5 key ways freelancers help companies stay nimble

Abstract

Purpose

Why building out a fleet of freelance talent could be the reason some companies survive to see 2021, while their competitors do not.

Design/methodology/approach

Authors drew upon their experience as cofounders of 10x Management and their experience in the talent management field.

Findings

If you are not so sure if freelance talent could be game changing for your company, consider that experimentation is a key element of staying nimble. Companies tend to layoff staff, pause raises and scale back the office lease as initial reactions to reduce costs and stay lean. But the ones that do it the best go the extra mile. It is not just about cutting costs – rather, it is about doubling down on new (and old) ways to achieve peak performance in the face of uncertainty. Using freelancers can do just that.

Research limitations/implications

There are five number of ways in which freelance workers benefit a company, including speed, adaptability, cost, low commitment and remote expertise.

Originality/value

The findings will help companies stay nimble in the midst of crises such as the current pandemic.

Citation

Solomon, M. and Blumberg, R. (2021), "5 key ways freelancers help companies stay nimble", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 38-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-10-2020-0087