When I first embarked on my freelance career, I felt unsure of myself and very isolated. While traditional employment provides one with coworkers who can help, the freelancer is left to muddle through on their own.
Or so I thought. My first experience in a coworking space opened my eyes to a different reality.
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Coworking is based on the idea that working alone is unpleasant, and that by simply sharing space with other entrepreneurs, ideas, inspiration, and a profound sense of community will soon be shared as well.
This community comes with it lots of intangible benefits, like being able to ask the designer next to you what they think of your logo, or informally polling the room about a new marketing slogan. And inevitably, the combination of personal and professional relationships that occurs at a coworking space leads to an opportunity for collaboration.
Why Collaborate?
Traditional definitions of business tell us that work is a competition, a quest to climb the ladder faster than your peers. But today this hierarchical model can feel selfish and slow to respond to quickly changing markets. Collaboration, on the other hand, allows businesses to incorporate unique perspectives in a way that benefits the bottom line as well as the target audience.
As a freelancer, you are a business as well as a person. You need to be able to compete with larger firms yet still provide a level of personal service that they can’t match. That’s where your fellow freelancers come in.
But if you’re a coworker like me, these freelancers are also your friends. And working with your friends can lead to uncomfortable complications that will jeopardize your work and reputation.
How to Collaborate
The answer is not to adopt a policy of never collaborating with people you know. Instead, you need to develop a policy for how you will handle collaborations with other freelancers, whether friends or strangers. Here are some of my favorite tips for embracing collaboration without creating extra stress.
Be discriminating. Don’t assume that because you can drink a beer with them, they’re the best fit for the project. Any collaboration will only be successful if you choose the right person for the job. Look at integrity as well as ability. Think about the way they conduct themselves with fellow freelancers and their clients. They might be good for a laugh, but will they buckle down when the deadline’s looming?
Use a comprehensive contract. Written agreements define who is responsible for what, and when it needs to be delivered (no, a copy of your email thread doesn’t count). If there’s money involved, using a contract shows that you respect your collaborator, and want to make sure they are protected as well. DO IT.
Don’t be a meanie. Just because you’re entering into a business relationship doesn’t mean you have to forget that you are friends. Or at least friendly acquaintances. Be flexible. Understand (within reason) life happens. Try to divide and conquer work in a way that’s comfortable for everyone involved. The best collaborations will feel like they were meant to be, and quality work will flow naturally from their formation.
Don’t be a pushover. In your zeal to be accommodating, don’t forget that you’re a businessperson with a job to do. If someone’s slacking, don’t be afraid to say something. Staying silent will only cause you stress and cost you money.
Beth Buczynski is the co-author of an ongoing series of ebooks about coworking and the mobile workforce. For more tips on how collaboration can grow your business, check out Coworking: How Freelancers Escape the Coffee Shop Office.
Photo credit: Jordan Brock
