Freelancers can be a major coup for your business, or they can drain you of your resources and patience. For those going it alone, it’s the never-ending challenge of getting your name out there, acquiring contracts, and, of course, doing a good job. But from the perspective of someone running a business, freelancers are that limbo between a contractor and a full-time worker. You need them to get the job done, but at the same time, you have the freedom to let them go, and they have the freedom to leave you at any point, leaving you in the lurch. This is why effective management strategies will serve you well…

Gauging The Right Amount Of Communication

This all depends on if you’ve given them a detailed enough brief. Freelancers that work at home require enough information to complete the task to your standards, but they also need the space necessary to complete the task, without feeling that you are micromanaging them. This is why it’s best for you to work out a system that benefits you both. You need to be kept in the loop, but as long as you give enough information upfront, you can leave them to it. But you still need appropriate updates. In which case, virtual meetings could benefit you. This is an area that is constantly being fine-tuned, and you can download the Global AGM Trends Whitepaper here for the latest information with regards to how virtual and hybrid meetings are being conducted across the world. Remote working is something that a lot of businesses are utilizing, but not necessarily the right sort of communication to go with it. It’s important for you when working with freelancers to lay your cards upfront.

Nurturing The Relationship

If you put enough trust in a freelancer, and they don’t let you down, from there, you can begin to utilize their skills, not just for the task they are doing, but for additional ones in the future. Ultimately, freelancers have the option to walk away if they don’t like how you are doing things, but if they like how you conduct business, and you give them the support and freedom they like, this can be the beginning of a beautiful working friendship. This relationship, however, is dependent on your own managing of their abilities, but if your business needs them further down the line too. In which case, if you are looking for someone to higher intermittently, would it be better for you to take them on board full-time? On the other hand, working with freelancers on a long-term project, in many ways, requires trust. You can draft a freelance contract which is legally binding, but the real hallmark of managing freelancers properly is putting your trust in their ability to do the job.

The hiring process is vital when getting a freelancer on board because you can look at their previous work, and get a good idea of their reputation. But regardless of how much experience they have, if you’re not able to manage them adequately, it’s not going to be a fruitful working relationship.