Outsourcing work to freelancers and contractors has been a mainstay of agency life for some time, but the outcome isn’t always what you envisioned. Because contract workers are not employees, the rules of engagement are different—if you provide them with your training manual, demand an exclusive contract or ask them to learn and follow your standard operating procedures, your company could face legal consequences. Paradoxically, you need to provide enough context and direction to set them up for success on every project.
To guarantee you’ll receive quality work that meets your expectations, the members of Forbes Agency Council share tips for making sure freelancers and contracted workers understand your agency’s goals for the assigned project in a helpful and appropriate way.
10. Provide Sufficient Insight And Consistent Feedback
Often, freelancers and contractors do not get enough insight or consistent feedback to succeed and are treated as disposable, short-term add-ons—not as partners. Not being in the day-to-day of the internal team’s busy buzz removes a base level of needed connection, which makes communication harder. More effort is needed to build trust, especially in our remote and hybrid world of Zoom interactions. – Stacy Jones, Hollywood Branded
