Why Patricia Hendrix flew to the other side of the world to meet her offshore team

We live in a virtual world, where, from food ordering to finding the right talent for your business, everything is done digitally. There are more virtual meetings than potlucks in the office, more time spent on Slack or Teams than on conversations over coffee. The world has become smaller and is now better connected.

During such times, Patricia Hendrix, VP of Communities at Woodard, flew across the globe to meet the offshore team at Finsmart Accounting. For years, Patricia has been working with firm owners and solopreneurs, many of whom have been offshoring their accounting practice. But the question is, why did she travel so far to meet her offshore team?

The answer was simple for her:

“You can’t replace the power of human connection. I had to see the people who are helping us grow.”

At Finsmart, we not only talk about building global teams, but also about integrating teams into your firm’s culture. Patricia, during her solo trip to India, visited our headquarters in Pune, India, and this idea of cultural integration came to life most tangibly.

Seeing the Real People Behind the Processes

Patricia is a coach and has several clients working with the Finsmart team, who have really grown. But this was the first time she was meeting the team in person. The impact was immediate.

“It makes this a human experience in scaling. You are not just working with people you see on a screen; you are working with people who truly care about your firm.”

Patricia has had firms that have many apprehensions about offshoring. And this visit was not just about checking in – it was about deepening trust, understanding the culture, and improving collaboration. It turned an offshore engagement into a real partnership.

Addressing the Apprehensions Head On

For many firm owners, offshoring comes with a lot of concerns and apprehensions. From fear of losing control to data security to not knowing what’s really happening behind the scenes, this can lead to uncertainty, fear, and ultimately maintaining a distance with offshoring.

Patricia acknowledged these fears openly.

“We are sending our information to the other side of the world, and we don’t really know what is happening.”

But once Patricia saw the systems, the infrastructure, and the people who work on the critical data, first-hand, it gave her a new level of confidence, which then became easier to pass on.

“The setup, the protocols, the professionalism—it all made sense once I was there. I could see how seriously they take our work.”

She Felt Truly Connected to the Team

During her visit, the team was genuinely interested in knowing about her – her trip, her experience while in the country, her plans to come back, and more. What stuck out for Patricia is the warmth she received here. Her visit also gave the team a moral boost when they witnessed the strengthening of trust and confidence in their work. It was also proof that strength and visibility always go hand in hand.

Redefining Leadership

One of Patricia’s biggest takeaways from the trip was how it shifted her approach to leadership. Accountants have a tendency to do everything themselves. While she sat down to speak with the team, she realized that firms and individuals cannot grow if they constantly want to wear all the hats. That is exactly what leads to burnout.

Meeting the offshore team helped her let go of that mindset and step into a role that focused more on facilitation rather than control.

Offshoring is More Than Just About Costs – It is about Building Capabilities

Accounting firm owners often chase offshoring as a means to cut costs. But is that all offshoring is about? Most certainly not!

She talks about how the hiring requirements of the offshore team, like at Finsmart, are often higher than the talent available in the US. At Finsmart, we hire resources who have a CPA-equivalent degree or a Master’s Degree in Accounting. Patricia says that in the US, resources are usually self-taught, and sometimes don’t have a relevant degree.

Patricia’s visit wasn’t just another milestone for her or the firms she works with – it was a reminder that offshoring, when done right, can help businesses leverage their true potential.

• Built on trust

• Reinforced with visibility

• Focused on people and not just processes

• Aligned with long-term growth and not short-term savings

“We need to look at offshoring, not as us or them. We need to look at this as an interdependency. Where you are providing something that we need, and we are providing something that you need. And depending on each other in a constructive and interdependent way, and that way everyone wins,” says Patricia.

Watch the complete episode of Smart Outsourcing Talks podcast now: https://youtu.be/jtv9bAe3TDM?si=czXWye-HQ21lZcIW

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