Managing a freelancer effectively is important for any stakeholder because it helps them ensure that their goals are being met and that their project is on track.
Tips
Here are some tips to ensure that your freelancer respects your needs and wants.
- Have a contract: Freelancers are not employees, so you need to have a contract that clearly outlines what you expect from them and what they will do for you. Be specific about your expectations and include any deadlines or due dates you have in mind.
- Pay on time: If you set up a payment schedule, stick to it! This will help keep your freelancer motivated and focused on their work.
- Have clear communication: If there are any issues or changes to the project, let your freelancer know as soon as possible so they can adjust accordingly. If there is an issue with their work, don’t be afraid to ask them to fix it!
- Give feedback: Make sure you give constructive feedback whenever necessary so that any changes made by your freelancer are intentional rather than unintentional errors caused by miscommunication or misunderstanding between the two parties involved (i.e., client/freelancer).
- Be clear: Be clear about your needs and expectations from the beginning of a project, because it will help you avoid some of the problems that can come up when you're working with a freelancer. For example, if you don't clearly communicate what kind of work you want to be done, or how much time you need, then your freelancer might not be able to give you what you want in time.
- Be flexible: If your freelancer needs more time for an assignment than expected because of unforeseen circumstances, don’t get upset about it—just let them know so that both of you are prepared for the next step in the process together. This way, neither party will feel like they have more work than expected at any given time which can lead to stress down the road!
Dialogue Examples
Example 1
Stakeholder: Hi there. I just wanted to let you know that I'm not totally happy with the work you've done so far. I feel like you're not really listening to my needs, and I think it'd be best if we could start over from scratch.
Freelancer: Hi, thanks for those comments! I'm sorry if it seems like I wasn't listening closely enough to your needs and wants--that's definitely not my intention, so let's talk about how we can make sure this project goes well for both of us.
Example 2
Stakeholder: Hey, I’m just looking at the draft of your work and I feel like some of my needs and wants aren’t being met.
Freelancer: Oh no! What do you mean?
Stakeholder: Well, in the first paragraph I wanted to make it clear that our company is expanding into new markets, but this doesn’t really come across.
Freelancer: Oh no! I totally missed that. Let me fix it right away.
Example 3
Stakeholder: Hi, [name], I hope you're having a good day. I just wanted to touch base with you about the progress of our project.
Freelancer: Hi! How are you?
Stakeholder: I'm doing well—thanks for asking. I just wanted to check in and see if everything is okay with the project so far. Are there any issues?
Freelancer: Well, not really, but… (here is where they explain their situation).
Stakeholder: Oh no! That sounds like a pretty stressful situation! How can we help? What do you need from me?
Freelancer: Well, first off, let me say how much I appreciate your being so understanding and flexible. You really made this process easy for me.
Example 3
Stakeholder: Hello, I wanted to check in on your progress. How is everything?
Freelancer: I'm sorry to report that I've run into some unforeseen circumstances. The project has turned out to be more time-consuming than originally estimated, so I won't be able to get it done by the deadline you set.
Stakeholder: Oh no! That's really unfortunate. Are there any ways I can help?
Freelancer: Well, the only way we can make this work is if you extend the deadline. Do you think that would be possible?
Stakeholder: Yes, of course! Let me know what else I can do for you, and we'll work something out.