Just because you started off all by yourself does not mean that you will have to work on your own forever. Even if you have been working as a freelancer, there will be times when you will have to get help from others in order to meet deadlines. If you are an owner of a small or big design business, you will obviously have to expand your team with the passage of time. There is no need to push yourself really hard into running a one-man show and doing everything on your own. Taking help is always good because if you do not meet deadlines you will end up losing clients. Let us take a look at a few symptoms that would indicate the need to have a team in your design business.
Developing a proper team of professional is always a good sign for your design business because it clearly shows that your business is growing and it needs more than one person’s handling. Although projects keep coming and going, however, if you feel a regular increase in work, then you might want to consider hiring a few resources that can help you streamline it. In this article, we will be discussing the symptoms or signs that show that it is time to put an end to working single handily and start having a team instead. No matter how efficient you are with your work, there will always be a day when you would need a helping hand. If you are doing it all by yourself, you will have a negative impact on both, your personal and professional life.
1. Unremitting Stress:
Mostly designers are very passionate about their work and this is exactly why they became designers in the first place. Because of new kind of work every now and then, designers tend to stay satisfied from their work. However, if you are constantly worried about your work and meeting deadlines, you are not really happy with the way things are going. Constant stress is the first sign to realize that you need to expand your team for more help. Stress levels are also of two kinds. As long as you think that you are having a healthy stress level when it comes to meeting deadlines and completing projects, its okay. However, if you are constantly worried about not being able to work and finish it on time, you need help.
2. Losing Work Life Balance:
Freelancers are bound to have some issues in managing personal and professional lives because of odd working hours. Make sure that you are not spending too much time away from your family because of work. If you feel that you might be spending too much of time in office, do not hesitate in asking your family about this. If they feel the same way, you have got to stop stretching yourself really hard. In no way your family life or personal life should suffer.
3. No Networking at All:
You should definitely think of hiring a few people if you are getting no chance to socialize. It does not matter how much you love your job because if you are constantly doing the same thing, you will start hating it for sure. Everyone deserves a break and so do you. Instead of postponing your party or vacation plans, consider hiring a few people who can work on your behalf.
4. Decrease in Productivity:
If you already have an established team, make sure you are not overloading them with the work. In case, you are making them work beyond their capacity, you will only decrease their productivity and motivation level. Over burdening your employee will decrease their work morale so if you have more work and less employees, consider hiring a few more to give your current employees a sigh of relief.
5. Handling Multiple Responsibilities:
If you have managed to develop a good clientele, you will soon realize that half of your time is taken up by doing clerical work for instance, taking/making calls or replying to emails. Since you are working on your own, you will be handling marketing responsibilities as well. This will obviously affect your actual job responsibility i.e., design business. Why not hire someone for supporting tasks and focus on your actual responsibility.
6. Quality Turn Down:
If you do not have a team of people working with you, you will obviously have a hard time in managing projects. Obviously, it can teach you some good things about time management however; this will also bring you to a breaking point where you can no longer take out enough time for each project which means decline in the quality of work resulting into loss of clients.
7. Not Meeting Deadlines:
Too much of workload will result into missing deadlines which will obviously result into losing clients with the passage of time. Some clients will ignore time delays in the beginning but if it is practiced a lot they will obviously turn to someone who is more efficient. So, if you are having a hard time in meeting deadlines it is a huge sign that you need to expand your team.
8. Clients Dropping Off the List:
If you are seeing all or any of the symptoms above, it will result into losing clientele. If someone isn’t getting what they desired even after paying you they will simply stop coming to you. Do not disappoint your client with poor quality work or with late deliveries. Isn’t it better that you hire a few people to help you in meeting deadlines and handling the projects.
9. Less Sleeping Hours:
Freelancers are known for working on odd hours because for whatsoever reason, most of them are comfortable that way. Sometimes, freelancers have to wake up all night to finish the projects. This kind of routine is fine if it is only once in a blue moon. However, if you have not been able to get good sleep since ages, you are not doing any good to you. Less sleeping hours can really affect your health so if work is demanding less sleeping hours, hire a resource.
Conclusion:
Overburdening yourself or your employees will never do a good to you or your business. In fact, as mentioned earlier, it will affect the quality of work and a lot of other stuff. When you have an option to divide your workload, why not go for it? You will thank yourself for expanding your team once you will see how relaxed the office environment has gotten. Also, you will be able to give your family some quality time. If you are in Design Business and have read this article, then don’t forget to tell us about it in the comment box below.
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