Assembling and managing a team of freelancers is a multi-faceted challenge that will involve a calculated initial effort along with various ongoing duties and responsibilities. Fortunately, by implementing a system that streamlines your management workflow, you’ll be able to help your team achieve optimal productivity while also minimizing your own involvement. An ideal team will be able to handle their workload effortlessly and professionally without requiring unnecessary intervention or direction. With that said, here are four ways you can refine your management practices to ensure you’re getting the most out of your payroll expenditure:
1. Use a Project Management Tool
If you’ve been collaborating with your freelancers via conventional methods like email, chat, or online spreadsheets, you may want to consider the organizational advantages of using a well-rounded project management software or platform instead. You can check out this list of the top project management tools to begin your comparison in this department. This will help you consolidate and simplify the process of managing multiple freelancers within the context of a collaborative project.
2. Set Demanding Goals
You’ll never know your team’s true potential if you’re not making it possible for them to reach it. It may seem sensible to only allocate an easily doable amount of work to each freelancer in the name of creating a sustainable schedule, but you might be surprised at what your workers are capable of when you place a heavier burden on them. Aim high with your goals and deadlines. That way, employees will be held to a standard of staying productive, even on days when they fall short of the expected output.
3. Clarify Expectations
Setting very clear requirements, rules, and expectations for each project will keep you from having to request unnecessary revisions or solve problems that could have been prevented with more accurate and detailed instruction. It’s best to create a checklist of expectations and job duties along with accompanying quizzes that new members can take to verify that they’re aware of what they’re supposed to be doing on a daily basis.
4. Reward Exceptional Performance
Providing incentives always helps to motivate freelancers because they’re a lot like free agents in the world of sports. At any given time, a truly skilled freelancer could jump ship and find work on another team if they feel as though there’s not enough reward in the job that they’re currently doing. Try to reward your best freelancers to show that you recognize their value and appreciate their hard work. Having an open leader board and providing bonuses to the most productive workers is one way to get your team collaborating in a competitive manner.
Finding an Apprentice or Project Manager
In closing, another reason why it’s important to closely monitor the performance and quality of work provided by your freelancing team is to identify employees who might be capable of playing a managerial role. Generally, administrative duties should only be allocated to your most experienced, skilled, disciplined, and trustworthy freelancers. Finding someone who meets those criteria will let you take a mostly hands-off approach to running your business.
