Managing a team to complete a project is a lot of work, especially if you are hiring outside employees like contractors. Throwing new people into the mix can go one of two ways and the success of the project will be determined by the way that you choose to effectively manage your team.
If you are considering working with contractors or have just started working with them and you want your project to run smoothly, read below for some essential tips on how to effectively manage contractors.
Clear Communication
Right off the bat before you begin a project, you should meet with your contractors and establish clear lines of communication. This can look like many different things. Some managers set up daily morning meetings where they go over the tasks for the day so that everything is clear and understood. This is a good strategy because it not only allows the manager to set goals for the day but it also gives the contractors a chance to ask any questions they have in person so that wires don’t get crossed.
In-person communication is always the best way to solve problems, but sometimes it is not possible, especially if you are the manager of a project in a different region. If you have to manage a project remotely, you can still schedule video calls with your contractors every day and call in whenever they have a question. Another way to keep communication open and clear is to have a designated messaging platform where everyone can ask questions and send updates throughout the day.
User-Friendly Management Software
In order to hire the best contractors and keep tabs on them, you have to start out with the right hiring and monitoring technology. This is where efficient contractor management services and software come into play. Contractor management in the twenty-first century is all about using technological tools to juggle all of your responsibilities at once.
Certain contractor management services and software offer more than just lines of communication. They can also provide you with vetted contractors, eliminating the need to search for them on your own. This technology also offers software that allows you to request updates and check-ins from your contractors so you can monitor their progress from the comfort of your office.
Provide Appropriate Training
When new contractors are brought onto a work site, they must be immediately brought up to speed before they start any projects. This means that you, as a manager, need to plan and create an effective training program to make sure that your contractors are legitimate and have the right tools to complete a certain job.
Each contracting job is different, which means most contractors that you meet will have a wide variety of experiences under their belt. Your training should incorporate that knowledge in order to channel their skills into the project that needs to be done.
Conclusion
Working with contractors can be a rewarding experience as you are bringing in a pool of people who have expertise in all kinds of things. When you bring in all different contractors, it is good to keep them organized and use the essential tips in this article to run a tight ship.
