As we move into 2023, many business leaders and founders are likely looking to make the upcoming year their best yet. With remote work becoming an increasingly commonplace way of doing business after the pandemic, staying on top of independent contractor relations is something that will be critical for success in any industry – especially in terms of productivity and financial efficiency.
However, as you may know, managing remote contractors can be tricky if you're not familiar with how best to handle it.
The key lies in understanding exactly what your contractors need from you and how to meet those expectations- but before anything else, it's important to recognize why having a healthy relationship with your distributed team matters.
We'll discuss just that in this blog post, outlining the importance of good contractor relations as well as some tips on how everyone from HR managers to startup founders and CEOs can make sure their contractor pipeline runs smoothly throughout 2023!
The Benefits of Having Independent Contractors
A distributed workforce can take your business to new heights this year, but it won't happen by accident.
You need to actively plan and prepare to make the most out of this opportunity.
One aspect that isn't discussed often enough is how you manage independent contractors: although they may only work for short-term projects or during peak seasons, they can still greatly impact the success of your organization in significantly positive ways!
Now let's get into the 6 effective strategies HR Managers and founders alike can use to ensure that their Independent contractor experience is the best possible - from recruitment to retention.
Let's get started!
Give your Independent Contractors a sense of Ownership
TL;DR: Building a culture of ownership not only makes your contractors feel more engaged but also keeps them more productive and, ultimately, improves your bottom line.
Having a good healthy relationship with these workers is key to keeping productivity high while also helping the organization reach its goals without breaking the bank or burning out staff members.
But what is ownership in the workplace anyways?
In short, it means not waiting for others to take action. It is all about taking responsibility for your own work and initiatives without the need to be micromanaged.
Giving independent contractors a sense of ownership makes them feel more engaged and lets them enjoy their jobs more, which leads to lower turnover rates, better results and improved financial performance overall.
Ownership helps create an environment where they are invested in the success of the company as if it was their own business. This type of engagement makes them more likely to take the initiative on projects and come up with new ideas that could benefit both parties.
Regularly Assess Your Workforce
It is paramount that businesses recognize the importance of assessing and managing their independent contractors. By taking the time to evaluate performance regularly, companies can establish better relationships with their contractors , find room for growth in production and efficiency, and retain valuable talent – all of which leads to a more successful organization overall!
And what does this assessment actually look like?
First and foremost, it involves creating an effective feedback loop between management and contractors. This way, both parties will have the opportunity to discuss progress towards goals as well as any problems or areas needing improvement.
Also... this type of dialogue enables business owners to monitor how satisfied their contractors are with their contracts while also having direct input on where they need help or guidance from a managerial perspective.
Think about it this way... when you assess your independent contractors, you'll gain invaluable insight into how to manage your workforce and optimize for productivity this year.
Keep Communication Open
Keeping open communication with independent contractors is essential to ensure the success of any organization. It helps companies better understand their contractor’s needs, preferences and expectations.
It is up to the company to make sure that all members of their team feel like they can easily connect with one another and express their ideas without hesitation.
An effective communication strategy can be set up like this:
• Foster an environment of open communication and transparency.
• Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities within the company.
• Utilize technology to streamline communication, such as Slack, video conferencing tools or project management platforms.
• Take time to regularly check in with your independent contractors to ensure they feel heard, appreciated, and supported.
Offer Training and Development Opportunities
Providing remote independent contractors with growth opportunities is a great way to ensure their continued engagement and success. With the right training and development programs, businesses can help them stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing landscape while also providing them with valuable skills that will equip them for future roles.
Whether it's learning about AI or taking up coding classes, these programs can help independent contractors gain the skills and confidence necessary to significantly contribute to their team’s success.
How do you manage all of this?
Fortunately, you don't have to worry about managing all of these elements yourself. Our platform focuses on helping businesses manage every part of their workforce's life cycle. With Ontop, you can onboard talent faster than ever before and rest assured that your independent contractors are taken care of throughout their entire journey.
Encourage them to take time off
Let's not forget about resting.
Having an effective time off and leave system for independent contractors is essential for any business. Not only does it help reduce workers burnout, but it also helps create a more positive work environment for both the company and contractors
Encourage your independent contractors to take time off when needed and develop an effective system for them to do so. This way, they're able to rejuvenate themselves and return to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Make sure you have an effective onboarding process
To stay in business, it's essential to ensure your onboarding is top-notch. After all, the better you welcome newbies on board - just like guests to a party - the more successful and popular your venture will be!
For startups, having an efficient onboarding system in place is even more critical as everything is still in the beginning stages and setting up a strong foundation for the future. From the very beginning, a smooth onboarding process can help companies and contractors form an energizing partnership for success.
At Ontop, we make it easy for you to manage your onboarding process by providing all the tools and resources needed to get new independent contractors up to speed quickly and efficiently.
Our platform is designed to help you streamline the whole onboarding process, saving you time and energy while ensuring a positive experience. Book a free demo with us today. Why not?
Final Words
In short, the key to having a great relationship with your independent contractors is building trust and fostering an environment of open and transparent communication.
To ensure this, businesses need to have an effective strategy in place that sets clear roles and responsibilities for everyone involved and utilizes technology to facilitate communication.
If you are struggling to find the best way to nurture and onboard independent contractors, our easy-to-use platform can handle every part of this process for you. Request your free demo with us and we can show you what Ontop can do for you.
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