--- title: "How to Make Your Association Good at Managing Freelancers" id: "32496" type: "post" slug: "how-to-make-your-association-good-at-managing-freelancers" published_at: "2016-03-16T22:51:20+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T15:42:57+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/03/16/how-to-make-your-association-good-at-managing-freelancers/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/03/16/how-to-make-your-association-good-at-managing-freelancers.md" excerpt: "Free your organization from the constraints of traditional thinking and discover new ways to manage freelancers. Plus: Some reasons you may not eventually be replaced by a robot." taxonomy_category: - "Operations" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "freelancers" - "Project Management" - "work models" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » How to Make Your Association Good at Managing Freelancers As [flexible work models continue to evolve](http://associationsnow.com/2016/02/wednesday-buzz-why-remote-work-is-here-to-stay/) , there’s never been a better time to take advantage of the potential of freelancers. Even if your association has the best HR representatives and is able to bring in the best talent, freelancers have needs that stretch beyond those of traditional employees. Because of this, many organizations are unable to make the most of “agile talent.” In the face of such challenges, businesses and organizations are forced to take a closer look at how to create a work model that supports nontraditional workers and encourages productivity. One of the biggest problems is that many organizations are not well equipped to handle proper project management, [according to a Harvard Business Review article (opens in a new tab)](https://hbr.org/2016/03/whose-job-is-it-to-manage-freelancers) by freelancing experts Jon Younger and Rishon Blumberg. “Rarely do we find organizations that direct, support, and oversee the work of agile talent, and the projects they support, on a consistent and disciplined basis,” Younger and Blumberg write. “This is a big miss.” To combat a system lacking oversight, Younger and Blumberg suggest creating a new management position for external talent to ensure that freelancers get the support they need. These new “external talent managers” would be responsible for creating a network of third-party resources, improving freelancer productivity, and ensuring the organization’s brand can bring in the best talent for future projects. While creating a new position may not be feasible for all organizations, Younger and Blumberg see it as a major priority for those bringing freelancers into the fold. “We believe there is a pressing need for leaders to acknowledge that the productivity and engagement of agile talent is an increasing priority,” they write. “There are multiple ways to address this need and leaders ought to consider which approach makes the most sense for their business.” ### Guide of the Day > So You’re Firing an Employee? 11 Steps to Minimize the Damage to Your Business [@marissalevin (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/marissalevin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/x7J50q8EQ9 (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/x7J50q8EQ9) > > — Inc. (@Inc) [March 16, 2016 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/Inc/status/710171623530307585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) No one wants it to happen, but eventually, every association has to let an employee go. To help ensure the possible fallout from that decision is kept to a minimum, check out this 11-step process from Successful Culture Founder and CEO Marissa Levin, [via Inc (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/marissa-levin/so-youre-firing-an-employee-11-steps-to-minimize-the-damage-to-your-business.html) . ### Other Good Reads **Robots may not have the upper hand!** *Talent Management* managing editor Frank Kalman spoke with author Geoff Colvin about his new book, which explains [why he thinks technology can never replace human professionals (opens in a new tab)](http://www.talentmgt.com/articles/7822-geoff-colvin-will-technology-take-your-job) . **Escape the usual marketing traps** and [innovate new ways to engage audiences (opens in a new tab)](http://www.forbes.com/sites/ianaltman/2016/03/15/new-rules-of-content-and-marketing-to-attract-the-best-sales-opportunities/#7fb9b789169c) with these tips from *Forbes* contributor Ian Altman. **Associations and nonprofits are teaming up against soil degradation.** The [United Nations has highlighted 22 groups (opens in a new tab)](http://foodtank.com/news/2016/03/twenty-two-organizations-working-to-restore-soils-in-2016) for their exemplary work to improve sustainable farming. (Łukasz Popardowski/StockSnap) [Eli Zimmerman](https://associationsnow.com/author/eli-zimmerman/) Eli is studying Journalism at the University of Maryland. When not studying, he likes to relax with a nice book or a couple rounds at the local boxing gym. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/eli-zimmerman/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#freelancers](https://associationsnow.com/tag/freelancers/) [#Project Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/project-management/) [#work models](https://associationsnow.com/tag/work-models/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Industry Partner Edition-Helping Associations Thrive in the Age of AIJuly 16, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/16/associations-now-presents-industry-partner-edition-helping-associations-thrive-in-the-age-of-ai/) - [VideoSkip the Search. 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