Forming a team is like going on an expedition. It takes time, effort, and careful attention. The right team can seriously lighten your workload and help you grow your business very quickly. On the other hand, the wrong team can severely slow you down and frustrate the growth of your business.

The concept of freelance work traces its origins to medieval Europe. A free lance was a knight unsworn to an overlord and as such, was free to sell his services.

Nowadays, freelancers are self-employed professionals often working in creative, managerial or technical fields. They do not employ others, distinguishing them from small business owners, and they have more autonomy than employees, since they are not dependent on their employers. They are often paid on their productivity rather than on their time input,

Companies are rapidly moving from task-orientation towards project-orientation requiring more skilled experts for project work. For employees, this means that long-term career paths are not as common as before and part-time work is becoming more prominent.

Freelancers could be seen as enablers of entrepreneurship, since they provide labour on contingent terms. This reduces the risk of entrepreneurs and hence promotes entrepreneurial activity

Set Clear Goals for the Team

Whether it is scaling Mount Everest, winning the World Cup or solving the next big thing, teams are created to achieve goals. The first step should always be setting a clear and accurate goal for the entire team to achieve.

Scout for the right talent

All members should be able to contribute a relevant skill-set needed to complete the job. The single most important step to a successful freelance relationship is getting the right person on board.

When you’re considering contracting a freelancer, start with an interview. Ask the freelancer about their experience, work availability, typical project turnaround time, and how they would approach your specific goals.

Sign a Contract

Before officially starting the project, sign a contract. Your contract is an integral part of the freelancer-business relationship. It should state explicitly that you are not entering into an employer-employee relationship.

This is also the place to outline project details, timetable, payment, and rights. A good contract protects you and the freelancer, so don’t work without one. Many freelancing sites include a contract in their service fee.

Establish Clear performance parameters and Measures

This is especially important with new freelance relationships. Communication is essential to make sure everyone is happy. For recurring projects, plan deadlines at the same time every week or month so freelancers can add your projects to their calendar in advance.

Always let freelancers know the best way to get in touch with you and do your best to respond to questions promptly as they complete the assignment.