If there’s anything that the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s that remote work is definitely the future. Millions of workers got their taste of working at home in the last two years, and few of them are willing to go back to the office, even as the pandemic is losing momentum. So you can definitely say that there’s a historic shift in the workforce’s mindset. 

Recent reports show that more than one-third of all workers in the United States have abandoned the “nine-to-five” way of living and have become or think about becoming freelancers. This is a staggering number, which will probably double in the next four years. These numbers ultimately mean that companies and managers must find a way to manage this changing workforce efficiently. The report also shows that 62% of hiring managers prefer freelancers because they are more productive than in-house employees. 

So, suppose you’re a manager or a business owner. In that case, you’ll have to manage and coordinate a variety of individuals with varied characters and work habits – and with freelancers, you’ll have to manage: 1) people you haven’t met face to face; and 2) people from a distance, on top of the typical obstacles. 

As a result of all of this, ensuring that freelancers are working correctly is a particularly difficult task. Fortunately, there are specific actions you can take to optimize freelance management and make the most of your company’s freelance workforce.

Invest In A Freelancer Management System

The software is known as the freelance management system, or FMS in short has grown popular as more companies seek competent workers to work on a contract or project basis. A cloud-based system that facilitates every contractor and sourcing the onboarding of job assignments and payments. The freelance management systems may also include screening, project bidding, and suggestion comparison to help you choose the best contractor for the task. 

Businesses utilize freelancer management systems to keep track of their temporary workers and the jobs they’ve been allocated, allowing them to keep track of the projects they’ve outsourced to freelancers more efficiently. Paying freelancers for completed projects may also be streamlined with freelance management solutions. You will definitely need a system like this if you are to bring the most potential out of your freelancers.

Finding The Right People Is Key

Given that we’ve determined that the ideal method to engage with freelancers is to collaborate with dependable and reputable freelancers, the first step toward improved freelance management is to ensure you recruit the correct freelancers. 

The places, or platforms where you may look for freelancers and how to make sure they’re the proper fit for the task include Upwork, College Recruiter, GitHub Jobs, Dribbble, Aquent, Assemble.tv, Support Driven, SalesForce Jobs, BloggingPro Jobs, and others. 

If you’re apprehensive of working with and trusting someone you don’t know, one alternative is to seek recommendations from your team and business contacts. Nevertheless, by doing so, you’re limiting your talent pool as many freelancers you don’t yet know are excellent workers who may make a significant contribution to your project and possibly develop into long-term collaborators.

Strive To Maintain Long-Term Relationships

Finding and recruiting staff is an expensive and time-consuming procedure. Companies may save up to triple the expense of acquiring a new co-worker by concentrating on building long-term connections with outside help. 

It’s critical to consider and act on the concept that hiring a freelancer is a long-term investment in the success of your business. Setting expectations and entrusting one another to complete the task are the first steps. You must approach the freelancer as if they were a member of your team. 

To foster a collaborative spirit, use phrases like “we” and “us” instead of “I” and “you.” Promote open minds and always express gratitude for a good performance, just as you would for a member of your own team. What really matters is to show the freelancers that they can become valued team members just as your full-time employees if both sides are content with the outcome of the project. Many freelancers prefer to work for one employer only, so be mindful of that.

Final Thoughts

Managing your freelancer workforce is no easy task because you have to rely on remote communication to achieve your goals. Finally, simplifying your freelancer management process may take time and work, but it will ensure that you have a valued and experienced addition to your core team, one with whom you will be able to successfully collaborate in order to achieve high project quality. 

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get it correctly the first time while recruiting and dealing with freelancers. The most essential takeaway is to learn from your failures and improve your procedures as rapidly as possible for the next time. Because the gig economy isn’t going away, the sooner your company learns to work with it, the sooner you’ll start enjoying the rewards.

Read Also:

1. How To Set Up a Freelance business
2. How To Start A Freelance Writing Business? – Best Guide Of 2022
3. 4 Easy Ways to Manage Multiple Clients in Your Freelancing Business