Making Better Use Of A Growing Freelance Workforce

More and more industries and companies are finding that long-term employees aren’t as common as they used to be. They still play a vital role in the majority of workplaces, but more business owners are finding that the labor market is instead dominated by freelancers. While they can offer cost-effectiveness and flexibility, you also need to take care that they’re integrated well into the business.

Set clear objectives and incentives

A loose agreement might work with a close friend, but when you start relying on freelancers for the majority of your labor, then you’re going to need to set clear objectives for them. It’s a myth that freelancers are more inclined to be lazy about getting work done. Rather, it’s just that not setting out your objectives clearly makes misunderstandings much more likely. You will get frustrated because they didn’t do what you wanted and they’ll get frustrated that their work has been for nothing. Set clear goals and empower them to meet them. Consider paying based on steps of the goal achieved so they have the incentive to follow your direction to the letter.

Keep tabs on the best of the bunch

There are some freelancers you might work with once and be content to part ways with. However, there are others, and it might even be the majority, you want to keep in touch with. Make sure you have the software that supports your ability to do this. Crew scheduling software can ensure that you keep records on your freelancers, their skills, union status and more. It also makes it a lot easier to ensure they get offered the work they would need in order to prioritize you as a client or contract-holder.

Treat them as team members

There are some freelancers who love their independence and will do anything to maintain it. Others will be glad to be made a member of the team. Talk to them with the same kind of respect and openness as you would an employee, not an outsider. Keeping in touch with them through a company collaboration tool or instant messaging app can help to make them feel connected to the rest of the business, even if they’re not officially part of it.

Take feedback

Not all freelancers are going to prefer working the same way. However, you are going to see trends depending on the industry/market of freelancers and how you tend to do business. If there are prevailing opinions on how you could work better with freelancers, you need to know. Make use of feedback collection software. You can even make it part of their contractual obligation to submit feedback once during their time with you, though you won’t need to do that in most cases. Most freelancers are more than happy to do what they can to improve their working relationships.

A business owner that relies on freelancers needs to build their business around flexibility and mutual benefit. Hopefully, the tips above can help you do that, and get better results from the ever-growing gig market.