Managing Independent WorkGetting Help
When you find yourself with an excess of work, you need to do something fast. There is nothing worse than losing your edge because you thought you could do it all yourself. Here are some ways to expand your abilities:
- Refer the work to a colleague-give the job away. This is the cleanest way to free up your time, but the danger is that any colleague worth his or her salt will probably keep the client. Do this only for less desirable jobs. The advantage, by the way, is that you have earned the gratitude and trust of that colleague, who may reciprocate in the future.
- Subcontract pieces of a job to a colleague. This way you keep some control (and the client) and gain a team member. Make sure you choose a subcontractor who is truly professional-who understands the meaning of a contract, either verbal or written-and scope out the job clearly. Build in frequent checkpoints so that you can tell early whether your sub is on the right track.
- Collaborate with a colleague. This is especially useful if a job is a bit outside of your scope. When you collaborate, generally you are giving the colleague equal say in planning and strategy, so it is crucial to pick someone whose work you respect and with whom you can communicate well. When it works right, collaboration can be a lot of fun!
- Hire an employee. This alternative is by far the most risky. It implies that you are going to have an excess of work for more than just the short term, and it also requires you to set your business up for employee withholding. If you're ready for this step, though, it is a very satisfying leap to make from a one-person shop.