Modern workplaces are changing. Are you changing with it?
Want a support that'll help your business survive these high pressure times? Look to freelancers.
It's unrealistic to expect your organisation to be everything to everyone. It's far too much pressure.
But how do you handle a world that's constantly changing because of things outside your control?
· AI's influence on communication and marketing directly and via search and social media platforms
· The speed in which disasters and misadventure can envelop you
· Inflation, globalisation, and financial precarity
· The rising employee need regarding remote work, diversity and inclusivity, personal identity, skill enhancement, and career transformation
· Workforce decentralisation
· Compliance and regulation
All these (and more) are forcing you to change. But you can adapt without completely reinventing your work approach.
Hire freelancers and benefit from our expertise and experience!
This is no longer the modern workplace. Photo by kate.sade on Unsplash
Why freelancers?
Adaptation is essential for freelancers. We have a sixth sense for the economic conditions and have to stay ahead of the curve to be successful.
The average organisation isn't as nimble or objective as we can be.
Freelancers are unencumbered by assumptions, politics and the mistakes made along the way. We provide you with the opportunity to gain insight and an objective viewpoint along the way.
And we're highly skilled professionals who are self-starters, autonomous, well-versed, and project focussed by nature.
What are some ways you can ask freelancers to help meet the challenges?
Let's take the list above as an example.
Changes to technology
You can engage AI specialists for everything from chatbot responses with specialists like Daniel Pinne. Or gain an in-depth understanding of how specific programs work like The Ultimate Guide to ChatGPT author Belinda Brooks. You can also call on people who use and teach the technology like Leanne Shelton.
Many freelancers who have completed Kate Toon's Recipe for SEO Success course can effortlessly handle search engine and SEO tasks. And spend their time talking about and learning core updates and changes.
For social media, you can hire people (like me) to review your current performance, build you a strategy, and teach someone in your organisation how to activate it. Or you can also hire freelance support directly from places like Alison Michalk's Quiip. Or wonderful people like Rachel Beaney.
Disasters and Misadventure
There are freelancers who specialise in all kinds of work that can help you avoid a disaster. From social media disaster and contingency specialists like me or Quiip, you can have policies and procedures that support your organisation in all kinds of weather.
You can also hire data and IT specialists that can review your existing online presence and infrastructure and help you reduce risk through proper planning and upgrades.
Web developers, IT managers who can help with disaster recovery;
IT forensics specialists to figure out what happened;
Project managers to implement the moving parts;
Policy designers, implementation specialists, and writers;
Crisis management specialists – from data and tech through to PR and communications, workplace training and workplace recovery strategies;
Agitators wanting to chew on the lax attitudes of government and business alike could become influencers and much needed changemakers;
All this and more is available when you look to freelancers and places like Freelance Jungle.
Inflation and financial precarity
Freelancers are a source of temporary, low commitment, highly autonomous, hit-the-ground-running style talent.
You can make use of freelancers to:
· Meet downsizing shortfalls
· Add talent for short to medium term projects
· Build strategy your team can activate internally
· Delegate specific tasks to people with advanced expertise
We can also reshape your approaches and share our expertise to help make upskilling and change longer lasting.
You can find freelancers via the Freelance Jungle directory. Or put calls out for workers through me. Or make use of all kinds of talent boards and agencies.
Workforce decentralisation
Learning to work with and benefit from remote talent, whether or not it is freelance, is now essential. You're reducing your talent pool and sending the message your workplace is afraid of change and inflexible by avoiding it.
That doesn't mean you have to give in entirely. But it does mean making it a positive, well-managed part of your workplace policy and recruitment.
You can work with the likes of Jo Palmer from Pointer Remote Roles. Or via my freelance-friendly workplace services to help work with talent right across Australia effectively, efficiently and with focus.
Be smart about it.
Remote work policies help keep your own options open while creating a less management-heavy, more autonomous workplace. It's your opportunity to find the right fit- not just the one willing to play the presenteeism game.
Compliance and regulation
2024 is the year of oversight implementation with compliance to regulatory changes and meeting reporting requirements essential part of many industries. And it's hitting a lot of fields hard as they scramble, advocate against, and eventually comply.
It can seem like you have a big mountain to climb, but there is help available.
Take people like Donna Dark, a corporate and clinical governance specialist. Or Tracey Lloyd, who knows strategy and the social care sector. Or people like Cary Findlay, who lives and breathes inclusion. Or Michelle Guillemard who trains specialist health writers.
Working with micro-agencies like Eaves Content can help elevate your approach to property, construction, and real estate. You can also work with specialist soloists such as copywriter Lynne Testoni, photographer Ryan Linnegar, or PR and communications professional Lexi Kentmann.
And advice on finance, accounting, super, insurance and more can be found with specialist copywriters Jacinta Marshall and Sue-Ellen Horton.
Whatever your compliance and regulation needs, help from freelancers is available.
How we work is changing
The working profile in Australia has changed. Don't get caught out by ignoring the advantages engaged, well-managed freelancers can bring to your business.