Freelancers Are Usually Project-Based Employees
The common belief is that freelancers are usually project-based employees who often work independently on a specific project with a deadline. This may vary given ongoing agreements (a certain number of hours a month) and collaboration with other people.
Due to the irregular work schedule and a limited number of hours, they may be assigned to activities that are not mission-critical – i.e. avoiding client communication, tough deadlines, support calls/emails and the like. There are flexible agreements that could cover that – but time flexibility is often important to freelancers.
Office Workers
Standard office workers work a 9-to-5 job at the office. The norm is fixed hours in a corporate environment, working closely with other team members, reporting to management on-site.
This usually means strict hours, no commitments in the evening/weekends, taking care of business activities that need to happen within the agreed hours.
That said, some companies also offer telecommuting or remote work. It’s a mix between freelance and office work since it incorporates the flexibility of working from home or a coffee shop with the required availability during business hours.
Communication Is One Of The Main Challenges
When hiring remote workers, communication is one of the main challenges we have with former freelancers.
Due to the specifics mentioned above, full-time remote workers have a hard time working closely with the rest of the team, communicating regularly, or discussing business needs whenever they arise.
They tend to handle things separately (which leads to less management overhead) but often delay assignments or work on a different type of problem (which leads to friction in the workplace).
Letting an office employee work remotely is sometimes easier than asking a freelancer to commit to the standard working hours.
As the team better understands the project’s objectives and requirements, they can more accurately estimate timelines and set achievable goals. This often leads to a more focused and efficient work process, which helps recover any lost productivity from the initial weeks.
Synergizing Remote and Office Teams
- Unified communication platforms: Ensure seamless interaction between remote and office workers.
- Cross-functional training: Enhance collaboration through shared skill development.
- Inclusive decision-making: Involve remote workers in strategic discussions.
- Recognize remote contributions: Acknowledge and reward remote workers’ achievements.
- Continuous feedback: Regularly solicit input from both remote and office workers.
Implementing Effective Communication
- Develop a communication strategy: Outline expectations, tools and protocols.
- Train team leaders: Equip managers to facilitate effective remote communication.
- Monitor progress: Assess communication effectiveness and adjust strategies.
- Foster open culture: Encourage transparency, trust and open feedback.
- Technology investment: Explore innovative communication tools.
By implementing these actionable solutions, organizations can overcome communication barriers, ensuring seamless collaboration between freelancers, remote workers and office teams.
In summary, while the beginning stages may be fraught with distractions and a potential dip in productivity, these are generally short-lived challenges. Over time, the team will likely become more synergistic, leading to improved performance and outcomes.
