Building a Freelance Team? Read This First
When you are building a freelance team, you probably are excited to get started. But, like all teams, they need to be managed and directed. There are a few tools that you can use to get on top of this and have your dream team streamlined.
A mobile workforce needs mobile tools that can work across different time zones and geographic locations.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” –Andrew Carnegie
Slack
This tool is getting more and more popular. Companies like Unsplash use it to create a team feeling for their creators, sharing achievements, upcoming themes, and general news. Excellent communication is the key to keeping your staff turnover low too. If you don’t have a dedicated communications channel that your staff can use, they may begin to feel out of the loop. This will start to cause a disconnect between you and the team, the work will feel less important, and suddenly no one is doing their best. Of course, you should allow space for people to reply when they can because of their time zone, but try to check in daily.
File Sharing
The chances are you have a lot of files that need to be shared in multiple directions. There are a few great options for file sharing so you will need to assess your budget and likely usage. Marketing team file sharing is usually pretty massive with images, whereas copywriting teams aren’t often so much. Find something that you can give your team members access to, one time links, shared files and more. The ability to sync on all devices and a mobile app is also a great idea.
Jing
If you know that you will need to train your staff in the ways of your company, then this might be great for you. Filming your walkthroughs might only need to be done once. Then, every time you onboard a new team member you can use the video guide that you have already created for them. This will also ensure that when it comes to your standard procedures, everyone has the same information to work from.
Trello
Trello is repeatedly recommended by freelancers and companies all over the world. You can set up projects, assign works, upload attachments, create and manage checklists, track the progress, and send invitations to each project too. It’s updated in real time also, so everyone is seeing the same information.
Another great perk is that you can ensure that people only see what you want them to see. Which is great if you are managing multiple clients that may be in competition and you have to spread the workload between your team.
Managing a team is a lot of fun, but should always remember you are dealing with real people on the other end. Communication can get muddy if not taken care of properly. Use tools to keep the workflow smooth and enjoy your team.