When a small business hires freelancers to support operations, there are benefits and drawbacks. The main consideration is that a freelance team requires a unique brand of management and one that is not necessarily intuitive to mainstream business leaders.
However, every challenge is surmountable if you have the right toolkit. Here are some effective management strategies for handling a freelance team that will enable any small business to keep on thriving.
5 Effective Management Strategies For Small Businesses and Freelancers
1. Manage Expectations
Managing expectations from the very beginning is non-negotiable. From the minute you start drafting the job advertisement there must be clear stipulations on what this contract will entail, and how the work needs to be executed.
Poor expectations management leads to defaulted projects and subpar outcomes, so be specific and communicate every step of the way.
2. Create Guidelines
This process will be supported if there are guidelines for every single person you bring in to complete work for the business. It is wise to compile an easy-to-follow document that details everything that a freelancer could possibly ask.
Start with typical work hours and build your way up to how, and more importantly when, they will be paid for their services. Freelancers work for different companies as they move through their careers, offering their skills to the arenas that fit well for their agenda.
Therefore, you must outline what you want and how you do things so they can adapt accordingly.
3. Don’t Mismanage Payments
There will be a different process to follow when it comes to managing payments for the commissioned freelance work. Arranging a regular schedule and setting specific rates is the best way forward.
If your team lives in the same country, a bank transfer or third-party payment are both great options. However, there are often times when you will use overseas freelance professionals, and that is when an international money transfer app is the obvious choice.
4. Have a Communication Hub
Communication problems are a common complaint from companies regarding freelancers, but there are ways to work around it. The trick will always be to ensure that there is some form of universal platform like email that is completely accessible and monitored.
Keeping everyone in the loop of movements and updates is essential, and you have to be contactable as well in case there are any delays or questions to resolve.
5. Always Have a Contract
A contract is a document that both you and the freelancer will need to ensure obligations are met on both sides. It states the terms of the project and all the other finer details that need ironing out too.
For the professional, this agreement acknowledges their intention to fulfill the task they signed up for, and for the business, it states they will hold up their end of the arrangement too. It can state project rates, timelines, and any other vital information that you need in writing.
As long as a small business has a clear contract, expectations, and remuneration process, nothing is holding them back from finding success with a freelance team. The advantages of using this category of employee are almost self-explanatory, and it is a great way to support growth as you move into the future.
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Author: Boris Dzhingarov
