From Medium.com, Anjelica Triola discusses the differences between using freelancers well and the “one time” someone didn’t work out. She offers a terrific recommendation on how to manage freelancers. She writes:
Here’s why a centralized management role could make the freelance economy easier to embrace:
- Mitigate risk when your freelancer is unpredictably under-qualified
Most of the “failure” stories I’ve heard stem from issues working with agencies or recruiters that scout less experienced talent. Sure, they can usually find someone for your project in a pinch, but once you’ve factored their hourly markup into your budget, you may be getting someone more junior than you’ve bargained for.
If you don’t have the bandwidth necessary to oversee your new hire, it could be risky to assume that they’ll be senior enough to plan their time appropriately or know which questions to ask at the onset of a project. A dedicated manager can mitigate this risk by recognizing red flags early on and making sure your freelancer has the resources and feedback they need to finish a task properly.
2. Tech solutions for outsourcing still require a human element
Even with a growing number of digital platforms like UpWork and Freelancer connecting employers to low-cost freelance talent, it still takes manpower to break down your big idea into bite-size tasks, think carefully about the cause and effect of each phase, and craft job descriptions to attract the right talent for each assignment.
And assuming each task is correctly parceled out to its respective digitally-recruited “expert,” it’s very likely that your freelancers will be completely siloed from one another. Without a dedicated manager, communication issues can arise, and variations in the tone and quality of work could reflect poorly on your brand.
3. Avoid miscommunication between clients, strategists, and creatives
Often an undervalued skill, translating briefs between left- and right-sided brains can play a huge role in whether or not a project is successful. As the central point of communication for many multi-disciplinary teams, project managers can have a broader perspective and be crucial to quality control when outsourcing work.
While it’s not uncommon for a creative director or strategy lead to manage freelance teams directly, having them bear the burden of nuanced project details can present challenges and prove to be a poor use of their time and resources.
Read the full story at Here’s the one thing that could make or break the growing freelance economy — Skill Committee — Medium
