How to Successfully Collaborate With Independent Contractors: 5 Tips

By MBO Partners • May 30, 2024

6 MIN

Key points

82% of large organizations are taking steps to integrate and manage independent workers as part of their workforces.
Independent contractors offer enterprises expertise and flexibility.
Effective collaboration with independent talent requires a different approach to managing traditional employees.

Companies are increasingly turning to independent professionals to meet their needs and remain agile in today’s evolving marketplace. The average company expects their use of contingent labor to grow to 38% at the end of 2027. And studies from Deloitte and MIT’s Workforce Ecosystem found that 82% of large organizations are taking steps to integrate and manage independent workers as part of their workforces.

The flexibility and expertise that independent contractors offer companies can be invaluable. When managing a blended workforce, you need to consider the unique needs of each type of worker. Working effectively with independent contractors requires a different approach than with traditional employees.

What are the best ways to ensure successful collaborations with independent contractors?

1. Establish Clear Expectations and Guidelines

It’s crucial to define roles and responsibilities before kicking off a new project. One of the best ways to start these conversations is to include a detailed scope of work in your independent contractor agreement. Take time to outline your desired outcomes and milestones, along with relevant success metrics.

Setting clear expectations from the start helps prevent misunderstandings down the road. If everyone understands what you’re trying to achieve and how you want to get there, work naturally flows more smoothly.

Explore: MBO’s State of Independence report

2. Foster a Positive Working Relationship

Building relationships with independent talent requires investing a little extra time beyond typical project interactions. Think about ways you can build rapport among your team.

Consider introducing contractors to other employees, hosting a virtual coffee break, or taking a few minutes before meetings to check in on how their day is going. These small efforts go a long way in building trust and collaboration, making it easier to work together effectively.

Discover: 6 Ways Companies Can Build Better Relationships With Independent Contractors

3. Provide Resources and Support

While independent contractors typically provide their own equipment (laptops, software, etc.), there are many other ways you can support them during their contract. Help guide them through onboarding, explain how internal systems work, and introduce them to key team members.

Make sure they know where to find important documents and have proper access. Being a reliable resource and ensuring contractors have everything they need helps projects run more smoothly for everyone involved.

Check Out: How to Attract Top Talent: Tips on Becoming a Client of Choice

4. Embrace Flexibility

Independent contractors are inherently flexible workers. They’re free to choose when, where, and how they work unless specified otherwise in their contract. This can be both an advantage and a challenge for managers.

Embrace this flexibility through being open to adjustments along the way. Talk with your independent talent to understand how they prefer to work and allow plenty of room for creativity and innovation. Be willing to adapt your management style to achieve the best results.

See: 6 Ways to Show Your Company Values Independent Work

5. Practice Effective and Transparent Communication

Communication is the cornerstone of successful collaboration. From day one, discuss communication channels with your independent contractors. Ask how they typically like to communicate and share your own preferences.

What kind of status updates do you want? How will you provide feedback to contractors, and how do you want them to give feedback to you? Encouraging open communication and respect builds trust and sets your project up for success.

Learn More: Talent Redeployment: How to Build a Team You Can Trust

More Tools and Resources for Workforce Management

If you’re looking for the latest news and insights into the independent workforce, MBO has a variety of tools and resources to help you stay informed. Our content covers topics such as worker classification and compliance issues, AI/technology, and workforce planning and management. With MBO’s support, you can build a workforce that aligns with your business needs and sets you up for success.