In the first blog post in this series ( http://bit.ly/2v8mXJm ), I listed the 10 critical skills you will need to succeed in the upheaval taking shape now in the worldwide job market.  Today I want to discuss Skill #4, People Management.

 

Why is People Management so Important?

 

People management has always been an important skill to possess.  In the coming chaos in the job market, it will become even more vital.  As robots and software technology continue to replace people in the work force,  human judgement becomes more and more critical.

As a Freelancer, you will be involved in complex projects.  These projects will employ teams of highly skilled and intelligent people.  These teams may consist of company employees and/or other Freelancers.  And…the one thing you will all be required to bring to the table is human judgment.  It’s the one thing robots and software cannot do.

 

What Does Good People Management Consist of?

 

If there was one word I could use to sum up good people management it’s engagement.

Did you know according to Gallup research, 51% of the American workforce is not engaged?  This means they are indifferent to their job or don’t like their work.  ( http://bit.ly/2wVIZik  ).  So, the first task of any manager is to get his team engaged.

 

How do I Get People Engaged?

 

The hypothetical situation here is you are Freelancer managing a team of Freelancers completing a project for a company.  Here is how I would do it.

• Be clear about the purpose of the project. What is special about it? Why is it important? Freelancers tend to pick their jobs. If you can show how working on this project would enhance their career or professional development you’ll be way ahead.
• Set expectations. Let them know exactly how they fit into the team and what they are expected to do.  Show them how what they do is critical to the project’s success. Let them know you are counting on them.
• Let them know you have their best interests at heart. Freelancers want to know they are in a situation where they can do what they do best.
• Ask for their opinions.  And…really listen.  Reward innovation.  Value feedback.  Give plenty of feedback to them. Remember if you want to get people engaged, you have to be engaged.
• Give lots of praise.  But, be genuine.  Too much praise can come off sounding phony
• Figure out ways to make it fun.

Freelancers build teams.  Let your team members know if they do a good job, you’ll be sure to ask them back on the next gig you get. People love working for a well-functioning team.

Freelancers need to know they are getting paid well.  Remember companies can save up to 30% of labor costs (payroll taxes, fringe benefits, etc.) by hiring Freelancers. What kind of revenue will this completed project generate for the company?  Set your prices accordingly.  The better the pay, the higher the talent you’ll be able to attract.

 

Where can I go to learn about this?

 

Online of course.  Google “People Management Training” and take your pick.  Training resources range from free to thousands of dollars depending on what you choose.

Then there are books.  Always my favorite starting point.   One of the best is Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

Another excellent book is “Bringing out the Best in People” by Aubrey Daniels.

See links below to order these fine books. (Full disclosure, I am an Amazon affiliate.)

The main point here is to start now.  Assess your leadership skills and figure out what you need to improve. The People Management skill is ranked #4 for a reason.  If you need improvement in this area, the sooner you start, the better.