6 tips for working with external teams

Businesses have always used external staff to increase their workforce from time to time. This trend has grown in recent years. Today, the world of work is multifaceted, and companies must manage both hybrid teams composed of face-to-face and remote employees, and external teams made up of freelancers.

Traditionally, when companies have to deal with an increase in activity, launch a new project or honor a large order, they temporarily call on external staff by recruiting people generally on fixed-term contracts (fixed-term contracts), temporary contracts or by using service providers.

But in recent years, self-employed workers (or freelancers) have been popular with businesses of all sizes and their number is constantly increasing. In 2019, there were 3.2 million in France according to Statista. Writer, web developer and graphic designer are the most popular freelance jobs. They are followed by a translator, video editor, illustrator, illustrator, photographer, community manager or even communication manager.

Discover the benefits of working with outside staff and follow these 6 tips to do it successfully.

The benefits of working with external teams

If companies are more and more tempted to collaborate with independent workers rather than recruiting people on permanent contracts, fixed-term contracts or temporary contracts, it is because this option offers several advantages.

The ease of recruiting

Finding a freelancer is pretty easy. A large number of platforms have emerged and allow you to browse a multitude of profiles according to the skills sought. Second, the recruitment process is faster and does not require complex administrative procedures. The self-employed person can start working immediately.

Flexibility

If your human resources needs are fluctuating, recruiting a freelancer is ideal because it allows you to have the necessary resources only when you really need them.

Also, if the person is not right for you, it's very easy to get someone else involved.

Recourse to an expert

We recruit a self-employed person for their experience and specialized skills in a specific field. That way, you'll get a well-executed job more quickly.

The reduction of fixed costs

A freelancer costs less than an employee because you don't pay them when you use their services. He usually works from home and with his own equipment. So you don't need to provide him with a desk and a computer.

The motivation

For a freelancer, the satisfaction and loyalty of his customers are his priority. Very motivated by his projects, he will do everything possible to provide you with quality work while respecting the deadlines set.

6 tips for working effectively with external teams

Have you decided to recruit staff from outside your company to meet a specific need? Learn some tips for collaborating effectively.

Define your needs, your specifications and your budget

As with any supplier, when working with a contractor or a freelancer, you need to tell them exactly what you expect from them. And that starts with precisely defining your needs.

To do this, draw up your specifications by presenting your business and indicating your expectations and objectives.

For example, you want to publish articles several times a week on your blog to be better referenced in search engines. Another example, you want to create an ergonomic and responsive website to improve the user experience.

Finally, frame the project by listing the constraints. What is your budget for this mission? What are your deadlines? What is the desired format? Etc. Be sure to specify how the provider will be paid.

Choosing the right person

Determine what technical skills and essential personal skills your freelancer should have (creativity, adaptability, ability to listen, be innovative, know how to work in a team, etc.).

Check his references and ask him to see some of his accomplishments. Why not offer him to carry out a paid test mission to make sure that his work and his way of operating correspond to you.

Encourage communication

At work, communication is essential to promote collaboration. To facilitate communication with your external staff, feel free to use the myriad tools available: instant messaging, video conferencing, telephone, etc. In addition, members of your external team often work alone, so it is important that they can maintain a social connection with other team members.

Your self-employed workers must therefore be able to reach you or their colleagues easily and at any time, if they have a question or need information to continue their work. Finally, discuss each other's expectations, needs and requirements regularly together in order to ensure that your collaboration and relationship run as smoothly as possible.

Use an online collaboration tool

Very popular, these tools, including Wimi is part, are used on a daily basis to effectively manage your projects, whether you work with face-to-face, hybrid or external teams. Thus, each of your collaborators can comment on a task, consult the documents they need, and monitor the progress of the project in real time, at any time, and regardless of where they are located.

Show recognition

Service providers and self-employed workers need recognition just as much as your traditional employees. Don't forget to thank them for their work and their involvement. This is essential for them to stay motivated and engaged, and to want to continue working with you in the future.

Integrate your external teams with other employees

Just because a freelancer is not present on your premises does not mean that they are not part of the company, especially if they have been recruited for a long-term mission. To boost his motivation and commitment, present him to the other members of the team (in real life or by video), provide him with the contact details of his collaborators and main contacts, and invite him to company events. In this way, he will feel valued and integrated into the team and the company.