How can you build a collaborative remote culture for freelancers in your team? Here’s what you need to know: Remote work with Fiverr freelancers comes with a lot of benefits. Freelancers or remote employees may be more motivated because they don’t have to be in the office from 9-to-5. Instead, they can work close to home or opt to travel glamorous destinations in foreign countries while meeting deadlines. That said, how can you build a collaborative environment when employees work far from each other? Here’s what you need to know:
You can make remote freelancers feel part of the team by scheduling time for short personal conversations. For example, Zapier uses a system called pair buddies. Two teammates who work closely together engage in conversations to improve their relationship.
The matched pair has a 10 to 15-minute chat before the workday ends. Their conversation isn't focused on work. Instead, the company encourages casual conversations or personal sharing so teammates can get to know each other, which improves remote work culture.
It's difficult to closely supervise a remote team of Fiverr freelancers but that doesn’t mean you should refrain from suggesting points of improvement. You should feel free to give and get feedback from team members during meetings or discussions. A good tip is to identify the context of every situation. Before you criticize an employee’s performance, understand their actions and empathize first.
It’s not ideal to give negative comments all the time. So, don’t forget to highlight wins and encourage remote freelancers to excel with positive feedback too. You can learn more tips from Fiverr's ultimate feedback guide.
Bersin found that companies who nurtured their employees’ desire to learn were 30% more likely to be leaders in their industries. While your team of remote freelancers might be separated, you’ll eventually establish a hierarchy within your business. Some Fiver freelancers might be managed by more senior workers.
Moving forward, try promoting 1-on-1 online mentorships and encouraging senior members to share their knowledge and expertise with less experienced colleagues. You can also give them access to online workshops or webinars so they can improve their performance.
Of course, a remote team has clear goals and tasks. You undoubtedly use a project management tool to track everyone’s performance and deadlines. However, you should avoid micromanagement and give remote freelancers the autonomy to do their job.
Provide a simple brief or description of the task that needs to be done. When employees start working, don’t ping them every time you have a suggestion. For example, Holstee—a reflection app—promotes a culture of freedom and responsibility. They give employees the freedom to choose a work schedule that fits their lifestyle and work goals. They also have the freedom to think of the best way to finish their jobs.
Building a culture of collaboration doesn’t need to be hard. Make it a habit for remote employees or freelancers to communicate through meetings, mentorships and feedback sessions. Encourage remote workers to collaborate but also make room for freedom and autonomy. Are you ready to hire your first batch of remote workers? You can check out Fiverr to hire remote employees that will fit your businesses' needs.