Jai Dolwani’s Post

Last week Alex Ischenko and myself moderated a CTO Round-Table event focussing on Effectively Integrating Freelancers and Consultants into Product-Driven, Cross-Functional Teams: Challenges and Solutions for Success hosted at ablefy and organised by Phil Heath of Third Republic. Over 20 CTOs, VPs, Directors and Engineering leaders joined us for a great discussion. Some were in favour of using freelancers, others against. Everyone contributed to the discussions which was great. But what did we learn? What's my advice if you're using freelancers, contractors, external vendors to work with or for your teams? 1. Integrate them as tightly as possible - give them access to tools and data that they need, give them onboarding information. Teach them what they need to know about you and your project / product and teams. 2. Treat them equally with employees - this may mean creative accounting. Buy them a t-shirt if you're getting some for your teams. Pay for a meal if you do it for your teams. Some of this you might need to do in the form of "billing an extra hour". But the way it will make these individuals, who's efforts you rely on feel, is so much worth it. 3. Want to bind a particular freelancer to your startup long term - offer them VSOP (virtual stock options). The contracts for VSOP can be arranged completely separate from employment contracts and have no immediate tax implications for either party. This can be a great incentive if you want to keep someone but they don't want to switch to permanent employment. Have more questions, or are struggling to integrate external or remote teams successfully? Reach out to me and I'm happy to help! #remotework #freelancer #contracting #futureofwork #teamwork #teamtopologies #organisationdesign

#FAQFriday at WorkGenius 💡 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙊𝙄 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡-𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙚𝙨? Understanding the return on investment (ROI) when hiring freelancers versus full-time employees is crucial for strategic workforce planning. Here's how businesses can effectively measure this ROI: 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀: Begin by comparing the direct costs associated with hiring freelancers, such as pay rates and project fees, against the total costs of full-time employees, which include benefits, taxes, and other overheads. This will give you a clear picture of the financial efficiencies. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Evaluate the time saved by hiring freelancers who can start immediately and work flexibly, versus the time it takes to recruit and onboard a full-time employee. Faster project initiation and completion can lead to quicker revenue generation. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: Assess the value of specialized skills that freelancers bring for specific projects, which might not be continuously needed. This can be compared to the cost of training full-time employees or the opportunity cost of not having the specific skill immediately available. 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Analyze how well each option allows your business to scale operations up or down in response to market demand without incurring unnecessary costs. 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: Account for the time and resources spent managing freelance relationships versus human resource management for employees. Effective systems and platforms can reduce these costs significantly. By tracking these metrics, businesses can make informed decisions about the optimal mix of freelancers and full-time employees, ensuring that workforce strategies align with business objectives and market conditions. 🔎 Want to dive deeper into workforce strategy or have other questions? Send us a message! #WorkGenius #FreelancerROI #WorkforcePlanning #BusinessStrategy #FutureOfWork

I've Done 10+ Years As A Freelancer Here's 10 Things You Should Know If You Want To Last That Long. (I've never worked a single day of my life as an on-site worker). Let's go... 1. Your skill evolves. Evolve with it! 2. Remote work is harder than 9-5. (This is not up for debate). 3. You need to master self-discipline & self-motivation if you want to last long. 4. Toxic bosses exists remotely. 5. Getting clients is easy – if you know how. 6. Getting clients is harder – if you mess up basic things. 7. No ONE will save you when you fall. 8. Build side businesses as you grow. (Preferably, non-related to your skill). 9. Surround yourself with people that will push you. (No, I don't mean a pods) 10. You can make a lot of money and still feel empty if you don't have a purpose. (I could go on, but I'll stop here). What number resonates with you most? PS – The 7 Days Client Acquisition Masterclass starts in a few days. This might be the last time I'll ever hold such. Don't miss out on it! DM, "Client" to join.

The way companies are hiring today feels like they’ve got two circles of people. The inner circle— your full-time crew. These are the people who show up every day, talk at watercooler, carry the culture, and keep the wheels turning. You need them. Without them, things fall apart. Then, there’s the outer circle— freelancers, contract workers, consultants. They’re just as important, but for different reasons. They’re the specialists. They come in with laser focus, get a specific job done and move on. They’re not here for the day-to-day— nor do they want to be, and honestly, you don’t need them to be. They’re here to solve problems, bring efficiency and leave. It’s not about which is better. You need both. But the trick is knowing who belongs where. Your inner circle. They’ve got skin in the game. They’re committed for the long term, maybe even have some stock options. They’re part of the culture and handle the big picture. These are the people who can grow, take on more responsibility, and push the mission forward. Then there’s your outer circle. They’re the ones you bring in for specific skills or fast results. They work best with clear, focused tasks. You need them for a job that needs doing right now. They’re not here for the long —and that’s the point. But they bring expertise your internal team might not have or take on things your core team doesn’t have time for. I like to think of it like this: Your inner circle keeps the engine running. Your outer circle tune it up, bring the upgrades, or fix things when they break. You’ll lean on one group more than the other, depending on the situation. Some companies push hard in one direction. Others balance both. Anyway, this structure gives you flexibility. It lets you pull in the right people when you need them and keep your core team focused.

Why most freelancers are overwhelmed? 🤕 (Hint: LACK OF SYSTEMS) Feeling overwhelmed is a fact for solopreneurs... but it doesn't have to be. The hustle and grind is real, but often it’s made worse by 👉 scattered processes. From managing client communications to juggling invoicing and marketing, it’s like spinning 10 plates at once. 😮💨 The secret? SYSTEMS. 💜 Streamlined processes that ✅ create consistency, ✅ save time, and ✅ reduce stress. Imagine this: A client reaches out, and without hours of back-and-forth emails, 😵💫 you have a smooth onboarding system in place. Or, how about handling project follow-ups with automated reminders so nothing slips through the cracks? 🧨 Systems let you scale your business 😎 without scaling your stress. 😉 What’s your biggest workflow challenge right now? 📨 Drop it in the comments and I’ll share a tip!

Noise. The biggest issue with hiring on freelancers is noise. From onboarding, to specific questions during the process, to managing them throughout your engagement... It's a lot of back and forths via email, Slack, Teams, Discord and other communication channels. Like I said, a lot of noise. Freelancers are great, but they shouldn't be your go-to when it comes to getting larger tasks done. Wondering what approach you should take instead? Then check out the video below.

For many in the global workforce, the 9-to-5 workday is outdated. After a lengthy commute to work, which for some may be three hours each day, many find that upon returning home, they are too exhausted to enjoy their lives, leaving them in a vicious working cycle. Fortunately, with more collaborative technology than ever before and the overall culture of digital nomadism taking over, a new freelancing model is now making its way into the mainstream. #tech #finance #tech #technology #financialtechnology #information #fintechs

Embracing the best of both worlds 🤝 The trend of hiring freelancers in conjunction with traditional in-house staff is becoming increasingly prominent. This article explores how businesses can achieve the right balance, optimizing their workforce to meet evolving project needs and organizational goals 👇 #FiverrPro #Hybridworkforce

Finding the right talent shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. At TalentFast, we connect businesses with the people they need—whether it’s freelancers, short-term employees, or full-time hires—quickly and effortlessly. Our mission is simple: bridge the gap between businesses and skilled professionals, so everyone wins. Ready to see how we can help you? Visit us at talentfast.net and let’s get started! #TalentFast #WeMakeConnections #Freelancers #HiringSolutions

Overwhelmed by time-consuming back-office tasks? You could benefit from fractional operations support. See these 3 signs it's time to hire a skilled and cost effective VA -- and how it can boost your business.  https://bit.ly/4eaTa4V   #freelancepros #freelancetalent #smallbusiness #scaleyourbusiness #hireafreelancer