared interest in keeping them operational, and that’s why the MSP model is so successful and profitable. But their core needs are still the same, too.”
The Most Important Lesson Learned From ExperienceRobert says the most important lesson is also one of the simplest: “Be on the side of the customer. if you’re battling with them, you might win the argument but you’ll probably lose the customer. That’s not what you want.
“But if you can have empathy for them, work to get to know them and build that relationship, you can really help them. Ask them what success looks like for them and talk about how to make it happen. Be a partner, not a supplier.”
How a Modern MSP Can Ensure LongevityTroy says that one of the biggest challenges MSPs face is when they don’t recognise just how important they are to their clients. Businesses need an expert to help them with their tech and to keep it safe.
“But too often, MSPs are in a race to the bottom to win business at the lowest price. And it’s difficult to deliver a good quality service that way. You can’t afford the right toolkit or training, or have enough people to deliver a good standard of service.
“In the US, there’s been a big shift in the MSPs having to accept liability when things go wrong. That doesn’t help your longevity. So when that happens here, we’ll start to see clients seeking certifications for security. You can’t deliver that on a shoestring, so re-evaluate your prices now.”
Troy’s Advice for a Modern MSP Stuck in the ‘Tech Guy’ Mindset“IT support is commoditised,” says Troy. “And the differentiator for clients is not how responsive you are. It’s about the material impact we can have on their businesses. And that’s things like helping them to make the right tool choices.
“That can often be complex and the client has never done it before. So when they’re faced with multiple options, having a trusted partner to help them pick the right one will be a massive help.
“If you can help a client use technology better in order to hit their goals, that’s more valuable to them. And it’s interesting work for the MSPs. Where you can stand out is by helping them to understand the impact their decisions will have on their business success.”
How to Connect With Robert and TroyAabyssFollow Aabyss on LinkedInConnect with Robert on LinkedInConnect with Troy on LinkedInFollow Aabyss on XLike Aabyss on FacebookHow to Connect With MeSubscribe to TubbTalk RSS feedSubscribe, rate and review TubbTalk on iTunesSubscribe and rate TubbTalk on SpotifyFollow TubbTalk on iHeartRadioFollow @tubblog on TwitterMentioned in This EpisodeIT conference: DattoconPodcast: Richard’s interview with RobertBook: Marcus Sheridan: They Ask, You Answer: A Revolutionary Approach to Inbound Sales, Content Marketing, and Today’s Digital Consumer, 2nd Edition, Revised and UpdatedCybersecurity accreditation: Cyber Essentials/Cyber Essentials+Quality management certification: ISO9001Environmental management certification: ISO14000Information security certification: ISO2700Peer group: SBSC Northwest GroupIT management platform: KaseyaPSA tool: AutotaskRMM tool: Datto RMMDocumentation tool: IT GlueCloud marketplace: Pax8IT conference: Pax8 Beyond (Denver)IT conference: Pax8 Beyond EMEA (Berlin)You Might Also be Interested inSBSC North West: Advantages of Sharing Best Practice Among Local PeersPodcast: How to Build a Modern MSP for Business Growth and SuccessSuccessful MSP Relationships: How to Find and Nurture Them to Make Them Last
The post TubbTalk 157: Looking Into The Mindset Of A Successful, Modern MSP appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
June 28, 2024
Be Prepared for the Summer Holidays: Time off Checklist
So you’ve authorised the annual leave requests, agreed that your staff will leave work equipment at home and now they’re on the hunt for a new bucket and spade. But before you wave them off at the airport, here are seven things to think about as they take time off.
An out-of-office email auto-response is standard these days – you can even set them on Google Mail. But it’s still a good idea to have a policy or a template so that the whole team uses the same message.
This might include information on when they’re absent and when they’re back in the office, as well as who to contact if the other person needs something sooner rather than later.
This is also a good opportunity to point people towards useful blogs or other content that could answer questions in the employee’s absence – it shows that you’ve anticipated their needs.
As well as demonstrating professionalism and transparency, your out of office email might also be a compliance requirement. Make sure you explain your reasons to all employees before they take time off.
However, depending on your company and the type of work you do, it might not be a good idea to let people know that staff are absent. I’ve come across MSPs who don’t use out of office messages, and clearly explain why they don’t.
Ask your employee to set up call and/or mail forwarding and test it before they leave for their holiday. If it’s not something they do often, make sure they know where to go for help. You might even include it in your holiday policy.
Make sure your other staff know who to contact while their colleague is off. It quite likely isn’t the same person who’s named in the out-of-office message. Agree with that third party what their availability and responsibilities are to the team members.
Whether a team member or an external supplier is covering a holiday absence, a handover process is important. This might need to be done prior to the vacation. Or it could be a list of instructions with key contacts left for the next person.
Make it clear where and how the handover document is saved and shared. There could be a video walkthrough if that makes it easier to do a handover. Recruitment specialists Reed recommend including things like regular tasks, guidance on using software and a summary of key processes and systems.
If the employee taking time off is involved in an ongoing project, it will be necessary to include the project brief, goals and desired outcomes. A Gantt Chart or other milestone tracker should be shared, along with key contacts and the name of the project lead.
It’s good practice to share the handover document well in advance of the employee’s holiday, to allow anyone covering time to ask questions and get clarification on things. If this is a key business role, schedule time to review it at regular intervals to ensure it’s up to date and any contacts mentioned are still in their roles.
The amount of cover required will vary from role to role, and it will also depend on the need of the organisation during the employee’s absence. If it’s a manager, it’s reasonable to assume that someone else at the same grade will take over.
If they’re having an extended vacation, you may decide to ask someone to step up in the interim. Or if you have a large company, this could be a secondment opportunity or even require a temp from outside the organisation.
Ensure that the team knows who they’ll be reporting to and what support they can expect. Any important information the temporary manager needs to have should be included in the handover document.
If it’s an engineer taking time off, find a colleague to take over their work, or adjust their workload so they can pick tasks up on their return. Cover isn’t always necessary, and there can be costs involved, so make this role-dependent.
If you’ve got a strong handover process in place and there’s cover for the role, there really shouldn’t be an emergency situation. But if something does crop up, make sure you’ve clarified the steps with the absent staff member first.
Agree what constitutes an emergency for their role. Ask junior team members to speak to another manager or HR colleague before contacting the person on holiday. It might be a good idea for you or the manager to get in touch, rather than the team member.
And make sure that the employee’s emergency contact information isn’t shared in either their out-of-office message or with the wider team! They’ve earned their time off and don’t need to be bothered with minor inconveniences.
There should never be a situation where the employee who’s off is the only person who holds a key piece of information or knows how to do something. And if you’re running a successful MSP, you already know the risks of a single point of failure!
Again, it will depend on their role. But you need to ensure that at least one other employee knows how to do their work. Otherwise, this could constitute an emergency and you’ll need to contact the staff member on holiday!
If the information isn’t in the handover document, it might be their secretary who holds it. Or their counterpart in a different team should be able to help. Clarify this before they go on leave.
To an extent, this will depend on the set-up of your business. If they work remotely, a video meeting or even a call might be sufficient. If they’re based in the office, do they need a catch-up meeting?
It might require a handover meeting from whoever was providing cover. Or perhaps there’s a briefing document that could be shared. However you decide to do it, make sure the staff member knows what to expect. And give them time to get caught up before you send them more work!
Have you got a holiday checklist that you use with your MSP employees? What else is important for you to tick off before people have time off? Let us know in the comments!
The post Be Prepared for the Summer Holidays: Time off Checklist appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
Be Prepared for the Summer Holidays: a Time off Checklist
So you’ve authorised the annual leave requests, agreed that your staff will leave work equipment at home and now they’re on the hunt for a new bucket and spade. But before you wave them off at the airport, here are seven things to think about as they take time off.
An out-of-office email auto-response is standard these days – you can even set them on Google Mail. But it’s still a good idea to have a policy or a template so that the whole team uses the same message.
This might include information on when they’re absent and when they’re back in the office, as well as who to contact if the other person needs something sooner rather than later.
This is also a good opportunity to point people towards useful blogs or other content that could answer questions in the employee’s absence – it shows that you’ve anticipated their needs.
As well as demonstrating professionalism and transparency, your out of office email might also be a compliance requirement. Make sure you explain your reasons to all employees before they take time off.
However, depending on your company and the type of work you do, it might not be a good idea to let people know that staff are absent. I’ve come across MSPs who don’t use out of office messages, and clearly explain why they don’t.
Ask your employee to set up call and/or mail forwarding and test it before they leave for their holiday. If it’s not something they do often, make sure they know where to go for help. You might even include it in your holiday policy.
Make sure your other staff know who to contact while their colleague is off. It quite likely isn’t the same person who’s named in the out-of-office message. Agree with that third party what their availability and responsibilities are to the team members.
Whether a team member or an external supplier is covering a holiday absence, a handover process is important. This might need to be done prior to the vacation. Or it could be a list of instructions with key contacts left for the next person.
Make it clear where and how the handover document is saved and shared. There could be a video walkthrough if that makes it easier to do a handover. Recruitment specialists Reed recommend including things like regular tasks, guidance on using software and a summary of key processes and systems.
If the employee taking time off is involved in an ongoing project, it will be necessary to include the project brief, goals and desired outcomes. A Gantt Chart or other milestone tracker should be shared, along with key contacts and the name of the project lead.
It’s good practice to share the handover document well in advance of the employee’s holiday, to allow anyone covering time to ask questions and get clarification on things. If this is a key business role, schedule time to review it at regular intervals to ensure it’s up to date and any contacts mentioned are still in their roles.
The amount of cover required will vary from role to role, and it will also depend on the need of the organisation during the employee’s absence. If it’s a manager, it’s reasonable to assume that someone else at the same grade will take over.
If they’re having an extended vacation, you may decide to ask someone to step up in the interim. Or if you have a large company, this could be a secondment opportunity or even require a temp from outside the organisation.
Ensure that the team knows who they’ll be reporting to and what support they can expect. Any important information the temporary manager needs to have should be included in the handover document.
If it’s an engineer taking time off, find a colleague to take over their work, or adjust their workload so they can pick tasks up on their return. Cover isn’t always necessary, and there can be costs involved, so make this role-dependent.
If you’ve got a strong handover process in place and there’s cover for the role, there really shouldn’t be an emergency situation. But if something does crop up, make sure you’ve clarified the steps with the absent staff member first.
Agree what constitutes an emergency for their role. Ask junior team members to speak to another manager or HR colleague before contacting the person on holiday. It might be a good idea for you or the manager to get in touch, rather than the team member.
And make sure that the employee’s emergency contact information isn’t shared in either their out-of-office message or with the wider team! They’ve earned their time off and don’t need to be bothered with minor inconveniences.
There should never be a situation where the employee who’s off is the only person who holds a key piece of information or knows how to do something. And if you’re running a successful MSP, you already know the risks of a single point of failure!
Again, it will depend on their role. But you need to ensure that at least one other employee knows how to do their work. Otherwise, this could constitute an emergency and you’ll need to contact the staff member on holiday!
If the information isn’t in the handover document, it might be their secretary who holds it. Or their counterpart in a different team should be able to help. Clarify this before they go on leave.
To an extent, this will depend on the set-up of your business. If they work remotely, a video meeting or even a call might be sufficient. If they’re based in the office, do they need a catch-up meeting?
It might require a handover meeting from whoever was providing cover. Or perhaps there’s a briefing document that could be shared. However you decide to do it, make sure the staff member knows what to expect. And give them time to get caught up before you send them more work!
Have you got a holiday checklist that you use with your MSP employees? What else is important for you to tick off before people have time off? Let us know in the comments!
The post Be Prepared for the Summer Holidays: a Time off Checklist appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
June 27, 2024
Why You Should Encourage Your MSP Employees to Switch off on Holiday
Hopefully, after reading this post, you understand why it’s important for MSP leaders to take time off. If you have a team, you’re legally required to give them holiday time each year. However, not all businesses proactively encourage their staff to completely switch off from work.
It might not be explicit in their contracts, but it could be part of the company culture that staff are available by phone or email while on holiday.
If you think your team has this idea and you’d rather they didn’t, now is a good time to make your expectations clear. Create an annual leave policy or update your existing one.
Remember that having time away from the workplace is beneficial for your team’s mental health and well-being. Depending on their role and the nature of your company, being at work might be stressful.
Encourage employees to leave their laptops and smartphones at home to be fully present with their families and friends. If they’ve been in the habit of replying to emails, gently remind them they don’t need to check in. Ask them to switch their out of office on before they finish.
Where possible, don’t cc them into messages while they’re away. If they do need to be kept in the loop, consider scheduling the emails for when they’re back – but ideally not at 9am on the Monday morning!
Plan ahead with them who will be covering their projects in their absence, handle likely client or colleague queries that might crop up, and where to find key information while they’re away. Don’t call them while they’re off unless it’s really urgent!
A change of scene and downtime does wonders for all of us. If your team know it’s ok for them to disconnect from the chat channels (such as Teams or Slack) for a few days, they’ll have a proper break.
Most people come back from a holiday with renewed enthusiasm for their work. They jump back into projects, and often the time out allows them to pick up where they left off with a fresh perspective.
They’ll re-engage with their colleagues, and they should be encouraged to share stories and photos of their break. Doing so adds to them feeling valued in their workplace and improves internal relationships and the overall company culture.
Nobody wants to land in a hot destination after a five-hour flight and find a series of emails or worse, missed calls, on their phone. Be honest – you wouldn’t be pleased if it happened to you!
So make sure your employees are encouraged to switch off their work notifications. Or, if they use company equipment, ask them to leave them in the office. If it’s harder to contact them, you and their colleagues will be less tempted to get in touch.
If it’s a genuine emergency (refer to your own policies), then call and explain the situation. But repeatedly emailing requests to holidaying employees only breeds resentment. And they may start looking for a new role – from their sun lounger.
This pre-pandemic article says that in a study of 3,000 office workers, 69% said they were regularly asked to work outside their official hours. Now, with hybrid work and staff perks on the rise, they’re far less likely to tolerate the intrusion. Talent retention is hard enough in the IT sector without making it worse.
Depending on the seniority of the staff member on vacation, it’s easy to assume that their team can’t cope without their support and guidance. But the sign of a good manager – and a good business owner – is to empower their employees to think for themselves.
Here at TeamTubb, we’re always encouraged to make decisions that feel right in the moment, and if anything goes disastrously wrong (which it hasn’t yet!), then we own up, apologise and work together to fix our mistakes.
Giving your staff autonomy not only makes them feel trusted and good about themselves, but it also means they feel more invested in the company and committed to working harder. It’s also important if you want people to progress up the career ladder within your organisation, rather than looking elsewhere.
Ultimately, if your team can’t manage if they’re a colleague or two down, then the failure is yours. Not only should you have holiday and handover policies in place, but people should feel able to step up when the opportunity presents itself. If not, there’s a poor company culture.
As we’ve already mentioned, tech talent retention is more of a challenge after Covid, but so is recruitment. Many smaller MSPs are struggling to find ways to attract new people to their business, as they can’t afford the perks of bigger companies.
But what if that’s true for you too? Then focus on the little things that will make a big difference. Talk about your company culture, holiday allowance and sick leave entitlement on your about page, not just in job adverts.
If a jobseeker can see how important staff down time is for you as a business, they’ll be more able to imagine themselves working for you. And if you follow through on the commitment to let people switch off, then they’ll recommend you to others.
The post Why You Should Encourage Your MSP Employees to Switch off on Holiday appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
Why you Should Encourage Your MSP Employees to Switch off on Holiday
Hopefully, after reading this post, you understand why it’s important for MSP leaders to take time off. If you have a team, you’re legally required to give them holiday time each year. However, not all businesses proactively encourage their staff to completely switch off from work.
It might not be explicit in their contracts, but it could be part of the company culture that staff are available by phone or email while on holiday.
If you think your team has this idea and you’d rather they didn’t, now is a good time to make your expectations clear. Create an annual leave policy or update your existing one.
Remember that having time away from the workplace is beneficial for your team’s mental health and well-being. Depending on their role and the nature of your company, being at work might be stressful.
Encourage employees to leave their laptops and smartphones at home to be fully present with their families and friends. If they’ve been in the habit of replying to emails, gently remind them they don’t need to check in. Ask them to switch their out of office on before they finish.
Where possible, don’t cc them into messages while they’re away. If they do need to be kept in the loop, consider scheduling the emails for when they’re back – but ideally not at 9am on the Monday morning!
Plan ahead with them who will be covering their projects in their absence, handle likely client or colleague queries that might crop up, and where to find key information while they’re away. Don’t call them while they’re off unless it’s really urgent!
A change of scene and downtime does wonders for all of us. If your team know it’s ok for them to disconnect from the chat channels (such as Teams or Slack) for a few days, they’ll have a proper break.
Most people come back from a holiday with renewed enthusiasm for their work. They jump back into projects, and often the time out allows them to pick up where they left off with a fresh perspective.
They’ll re-engage with their colleagues, and they should be encouraged to share stories and photos of their break. Doing so adds to them feeling valued in their workplace and improves internal relationships and the overall company culture.
Nobody wants to land in a hot destination after a five-hour flight and find a series of emails or worse, missed calls, on their phone. Be honest – you wouldn’t be pleased if it happened to you!
So make sure your employees are encouraged to switch off their work notifications. Or, if they use company equipment, ask them to leave them in the office. If it’s harder to contact them, you and their colleagues will be less tempted to get in touch.
If it’s a genuine emergency (refer to your own policies), then call and explain the situation. But repeatedly emailing requests to holidaying employees only breeds resentment. And they may start looking for a new role – from their sun lounger.
This pre-pandemic article says that in a study of 3,000 office workers, 69% said they were regularly asked to work outside their official hours. Now, with hybrid work and staff perks on the rise, they’re far less likely to tolerate the intrusion. Talent retention is hard enough in the IT sector without making it worse.
Depending on the seniority of the staff member on vacation, it’s easy to assume that their team can’t cope without their support and guidance. But the sign of a good manager – and a good business owner – is to empower their employees to think for themselves.
Here at TeamTubb, we’re always encouraged to make decisions that feel right in the moment, and if anything goes disastrously wrong (which it hasn’t yet!), then we own up, apologise and work together to fix our mistakes.
Giving your staff autonomy not only makes them feel trusted and good about themselves, but it also means they feel more invested in the company and committed to working harder. It’s also important if you want people to progress up the career ladder within your organisation, rather than looking elsewhere.
Ultimately, if your team can’t manage if they’re a colleague or two down, then the failure is yours. Not only should you have holiday and handover policies in place, but people should feel able to step up when the opportunity presents itself. If not, there’s a poor company culture.
As we’ve already mentioned, tech talent retention is more of a challenge after Covid, but so is recruitment. Many smaller MSPs are struggling to find ways to attract new people to their business, as they can’t afford the perks of bigger companies.
But what if that’s true for you too? Then focus on the little things that will make a big difference. Talk about your company culture, holiday allowance and sick leave entitlement on your about page, not just in job adverts.
If a jobseeker can see how important staff down time is for you as a business, they’ll be more able to imagine themselves working for you. And if you follow through on the commitment to let people switch off, then they’ll recommend you to others.
The post Why you Should Encourage Your MSP Employees to Switch off on Holiday appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
