Work collaboration is critical either with regular employees or with freelancers. You need to coordinate the work to complete the projects efficiently. To make this possible! You have to study some tips to collaborate with freelancers effectively.
Thanks to technology, we can outsource our work easily. However, we have to ensure that freelancers do the job appropriately and that they follow your organizational working standards.
We can use technology to integrate with freelancers. This article includes the techniques to make the best use of technology and collaborate with freelancers effectively.
Freelancers Vs Regular Employees
Freelancers are hired for a project or a particular task, and people take their services for a specified period. On the other hand, regular employees are our workforce associated with our company.
We can assign different tasks to our employees, but freelancers will only do the activities in which they are specialized. It is easier to handle regular employees because,
- They are familiar with the organization’s working standards.
- They are used to working with organizations.
- They have already fitted into the organization’s structure.
Freelancers are not part of your organization. So they need special instructions to work with you. However, you can obtain maximum output by working effectively with freelancers through the following tips.
Keep Smooth Communication
Communication hurdles can negatively affect your work efficiency. Many freelancers also outsource their work due to high workloads. Make sure that you directly communicate with the concerned person without any middleman.
Keep the flow of information smooth to avoid mismanagement. You can’t get the work done on deadlines if you don’t keep communication smooth. So give an active phone number or email that you regularly check and collaborate with freelancers through different tools if necessary.
Suitable Medium of Communication
Select a medium of communication according to your work requirements. Switching different apps can shatter the data in several folders, making the work complex for both parties.
Choose a medium that fulfils all your requirements i.e
- File Sharing
- Integrating
- Quick Chat
- Task Tracking
Share Feedback
Don’t forget to share your feedback with freelancers. Feedback sharing adds value and improves your work relationship. You can check the progress daily, weekly or fortnightly and share your feedback with the freelancer. You don’t need to necessarily share your experience only at the end of the project.
Try to give the feedback professionally. It will help freelancers to improve their work. Positive feedback will encourage them to work more effectively. You can also tell them if there is room for improvement through negative feedback.
Limited Access to Sensitive Information
Control the access to information and avoid giving sensitive information to freelancers. Unlike regular employees, freelancers don’t usually sign contracts and can easily misuse the information.
Provide necessary information to freelancers, but the data should be enough to complete a project. Excessive data can also confuse them. So, always provide relevant and comprehensive information that should include clear instructions.
Keep the Things Clear
Incomplete and unclear information is as harmful as excessive information. Incomplete information and statements can lead to several mistakes, and probably you failed to obtain the desired results due to misunderstandings.
Freelancers can understand their role in your project through straightforward instructions. Tell freelancers about your expectations. It will help them understand your requirements, working standards, project details, and outline.
Preset the Budget and Deadline
Before assigning tasks to freelancers, ask out about their pay rates. It is Ok to negotiate but decide before the project proceedings. Otherwise, you can be in big trouble because freelancers’ rates can be higher than your budget.
Also, tell them about the deadline of the project. If the project is too lengthy, you must set mini-deadlines before the final deadline. Communicating the deadline before starting working leads to the timely completion of projects.
Be on the Same Page
Use different management tools to get freelancers on the same page. Share the necessary details and track their activities through suitable software.
If the freelancer is doing a part of your project and your regular employee carries out the rest, then integrate properly. Bring the entire team on the same page by using the integration software.
Let Them Do Their Work
Freelancers are specialized in their work. Give them instructions but don’t interfere too much in their activities. Let them be creative with their approach. However, don’t compromise on working standards.
Too much interference can do the following harm.
- Kill Creativity
- Make Freelancers exhausted
- Distract them
- Stress them out
- Creates frustration
Don’t bombard freelancers with messages. Check their progress and communicate with them professionally to share feedback and discuss the progress.
Don’t Delay Payments
Make payments on time. Delayed payments can discourage a freelancer and cause demotivation, directly affecting freelancers’ performance. If advance payment is due, make it as promised. Also, make partial and final payments on time to ensure a good work relationship.
Share the Necessary Information
Freelancers do your work; how can they perform well with incomplete instructions and information? Share all the necessary details with freelancers. However, don’t share excessive and sensitive information. Make a balance and share practical, essential and relevant information required to complete the task.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to collaborate with freelancers effectively. You will surely do successful projects with freelancers by using the correct tools and making good strategies. Using the tips mentioned above, you can also develop a long-term productive relationship with freelancers.
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