More and more businesses are switching on to the benefits of working with freelancers – and when those freelancers are treated right, the results can be astonishing for all involved. For those companies that can make it work, it really is the modern way to run a team.
Unfortunately, some businesses that could benefit from working with a remote crew have seen the system trip them up – because they wanted all the benefits of working with freelancers without any of the responsibilities.
When confusion arises between employers and their remote workers, it is tougher to resolve than in a traditional set-up since many of the formal and informal ways we communicate at work are compromised by distance. It’s easier to play things by ear or by example in the office: with remote workers, on the other hand, you need to set up clear, demonstrable parameters, rules and rewards to motivate a decent workflow and to avoid misunderstanding.
Many freelancers choose to work the way they do because of the added freedom that comes with the job. But if your dealings with them are clear, honest, and respectful, you will find that setting a few ground rules can benefit both sides.
For more on the delicate but rewarding art of working with freelancers, check out this new visual guide from our friends at The Business Backer.
Author
Paul Slezak
With over two decades of experience in the recruitment and human capital industry, Paul Slezak has established himself as a transformative force in the realm of leadership and career coaching, group facilitation, and talent acquisition. His unique perspective, drawn from his early career as a leader in global recruitment firms and his entrepreneurial success with his own start-up, has enabled him to make a significant impact on leaders, teams, and organizations across the world. Paul's passion for helping others achieve success and high performance is evident in his commitment to transforming leaders and their teams at local, national, and international levels. He specializes in promoting the importance of human-centered intelligence, focusing on soft skills such as authenticity, transparency, and trust to complement business-centered acumen and drive better workplace outcomes. As an impartial facilitator, Paul brings his expertise to team offsites and strategy days, ensuring alignment on goals, values, and culture while keeping participants on task. His engaging and energetic presence, coupled with his unique "entertraining" and "edutaining" delivery style, enables him to connect with audiences both large and intimate, sharing personal and professional anecdotes that inspire and energize.
