As mentioned before, being a freelancer is a great way to make extra money. It is also very difficult, which makes it even better! Being in charge of your time means you get to decide when to work and how much work you want to do each day. Knowing how to manage freelancers will help you a lot and you will learn it here!
As a freelance writer, I have learned how to be my boss by practicing these five strategies. Not only do I enjoy working as a freelancer, but I feel like I manage my schedule more efficiently than I did working for someone else. You will too once you learn these skills.
Here are all of my tips that will help you become a successful freelancer. Check out this article and then read our other articles or talk with me about becoming a freelancer.
Make sure you get what you pay for
As mentioned before, as a freelancer yourself, you know how hard it can be to manage your time and money. For most people, this is not easy until they reach freelance level. Even then, there are always things that could use your time or resources away from clients.
As a business owner, making sure you only work with professionals and companies that provide good services will help prevent this. You would also want to make sure their services are cost-effective and clear about deadlines.
Just like anyone else, freelancers need to take breaks sometimes! Having some down times where you do not have access to technology or equipment helps reset your mind and body. This allows you to re-focus later when needed.
Always get a contract
Even if you’re just starting as a project manager, you need to know how to manage freelancers who are your staff. This is especially important when they are paid via commission or hourly!
As a project manager, you will be responsible for ensuring that each member of your team is performing their job effectively and efficiently. These are just the basics of project management! You can’t do this unless you have a clear understanding of who they are, what they do, and how they perform about other people and things.
This article contains some helpful tips on developing relationships with your freelance team members and how to use them smartly at times.
Keep your lines of communication open to manage freelancers appropriately
As mentioned before, as a project manager that works with freelance professionals, you will need to be aware of when they are no longer willing to work with you.
This can include things such as not responding to messages or emails, disappearing for days at a time without contact, or even worse, quitting projects completely.
If you notice any of these behaviors in someone, it is important to address them right away!
Doing so shows that you care about their business and what happens within the workplace is very important.
It also raises concerns about whether or not they are able to perform their job well.
By being aware of this, you can prevent potential problems by addressing issues early on. This helps both parties feel more comfortable in their jobs which creates a happier employee experience. You as a project manager, you will save money due to their lower turnover.
Running into trouble may indicate that something is wrong with their personal life, but you cannot assume anything. It’s best to address those issues directly if needed.
Give them freedom but keeping control is an effective way to manage freelancers
As a project manager, you will need to be in control at all times. You can’t afford to let your creativity take a backseat because someone else is doing the work.
You have to believe in their ability to do good quality work and that they will deliver what they say they will.
At the same time, you must give them enough space to grow as professionals. Help them find ways to improve their skills by reading articles, listening to lectures online, and exploring different alternatives for completing projects.
By being aware of these tips, you will ensure that freelancers are giving you the best possible service while also helping them develop their career.
Always pay on time
As mentioned before, as a freelancer, you will handle many different clients and projects. This can make it hard to keep up with when your payments are due and how much money you have left in the budget for that project.
Make sure to always stay on top of these things, but do not worry about it too much because more than likely, your colleagues or friends who work freelance will also be paid!
Freelance is a great way to earn extra income, but just like any other job, it comes with its own set of responsibilities. Make sure to emphasize this again – being paid on time is one of the most important ones.
Also remember to treat every client the same no matter what their status is as a paying customer.
Be honest and direct about deadlines and deliverables and make sure they both match what was promised and what they were paid for.
Avoid financial obligations when you manage freelancers
Even if you are not paying them directly, there can be some tricky situations that can influence your freelancer relationships. For example, if you ask your freelancer to do work for another company or project, they may feel obligated to complete their task for this new client.
If this happens then it is important to understand that they will likely stop working for you, and chances are good that they have other clients so they will still get paid!
This situation is very common among freelancers because they rely heavily on their income to pay bills and raise kids. They may feel pressured into helping these other companies and projects in order to keep themselves financially stable.
Since most freelance contracts don’t include payment terms like “I will get paid once I am finished doing this job,” sometimes delays happen. When this occurs, unfortunately, the freelancer has to wait around for money even though they are actively looking for work.
By being aware of such potential issues, you can prevent hurt feelings and lost trust between you and your freelancer. You will also avoid having to chase down payments and possibly legal action on unpaid jobs.
Share your experiences with others
As mentioned before, being a freelancer comes with its own set of challenges, not the least of which is how to manage your colleagues. As a project manager or business owner that employs freelance professionals, you’ll need to learn how to motivate them, how to hold them accountable for their tasks, and what tools they require to do their jobs.
Freelance workers are paid per project so there’s no ongoing employment relationship, making it more difficult to keep people motivated and on task. It can also be tricky to measure success because it varies from individual to individual.
Some may feel overpaid while others may find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
Just like any employee, freelancers will ask questions about pay, opportunities available to them outside of work, and if their employers are willing to help them grow.