Working with Freelancers: Tips for Business Owners with ADHD
Working with freelancers is a step we all take as we grow our businesses. It allows us to lean into our strengths and leverage theirs, focusing on the tasks that we do best.
Just as you’ve had to learn how to deliver your work, working with freelancers, agencies, and contractors needs another set of skills. Over the years, I’ve been a freelancer and worked with others and I’ve got a few tips to make the process go smoothly for you…
#1 Work Out What You Actually Need
This is easier said than done, especially when part of what you are outsourcing involves some ADHD related symptoms or struggles. There are two ways to handle this:
Take Time To Work Out What You Need In Advance
Make the time to identify the biggest difference a freelancer could make for you and your business - what problem are they solving for you? By getting as specific as possible, you can select the most suitable freelancer and give them the best idea of what the job involves.
Create the Financial and Time Budget for them to Help You Work Out What You Need
If you don’t know what you need and want to work with your freelancer on finding the problem, be prepared for that financial and time cost. There are business analysts and coaches that serve businesses of all sizes, but it can take time to work out the route cause of a complex problem.
You will get a better result if you are focused on the one problem or the one most vital thing, particularly if your freelancer has only a small number of hours. If you have three priorities, you’ve not finished prioritising yet - make sure you and them both know exactly what the priority is!
#2 Be Aware of Your Time Blindness or Biases
It was my partner that pointed out how quickly my timer resets on hanging out with him - 2 days may as well be a week 😂 - and it’s a realisation that’s paid dividends in my business.
ADHD can alter our time perception, making it harder to estimate how long tasks will take and how long we’ve been waiting for a given result or update. Being mindful of our own biases can help us set up clear boundaries for ourselves to check in, and make sure our freelancers have the time to deliver the goods before we ask questions. Results are not instant so doing the following may help alleviate any concerns about progress:
Ask for timelines upfront from your freelancer.
Ask for timesheets (and remember these will take time to complete and share too)
Set a schedule for regular updates or communication. Emails with extra information or questions can take up their time and leave you constantly ‘on’, waiting for updates. Instead, a regular routine can let you switch off until your next scheduled catch up.
Allow time for your results to come together. If you are outsourcing, you are outsourcing for a reason. This reason is usually time related - if the task was that quick, you’d have done it already, so clearly it needs time to be done well!
Be Mindful of the Time they ACTUALLY have on Your Business
Your first freelancer is likely to be a significant expense, so that £600 bill may seem like a massive outlay. At £30ph (which is low for most specialist freelancers) that gets you 20 hours a week - that’s three days.
How much can you really do in three days?
Set reasonable expectations between you, and remember they may not answer immediately if they are spread between multiple clients.
#3 Actively Manage Changes in Direction or Scope
We all change our minds sometimes - hell, I changed my mind with a freelancer last month.
Managing changes in direction or scope are your responsibility. You will need to eat the cost of work completed so far, and should reset your deadlines as though this is a new contract if the change is significant.
I’ve worked with some amazing freelancers who have produced phenomenal results, but if I change my mind that’s on me. They may accommodate a tighter schedule, but it’s not on them to create a miracle.
To avoid this costly issue, refer back to #1 and make sure you are really clear on what you need before engaging your freelancer!
#4 Get Clear on What You Need to FEEL Satisfied with Progress/Outputs
We all want to feel positive about the relationship we have with our freelancers, and it’s important to work out what you need to make sure that happens. The questions you can ask to find this out could include:
What information do you want to track progress?
How often would you like to hear from them with updates?
How often do you want to speak with your freelancer?
What does ‘good’ look like for you?
What are the leading and lagging measures you’d like to track?
(Leading measures are actions taken, like posts scheduled. Lagging measures then follow on, like new followers)
Often a lack of satisfaction with your freelancer relates to a communication difference, not a problem with the work they are completing. Where possible, ask your prospective freelancer how they like to communicate and choose someone who matches your needs and preferences.
A Case Study: Me!
For some, I am a dream come true. I will take what they ask me for and disappear before returning with a full report, plan, or solution to their problem. I will ask for what I need, and work away on the assigned task until it’s complete or we have a scheduled catch up.
For others, this approach does not work - and that’s OK! For clients who like regular updates and lots of contact during the ‘work in progress’ phase, I would recommend looking elsewhere - and there are PLENTY of options out there.
It is worth taking the time to find the right freelancer for the task and your preferences!
#5 Address Problems Directly and with Kindness
A couple of years ago, I engaged a freelancer to work on my social media marketing. After radio silence, and a few weeks with little to no activity I requested an update and timesheet.
When I opened my inbox to find they had given notice with immediate effect, I was shocked!
For some businesses, freelancers are disposable. It’s a flexible way of getting the support you need, without the legal and financial responsibilities that come with taking on an employee. But freelancers depend on each contract for their security and wellbeing - that means raising issues or delays can feel security-threatening.
By raising issues directly and with kindness, you not only work in line with your values, but also build a trusting and honest relationship with your freelancers. When you work with mutual respect and trust, your freelancer is more likely to keep you up to date with issues at their end too. That’s a better situation for everyone involved.
I think my marketing freelancer panicked, and instead of waiting for an open conversation jumped ship to avoid ‘being sacked’. If you are engaging with freelancers, building a good relationship can help us all feel more secure, heard, and satisfied at work!
#6 End Contracts in Good Faith
Sometimes you need to part ways. The contract is finished, your business needs have changed, or the freelancer is no longer the right fit. Having this conversation doesn’t need to be awkward, and instead can be handled with kindness and honesty - you can thank them and wish them the best, even if the reason for the change is a mismatch or problem!
Before you end the contract, check in with your contracts or T&Cs. Make sure you are aware of the notice period required, and any final costs associated with ending the relationship. You will likely need to have any work product handed over and take some time to bring their duties back ‘in-house’.
If you don’t think you should pay your final invoice, seek advice. There are occasions where contracts are breached, and as a result you are not liable for outstanding costs - but I’d always recommend seeking advice before going down this road!
I have worked with amazing freelancers over the years, and could not be where I am today without their skills, experience, and expertise. By being a well-prepared client, you will get the best out of your freelancers - saving you both time and energy in the long run!
A Shout Out to In Collaboration!
My business is supported by In Collaboration, from branding and marketing strategy, to business admin, the team at In Collaboration are a dream! If you are looking for ongoing freelance support in your business, get in touch today (and tell them I say ‘hi!’ 😉).
