{"id":51818,"date":"2021-11-15T09:44:10","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T14:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=51818"},"modified":"2024-04-18T06:03:56","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T10:03:56","slug":"best-results-from-freelancers-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/best-results-from-freelancers-contractors\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting the Best Results from Freelance and Contractor Partners"},"content":{"rendered":"

The gig economy has seen the number of career freelancers skyrocket in recent years. By 2028, it is predicted that gig workers will make up more than 50 percent<\/a> of the US workforce. The reasons are numerous, but essentially it has become easier to access remote expertise on short-term contracts.<\/p>\n

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And yet despite these numbers, a huge proportion of companies and project managers have no real idea how to work effectively with contractors. In fact, companies repeatedly fall into traps which not only demotivate the contractor, but also physically constrain their ability to deliver great work.<\/p>\n

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In this article we\u2019re talking about project-based contractors and freelancers \u2014 the kind that get brought in for a specific job, sometimes on retainer but often with a single whole-project fee. Let\u2019s take a look at what companies can do to get more from these relationships.<\/p>\n

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\"freelancer\"<\/p>\n

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Establishing outcomes and deliverables<\/h2>\n

Before reaching out to a single candidate, project managers need to be completely clear on the deliverables and outcomes they\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

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Agreement on these factors is the foundation of the project. For example, if you want a \u201cballpark\u201d quote, the first thing a professional freelancer will ask for is the scope \u2014 in other words, your outcomes and deliverables. They need to know what they\u2019re quoting for. Otherwise it\u2019s just an unreliable number that\u2019s almost certain to rise over time.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t worry if your outcomes and deliverables change after speaking with a contractor. If they\u2019re very good, they might make suggestions on your behalf \u2014 one of the many benefits of hiring out expertise. But knowing what you expect to gain from the collaboration is the starting point.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t lead with unpaid trials or \u201cexposure\u201d<\/h2>\n

Stating that the company needs \u201cproof\u201d of a contractor\u2019s ability or offering them \u201cexposure\u201d instead of payment are two fantastic ways to alienate great candidates. If this sounds obvious, it is \u2014 but many companies still put this foot forward.<\/p>\n

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Unless your expectations are extremely low, anyone who agrees to free work is not good enough to hire. Period. The cost saving will be significantly offset by the terrible work.<\/p>\n

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Sign off on project requirements<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve found someone you want to hire, you need to get several things down on paper.<\/p>\n

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First, re-state the big picture. Make sure everyone involved is aligned on deliverables, outcomes, and goals. Establish how success will be measured in this project. Get everyone on the same page then get it in the contract. Further down the line if there\u2019s trouble, you can always point to the contract and say, \u201cHey, look. This is what we agreed.\u201d\u00a0(It also lets your freelancer give you an accurate and reliable quote up-front.)<\/p>\n

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The second thing is to establish communication preferences early. Any decent professional knows how they work best: Ask them what you can do to make the relationship as successful as possible. That respect goes two ways \u2014 make sure to outline how you and your team work best. The main reason communication breaks down is because freelancers and companies avoid this kind of frank discussion in the beginning.<\/p>\n

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Then of course there are fees. Different freelancers have different approaches to billing and setting rates. There\u2019s not much to say other than this: Once you mutually agree on a fee, honor it. Companies who try to \u201cget out\u201d of paying an agreed price are likely to pay for it with reputational damage down the line.<\/p>\n

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Give your contractor autonomy<\/h2>\n

If you feel the need to proactively manage a contractor\u2019s time or processes and give them constant reminders about deadlines, you have two options:<\/p>\n

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