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Client Relationships Guide: 13 Ways to Build Strong Relationships with Clients
By MBO Partners | | Manage a Small Business
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5 Tips for Hiring Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Engaging an independent contractor is a very different process from hiring a full-time employee. In general, full-time employees are the best option for ongoing business needs that are a core competency of your company. Independent contractors, on the other hand, offer flexible options for project-based work, or when you need to bring on specialized expertise…
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Build Your Enterprise AI Backbone through Independent Expertise
By MBO Partners
AI is steadily permeating all aspects of enterprise operations. Workers are already using the technology, mainly in the form of generative AI, to increase productivity and improve output. More comprehensively, companies across industries are reengineering processes to incorporate AI. For example: Banks are transforming financial advisory services Insurance companies are automating auto and home claims…
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5 Ways to Find New Clients Using Gen AI
By MBO Partners
Finding new clients is an important part of your job as a small business owner. Maintaining a pipeline of projects is how you keep your company running. Gen AI can be a valuable tool when you’re looking to expand your client base. Below, we explore five ways to find new clients using Gen AI. 1….
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Useful AI Tools for the Independent Professional and How to Make a Selection
By MBO Partners
It may seem like the AI tool floodgates have opened. And it’s just the beginning of what promises to be a fast evolution to increasingly sophisticated offerings. While it may be tempting to wait until that evolution is further along, independent professionals need to dive in now. There is a learning curve, not just for…
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Three Ways Gen AI Can Help Manage Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
Managing independent contractors can be a tricky zone to navigate. You have to find a balance between giving them the support and feedback you need while maintaining a client-contractor relationship for compliance purposes. Unless it is specified in a contract, independent contractors have the right to choose when, where, and how they work. Over-supervising or…
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4 Must-Have AI Skill Areas for Any Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
To a greater or lesser extent, AI permeates every function in an enterprise. As an independent professional, even if your services are not specific to AI you must master relevant tools and stay current as they evolve. This can allow you to achieve and retain a favorable competitive position and expand your offerings to clients…
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10 Ways Digital Transformation Impacts Your Independent Workforce
By MBO Partners
We are experiencing a dramatic change in the way we work. As more organizations shift to remote and flexible work options, full-time workers are considering different ways of working. The number of digital nomads is growing too. Digital nomads are people who embrace a location-independent, technology-enabled lifestyle. This allows them to travel and work remotely—anywhere in the…
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5 Worker Misclassification Mistakes to Avoid
By MBO Partners
When deciding how to classify workers, there are important factors that should be considered. Whether you classify someone as an employee or a contractor will dictate how you pay taxes as an employer, how the worker is paid, whether they are eligible for benefits, and how they are managed on a daily basis. Below, we…
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The Independent AI Strategist: Why You Need One (or More)
By MBO Partners
AI will revolutionize how we live and work. It’s the next technology transformation, with potential that we cannot fully see or understand at this time. While today we apply it to existing ways of doing things, it won’t be long before we apply it to completely new things we haven’t yet thought of. No matter…
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How to Leverage Generative AI for Marketing Your Small Business
By MBO Partners
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) can be a powerful tool for marketing your small business. Many independents are already using Gen AI to assist with research and writing, generate creative presentations, and automate administrative tasks, and more. Over one-quarter of independent workers say they use Gen AI for marketing purposes such as creating engaging content,…
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Keeping Independents Happy
By Jessica Soler
Enterprises recognize that including independent professionals in the workforce is imperative. As demand for their services increases, independents have more project options and more choice of clients. How can a company ensure that it is attractive to high-value independent talent? I went to an expert for answers to this question. Emily Stringer is a Program…
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From Ideas to Impact: Demystifying the Open Innovation Journey
By Keaton Swett
Prospective clients often ask us to give examples of products directly resulting from our open innovation challenges. It’s natural to seek concrete examples of tangible products from these initiatives. It’s true that we have launched many open innovation challenges where a direct line can be drawn between a proposed solution and a new product or…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News March 2024
By Nathan Gibson
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. 1. DOL New Independent Contractor Rule Takes Effect…
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4 Tools to Build a Successful Relationship with Clients
By MBO Partners
Client relationships are the foundation of every successful small business. When you have a good connection with your clients, there is more opportunity for future work as well as valuable recommendations. While it is important to seek out clients who value and respect your work, the client-contractor relationship is a two-way street. Showing a genuine…
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Leverage AI Today to Support Larger Enterprise AI Adoption
By MBO Partners
“Adopting AI” is a big deal, not only in terms of the business imperative but also in terms of what it takes for an enterprise to do it. Like previous big technology changes, AI adoption must be planned, trained, tested, secured, and maintained. This takes time and expertise, and for many companies, the race is…
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6 Steps to Incorporate Gen AI into Your Independent Business
By MBO Partners
Embracing AI is a business imperative for independent professionals, and many have moved to incorporate it into their businesses. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents for our report on Gen AI and its impacts on the independent workforce reported familiarity with the technology. Nearly 60% of that group reported using Gen AI in multiple workflows. Independent…
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Launching Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
Find the tools that you need to plan and launch a direct sourcing program in your enterprise.
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5 Ways to Use Generative AI for Your Small Business
By MBO Partners
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is a fast-growing type of artificial intelligence that is already changing how people work. One Gen AI technology application you’ve probably heard of is ChatGPT. Gen AI applications like this can help independent workers become more effective and efficient by helping with tasks that are repetitive or mundane. And according…
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Artificial Intelligence: MBO Senior Leadership Perspectives
By MBO Partners
As part of our continued focus on how enterprises and independents interact with AI, members of our senior leadership recently offered their thoughts on several key topics, challenges, and strategies. We will delve deeper into some of these in future articles. Welcome to the Wild West We’ve seen it time and again. When any new…
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How to Unlock Efficiency with Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
Direct sourcing is a part of talent acquisition for many modern enterprises—our research found that as of early 2023, nearly 80% of large organizations either had a direct sourcing program in place or expected to explore the approach within the next two years. Direct sourcing involves sourcing independent contractor talent using internal resources rather than…
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Exploring New Frontiers: An Overview
By MBO Partners
A new report based on a research study by MBO Partners and Emergent Research hit the internet today. “Exploring New Frontiers: How Independent Workers View and Use Generative AI in 2024” looks at how independents interact with Gen AI in their businesses. Our research, which included 1,132 independent workers and 3,832 traditional workers, indicates that…
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12 Must Have Productivity Apps for Self Employed
By MBO Partners
While your favorite apps might involve watching viral videos, scrolling through beautiful pictures, or zoning out while playing a game, you don’t always have the luxury of getting sucked into the vortex of your phone when you run your own business. Luckily, there’s another category of apps that are equally engaging—and can help you maximize…
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Artificial Intelligence for Contingent Labor: Benefits and Challenges
By MBO Partners
Artificial intelligence (AI) can have a significant impact on companies that use independent contractor talent—from finding and sourcing contractors to engaging and onboarding them. AI tools can effectively source prospective independents, assess them without bias, and onboard them efficiently. With more companies drawing on contingent labor to build optimized or blended workforces, AI tools can be…
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Creating an Effective Contingent Labor Program: Getting Classification Right
By Jessica Soler
Following on my introduction to this series, this first installment focuses on the critical importance of correctly classifying the members of your independent workforce. In the past, the onus was on independent contractors to make sure they were set up correctly, paying the right taxes – the IRS would audit them directly. That has…
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4 Ways AI Can Make Your Life Easier an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been growing buzzword over the past few years. Most recently, AI is being talked about with Chat GPT—a natural language processing chatbot that uses generative AI technology. AI promises a more innovative and growth-spurred future, so it’s no wonder that so many people believe AI will revolutionize the way we…
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Client Relationships Guide: 13 Ways to Build Strong Relationships with Clients
By MBO Partners
Effective client management is important when running a small business, and building and maintaining strong relationships with clients play a key role. If you have built a strong relationship with your client, they are more likely to engage with you on future projects and refer you to others. Once onboarded, it’s easier for companies to…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News February 2024
By Nathan Gibson
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. Commissioner of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Argues Misclassification…
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Navigating Compliance and Risk Management in Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
Over 72 million Americans worked independently in 2023. As more enterprises turn to the independent workforce for staffing flexibility, in-demand skills, and cost savings, direct sourcing is steadily evolving as the leading way to engage this group of talent. Direct sourcing gives enterprises access to a pool of vetted talent, saves time and costs, increases…
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Top 7 Financial Considerations When Starting a Small Business
By MBO Partners
When starting a small business, there are many financial considerations to consider. Maintaining a consistent pipeline of work, marketing your services, and building your brand are big pieces of the puzzle, but to make a sustainable income and operate compliantly, you’ll need to think about your finances as well. Here are seven financial management topics…
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4 “Off the Beaten Track” Tips to Create Financial Security as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
Every worker has at least some degree of concern about job security, and independent professionals are very concerned. The challenge cited most frequently by nearly half of the respondents (49%) to our 2023 State of Independence survey was insufficient predictable income. Coming in second, 33% of respondents were worried about the state of their project…
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How Fluent Are You in “Digital?” 4 Areas that Independent Professionals Need to Master
By MBO Partners
On-the-job technology has come a long way since Netscape days. As hardware and software have steadily evolved since then, workers and companies have had to keep up. Web browsers, email platforms, and phone apps are just a few of the technology tools that are embedded in the workplace. Now there are clouds, web-based collaboration spaces,…
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Project Management Tips for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Project management is an important part of every independent contractor’s business. How you handle a project from start to finish will have an impact on your reputation, and influence whether or not your client will want to work with you again. Project management can be tricky—even if you’re organized and it comes somewhat easily to…
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4 Applications of AI in the Creator Economy
By MBO Partners
In spite of seeing a plateau in its population from last year to this year, the Creator Economy is positioned for big growth. With an expanding ecosystem of support services and content platforms incorporating technological advancements that help them, new creators from all age groups are finding low barriers to entry and audiences waiting to…
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3 Questions to Ask About the “Future of Work”
By MBO Partners
The future. It’s always out on the horizon. How will things look in 5, 10, 20 years? And how can we prepare ourselves today for the most likely scenario? The” future of work” has become a buzz phrase. What does it actually mean? The world of work has always shifted and changed in response to…
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Future-Proof Your Workforce with Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
Direct sourcing—the process by which a company leverages independent contractors—has seen rapid advancement in recent years. As the market shifts to increased use of independent talent, direct sourcing will become even more important to enterprises that want to optimize their workforces The Evolution of Direct Sourcing Basic direct sourcing can take the form of finding…
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10 Strategies to Reduce Contractor Compliance Risk (Guide)
By MBO Partners
As the project-based economy continues to evolve, proper management of independent contractor talent will prove to be critical.
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Three Challenges Independent Creators Face and How to Overcome Them
By MBO Partners
Independent digital content creators are influencers, entertainers, artists, educators, writers, thought leaders, and more who make their living by using their skills or knowledge to create online digital content. In the influencer age, this is an enticing career path that many people are trying their hand at. But being a digital content creator doesn’t come…
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What Independent Digital Content Creators Can Bring to Your Enterprise
By MBO Partners
Digital content creators are a unique group of independent professionals. Combining interesting content with technical prowess, they have become an integral part of the digital environment. Primarily monetizing their businesses through a mix of advertising revenue, sponsorships, subscriptions, and product sales, creators in the US now number around 8 million people. According to our research,…
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How to Maximize Efficiency When Activating a Direct Sourcing Strategy
By MBO Partners
The use of direct sourcing to leverage independent workers from an internally developed pool of talent has rapidly grown in the past few years. As of early 2023, nearly 80% of large organizations either have a direct sourcing program in place or expect to explore the approach within the next two years. Finding the ideal…
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3 Levels of Contractor Compliance
By MBO Partners
When engaging independent workers, enterprises have options when considering their level of compliance ranging from light compliance which is open to risk to enterprise-grade or enterprise-appropriate compliance. Determining which to use depends on how you intend to integrate independent talent into your workforce mix. There are currently nearly 72.1 million people working independently in the…
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Independent Digital Content Creators: 5 Traits
By MBO Partners
Independent creators are a group of full- and part-time entrepreneurs and small business owners who monetize their knowledge and skills through online digital content. This group has increased 14% from 2022, becoming one of the fastest-growing self-employment and independent work segments. Entertainers, artists, writers, videographers, influencers, and thought leaders are all independent creators who earn…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News January 2024
By Nathan Gibson
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Worker Classification…
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3 Keys to Maximize the Benefits of Open Innovation
By Keaton Swett
The business value of open innovation lies in its ability to drive creativity, flexibility, and efficiency by leveraging external resources and perspectives. Through open innovation challenges for its customers, MindSumo provides benefits that include: Accelerated innovation cycles. Instead of relying only on internal R&D, enterprises can leverage external ideas to bring new products and services…
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8 Ways to Offer Wellness Benefits to Independent Professionals
By MBO Partners
Being a Client of Choice is critical for any enterprise competing for independent professionals with in-demand skills. Our research shows an annual increase in the percentage of independents saying they are able to choose the clients with whom they work. This choice goes beyond money into areas like ease of engagement, the quality of working…
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Creating an Effective Contingent Labor Program: Introduction
By Jessica Soler
Unsurprisingly, companies are increasingly recognizing the need for agility and flexibility within their workforce. Recent layoffs among traditional W2 employees have prompted a reevaluation of conventional employment models. As organizations navigate economic uncertainties and rapid technological advancements, the spotlight increasingly turns towards the strategic integration of independent contractors & a contingent workforce. This shift not…
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How to Find the Right Consulting Project
By MBO Partners
Finding work as an independent professional might seem daunting at first, but there are an increasing number of resources available to help independents find projects and clients. As more people turn to independent work, technology as evolved in tandem to help match your experience and resume with the best project and client for your skillset….
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Job Security Is Evaporating. Now What?
By Thomas Lutrell
A person’s employment over multiple decades is a thing of the past. The notion of a gold-watch retirement has entered the realm of myth—to anyone in the younger generations of the workforce, such a thing borders on unbelievable. Instead, workforce cutbacks and layoffs have become almost commonplace. The Employed Entrepreneur While a steady paycheck, benefits,…
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3 Ways to Ensure Success When Engaging Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Growing demand, enabling technology, and expanding supply are three key factors leading to the continuing growth of the independent workforce in America today. In 2023, just over 72 million people reported working independently. As more organizations incorporate independent talent as part of their workforce, it becomes increasingly important to be aware of the legal complexities…
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Managing the Pressure Cooker of Microstress for Enterprises and Independents
By MBO Partners
In today’s fast-paced workplace, people often find themselves grappling with a subtle form of pressure: microstress. Unlike the obvious stress that can arise from major life events, microstress comprises small daily stressors that add up over time. Because of the “smallness” of microstressors, they may be hard to identify. Their cumulative effects, though, can be…
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Time Management Hacks for Independent Contractors: Balancing Work and Personal Life
By MBO Partners
As an independent contractor, finding ways to effectively manage your time can be a constant challenge. Many people decide to go independent for greater control over their work and personal life. They enjoy being their own boss, setting their own hours, and deciding who they work for and when. Maintaining this balance can take some…
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5 Tips for Building Stronger Contractor Relationships in 2024
By MBO Partners
Building strong relationships with independent talent will be important for businesses in the coming year as more enterprises seek to use independents as part of their staffing strategy. Top independent talent—who have the skills companies seek—have the luxury of picking the clients they work with. Those who purposely find ways to prioritize contractor satisfaction and…
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“Tethered Nomadism” – Unintended Consequences of Return to Office Mandates
By Rowena Hennigan
In the wake of a global shift towards remote work, a once-niche lifestyle choice gained mass appeal: digital nomadism. Offices were vacated in favor of makeshift desks in living rooms, beachside resorts, or highland mountain retreats, proving that for many, work was no longer a place but a task that could be performed from any…
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How to Ensure Compliance for Non-Traditional Independent Workers
By Cori McKee
As the way work gets done changes and companies continue to seek high-demand and often specialized skills, hiring managers are tapping workers from non-traditional talent pools. The most notable of these are digital nomads and members of the creator economy. Engaging Digital Nomads Requires Extra Attention While independent professionals pursuing a digital nomad work style…
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Compliance Risk Assessment Tool for Independent Workforce Engagement
By MBO Partners
Because there is risk associated with hiring independent contractors, preparation is key. Often, misclassification can be unintentional because businesses simply do not have a full understanding of the laws regarding how to classify their workers. However, it can also be done intentionally to reduce labor costs or avoid payroll taxes. Regardless of why misclassification occurs, it…
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New DOL Rule Changes Definition Of IC Status: What Matters for Your Enterprise
By Nathan Gibson
On January 9, 2024, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced its final rule on determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) purposes. The rule is effective on March 11, 2024, and rescinds the existing rule developed by the previous administration that has been…
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9 Ways to Include AI in Your Workforce
By MBO Partners
Workforce optimization—establishing a strategic mix of employees and contractors—will likely be redefined in the next few years. With AI coming on the scene in a big way, speculations swirl in the business community about how it will change the way work is done. Will it cause jobs to be lost as it takes on roles…
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Gross vs Net Income: Differences and How to Calculate
By MBO Partners
The terms gross income and net income can be easily confused. Per definition, gross income is the total amount you earn, and net income is actual business profit after expenses and allowable deductions are taken out. However, because gross income is used to calculate net income, it’s important to understand how each is calculated. When…
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How to Integrate Independent Contractors into Your Business in 2024
By MBO Partners
Independent contractors are the solution for many organizations when faced with disruption, competition, and labor and skill shortages. The average company reports that contingent labor makes up 28% of their workforce, and this proportion is expected to grow to 38% by the end of 2027. As this sector of the workforce increases, it is worth…
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In-Demand Skill Sets for Today’s Workforce
By MBO Partners
As the business world enters a new digital reality dominated by AI, the skills needed in the workforce are changing. As a result, skills that were once nice to have or useful in special circumstances are in ever-higher demand. Soft Skills Become Power Skills In the past, enterprises considered roles in the context of “technical…
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5 Tips for Using Networking to Grow Your Small Business
By MBO Partners
Networking can be a powerful tool as an independent professional. By building relationships with peers and industry professionals, you can find new clients, discover potential partnerships, and benefit from new ideas and fresh perspectives. Whether you are connecting with people online or offline, consider making networking a regular part of your job to help boost…
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W-2 vs. 1099: 10 Differences for Employers
By MBO Partners
Employee misclassification can be detrimental to your business. Here are 10 key differences between 1099 independent contractors and W2 employees that you should know.
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How to Stay Organized as a Consultant
By MBO Partners
Boosting your productivity as a small business owner is never a bad thing. Two of the most valued benefits to being an independent contractor are the flexibility to work where want and the ability to work how you want. Whether you work out of a home office, leased space, or coworking facility, you’ve likely spent…
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How to Achieve Corporate Agility by Leveraging Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
Enterprises today are increasingly using workforces composed of full-time, independent, and offshore talent. By shifting to project-based workflows that align with this mix of talent, companies can be more flexible in creative in how work gets done. Many have transitioned to remote work, or partially remote work as a new way of operating. To remain…
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Soft Skills in the Workplace: Top Skills and How to Improve Them
By MBO Partners
What are soft skills? Soft skills, often called people skills or emotional intelligence, are defined as the ability to interact amicably with others. They are personal attributes that can affect relationships, communication, and interaction with others. Soft skills can be invaluable to business success, but why are they so important? While soft skills can at…
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How to Prepare Your Team for Rolling Transformation
By MBO Partners
2024 is shaping up to be a year of rolling transformations for businesses. AI is catalyzing widespread technology changes. Generative AI is changing how many people approach their tasks. Workforce models are changing as in-demand skills are in short supply through traditional channels. World events demand that enterprises be able to change and adapt quickly….
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Balancing Act: Growing Your Side Hustle While Maintaining Your Full-Time Job
By Zanaba Hudson
In the dynamic world of today’s workforce, I decided to delve into the realm of side hustles for a multitude of personal reasons. Economic considerations have been a driving force for me, pushing me to explore additional income sources as a safety net amidst the uncertainties of a rapidly changing job market. Beyond the financial…
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6 Tips for Productive Remote 1-on-1 Meetings with Team Members
By MBO Partners
One-on-one meetings are a staple of team management. A dedicated, private conversation between manager and team member, this kind of meeting can be highly productive. In today’s workplace, it’s likely that some, if not all, of your 1-on-1s will be remote. While the fundamentals are the same, this type of meeting lacks the shared physical…
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5 Essential Team Management Skills for 2024 and Beyond
By MBO Partners
Effective team management is a vital element of success in the future of work. As temporary teams take the place of the soon-to-be-outdated long-term team model, managers must be able to rally members around specific goals and provide the support and guidance needed to reach the desired outcome—and then rinse and repeat with new members…
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4 Long-Term Trends Driving the Growth of the Independent Workforce
By MBO Partners
Over the past year, both supply and demand for independent workers increased. MBO Partners’ latest State of Independence Study found that 72.1 million Americans reported working independently in 2023. A tight labor market and demand for workers with specialized skills led more organizations to rely on independent talent to fill skill gaps. Together, this increased…
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5 Things to Know About the Modern Independent Worker
By MBO Partners
MBO Partners’ 2023 State of Independence report found that there have never been more people working independently—more than 72 million Americans reported working as part-time, occasional, or full-time independents. There is a growing demand for independent talent, who are well-positioned to provide companies with flexible, on-demand expertise. And as more people see independent work as…
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Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Contingent Labor: A Strategic Approach to Direct Sourcing
By Alex Khouri
In a labor market characterized by scarcity and dynamic shifts, the statistics speak volumes about the evolving nature of the workforce. As of October, there were 9.6 million open jobs, significantly outnumbering the 6.5 million job seekers (October BLS Report). This staggering gap emphasizes the ongoing challenge of talent acquisition, pushing organizations to explore innovative…
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10 Great Holiday Gifts for Clients
By MBO Partners
The holiday season is always busy and taking time to find the perfect little something for your client can be an added stress. Rather than settling for a last-minute gift card or fruit basket, take advantage of our annual holiday gift guide. We’ve scoured the web and polled our team members to find some of…
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6 Ways Outsourcing to Independent Contractors Can Help Your Business Succeed This Year
By MBO Partners
Outsourcing projects to independent contractors can be a great way to achieve goals. Today’s work environment is in flux. It can be hard to meet business expectations with a workforce of full-time employees alone. Independent contractors are skilled experts in many different fields. This group of workers can help provide the workforce flexibility and project-based…
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After Action Reviews as a Team Learning Tool
By MBO Partners
The after action review, or AAR, was first created by the U.S. Army in the 1970s as an on-the-spot learning tool to make fast corrections and improvements to a group’s direction and activity. Seeing the potential of such a tool, the business world adopted the AAR and applied it to a range of applications. The…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News November 2023
By Nathan Gibson
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. 1. New York Passes Freelancers Isn’t Free Act…
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Ideas for Special End-of-Year Thank-Yous
By MBO Partners
It’s the time of year when we express appreciation in a big way—to family members, coworkers, clients, and the service providers who make our lives easier. Even though you might mass mail (or email) thank-yous in your business, you may have some contacts or associates who deserve a more custom message. They could be fellow…
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How to Do a Year End Business Review: 5 Steps
By MBO Partners
Conducting an end-of-year review isn’t a practice that just applies to bigger businesses—it’s a process that is valuable to freelancers and independent professionals as well. A business review gives you a chance to look back at what you have achieved, revisit your goals, and consider how to best move forward for the coming year. To…
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Preparing for the Holidays as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
The year-end holiday season is upon us! From now through New Year’s Day, many of us will juggle additional activities. School events, family visits, and social commitments get added to our usual workload and home responsibilities. For some, stress levels increase as to-do lists get longer and time gets shorter. An added stressor for independent…
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Help Solve the Challenges of Independence through Talent Marketplaces
By MBO Partners
Our State of Independence research defines independent workers as full and part-time workers of all ages, skills, and income levels. This includes consultants, freelancers, contractors, temporary or on-call workers, solopreneurs, gig workers, and others who work independently to build businesses, develop their careers, pursue passions, and/or supplement their incomes. According to independent workers who participated…
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Maternity Leave for Contractors: Advice from 5 Self-Employed Moms
By MBO Partners
Even with the flexibility of self-employment, taking maternity leave as an independent professional can be a challenge—both financially and logistically. Not only do you need to plan ahead for your projects, bring in extra help if needed, and set boundaries with your clients, but it’s also important to think ahead to childcare options and set realistic goals…
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Contractor Engagement Strategies for the New Year
By MBO Partners
Organizations of all sizes are increasing their use of independent workers to maximize workforce agility and flexibility. The average company reports that contingent labor makes up 28% of their workforce and this proportion is expected to grow to 38% by the end of 2027. Independent work is becoming more popular and accessible, giving enterprises access…
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Seasoned Workers and the Encore Career
By MBO Partners
Forty-eight percent of U.S. independent professionals are either Baby Boomers (19%) or Gen X (29%). It is likely that many of these, especially in the Boomer cohort, are pursuing encore careers as independent professionals. These workers can make valuable contributions to the companies they work with. What Is an Encore Career? An encore career is…
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Setting SMART Business Goals for the Upcoming Year
By MBO Partners
Conducting a year-end business review is a valuable practice as an independent contractor. Taking stock of your accomplishments over the past months, reviewing your network contacts, and setting goals for the upcoming year can help you identify gaps in your business offerings, keep your back office organized, and uncover new ways to grow and evolve….
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How to Make Sure Independent Talent Isn’t Temporary Talent
By MBO Partners
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the end of July 2023 there were 8.8 million open jobs but only 5.25 million job seekers. This gap, a skills shortage mainly in the technology space, and caution around adding headcount has more and more companies turning to independent talent to meet their workforce needs….
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Is It Time to Rethink Independent Talent in Your Enterprise?
By MBO Partners
“There have never been more payroll jobs in the U.S. There have also never been more people working independently.” 2023 State of Independence Report Those two statements may seem paradoxical, but they are both true. The U.S. independent talent population has grown steadily year on year—from 2020 to 2023 alone it jumped by 89%. Even…
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3 Ways to Make Direct Sourcing Part of Your Workforce Management Strategy
By MBO Partners
Direct sourcing is a way to connect directly with independent contractors and engage them for project-based work. Rather than using a third-party service like a staffing or consulting firm to find talent, companies can source talent internally using their own resources. This approach helps to save time, money, and resources while often resulting in sourcing…
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Mastering the Art of The Side Hustle: Thriving in Full-Time Employment and Entrepreneurship Simultaneously
By Zanaba Hudson
In today’s fast-paced world, many ambitious individuals, myself included, are continuously seeking innovative ways to pursue our passions and financial goals. For those of us who are inherently creative, the idea of balancing a full-time job while simultaneously running a successful business is an enticing challenge. While it might initially appear as a daunting endeavor,…
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The Support Team Every Independent Professional Needs
By MBO Partners
As an independent professional, you will spend part (or, in some cases, all) of your career as a solopreneur. With a high degree of flexibility, autonomy, and control, being your own boss has a lot of advantages. The choice to go solo does have challenges. Respondents to our 2023 State of Independence survey cited unpredictable…
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Here Comes Gen Z: How to Prepare for the Gen Z Workforce
By MBO Partners
Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the first digital-native generation. Computers, the internet, and smartphones are integral to their day-to-day lives, not the optional features of other generations. Their worldview, colored by a world in turmoil, has fostered a perspective on life and work that significantly differs from their elders. One in every…
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Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
As the year draws to a close, it’s common to take some time to look back on the performance of your business. Reviewing your back office—records, taxes, expense tracking, billing, etc.—is another helpful practice to prepare for the new year. Organizing paperwork and making sure records are accessible will help ease the burden of searching…
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How to Magnetize Your Independent Talent Role Descriptions
By MBO Partners
We’ve talked about the importance of creating an optimized workforce to future-proof your enterprise. We’ve also talked about how to conduct a skills assessment to figure out skills (and associated roles) that are most important in your independent talent pool. And we’ve observed that competition for those skills can be stiff. Now, let’s talk about…
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What to Know Before Hiring through a Talent Marketplace
By MBO Partners
If your organization is not already using a marketplace to find independent professionals, you may be missing out on great talent. Talent marketplaces—online platforms that connect independent contractors with projects—are continuing to grow in popularity. In 2023, 40% of independent contractors said they used a talent marketplace to find work and 47% said they planned…
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Downsides of Using AI in Your Open Innovation Solutions
By Keaton Swett
Last month I talked about how AI can help you solve open innovation challenges as a research assistant and brainstorming partner. But there’s a dark side to AI in open innovation. While using AI more extensively in your solving activities might be tempting, this can be a big risk. 3 Risks of Using AI in…
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4 Ways to Build a Network of Qualified Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
A talent network is a vetted and qualified on-demand pool of independent professional talent that managers use to fill project roles quickly. An established talent network that has either worked with your company before or been through a vetting process can be hugely valuable. This group of independents will already be familiar with how to…
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6 Ways to Find Work When Business is Slow
By MBO Partners
As the holiday season approaches, it’s common to find business slowing down. Many clients will take time off for the holidays and prospective clients may not want to start a project until the new year. But it’s important to keep in mind that other businesses may have budgets that need to be spent by the…
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How to Identify High-Value Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
Even as employment figures reach unprecedented levels in the U.S., roughly a quarter of the average company’s workforce today comprises contingent labor. This is more than a trend. Independent talent have a solid foothold in today’s labor market. More significantly, independents are working in increasingly strategic roles. They impact a company’s productivity, goal achievement, and…
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Put the Future of Work in Your 2024 Plan
By MBO Partners
The future is always on the business radar—for example, the economic future, the market future, the regulatory future. But the idea of forecasting the future in the context of work and how it gets done—what we’re calling the “future of work”—is new. The model of a predominantly onsite 40-hour work week has been in place…
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The Legal Landscape: Navigating Compliance with Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Engaging independent contractors comes with many benefits: increased staffing flexibility, access to in-demand skills, cost savings, and a workforce for project-based work. But in exchange for these advantages, companies must be aware of how to navigate compliance in order to operate legally when engaging contingent workers. From a legal perspective, independent contractors fall under a…
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10 Things to do When Business is Slow
By MBO Partners
When business is slow, there can be many factors at play. It might be the time of year for your industry, the holiday season, changing consumer trends, or a sign your pipeline needs a boost. As an independent professional, work can ebb and flow from month to month. One day you may be swamped with…
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Upskilling and Reskilling in Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
In today’s fast-paced business space where change has become the norm, worker skills requirements frequently shift. The result is not really a skills shortage, though media and many business experts use that term. Rather, demand is greater than supply at different times and for certain skills. In today’s market, this situation applies to many technology…
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