Beyond Work
Value Added Services For IndusGuru Experts
Finance and Strategy Freelancers' Forum
Building upon our ongoing commitment to fostering professional development beyond the confines of traditional work environments we hosted our Finance and Strategy Freelancers' Forum. This event was crafted to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking opportunities. The event underscored our dedication to establishing an inclusive platform where independent experts and consultants could openly explore the nuances of their freelancing endeavors, sharing insights, triumphs and challenges alike, while forging valuable connections with their peers.
Operations Consultants
The Online Freelancers' Forum for Operations Consultants was a dynamic and insightful discussion. Over 35 IndusGuru consultants, each with 1 to 5 years of independent consulting experience, discussed vital themes: pricing, marketing, networking, upskilling, and time management.
The Freelancer Forum
The Freelancer Forum was our April in-person networking event held in Mumbai. It was an insider's view on the Opportunities and Challenges, the Aches and Joys of a Professional Gig Career. The varying experience & expertise of the participating consultants made for some deeply engaging conversation, which was brought home with key insights & takeaways by our very own Deepak Malkani.
IT & Digital Consultants
As a part of our Beyond Work initiative, we are super excited to create a space, much requested by many of our consultants: Our first virtual Freelancer's Forum! It's a space for our registered IT consultants to meet peers from the IT & Digital domain, have conversations and discuss solutions to some of the challenges of a freelancing career.
HR & Leadership
The Online HR & Leadership Freelancer's forum was an engaging and insightful event where independent professionals in the Human Resources and Leadership consulting came together to share best practices, foster collaboration and explore the latest trends shaping the landscape of freelance consulting.
Key Insights from our Consultants:
Marketing - Getting New Business as a Freelancer
- Leverage marketing tools such as video and article marketing to enhance your visibility and reach. Publish informative and compelling articles to establish thought leadership, engage your target audience and promote your brand
- Proactively seek referrals or project extensions from your existing clients and leverage your prior work connections. Engage in professional conversations and communicate the value you have delivered, fostering opportunities for new business collaborations.
- Adopt a customer-centric approach by refraining from soliciting business upfront. Instead, begin by inquiring about their present challenges and goals, allowing you to better understand their needs. Subsequently, provide a tailored solution, showcasing how your expertise and services can address their specific requirements.
Pricing - Correctly valuing your Time and Skills
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of your clients and discern the pricing structure that best suits each one. Be adaptable and flexible with your rates, tailoring them accordingly to accommodate the preferences and requirements of different clients. By aligning your pricing strategy with their needs, you can foster stronger relationships and enhance client satisfaction.
- Adopt a business-centric mindset and perceive yourself as a company. Consider not only your time but also account for travel expenses, resources, and other material costs, akin to how a company operates. By factoring in these aspects, you can ensure a more comprehensive and accurate representation of your overall costs, enabling you to make informed pricing decisions and achieve greater financial sustainability.
- Demonstrate flexibility when establishing new client relationships by considering milestone-based quoting.
- Acquire an in-depth comprehension of your market dynamics and, of paramount importance, pinpoint your niche. Recognize that possessing a specialized skill that is scarce in the market can empower you to command a higher price for your services. By leveraging this unique expertise, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and position yourself as a sought-after professional, thereby enhancing your value proposition and potential for increased earnings .
Time Management - Balancing Project Commitments, New Business & other Interests
- Maintaining a delicate equilibrium between flexibility and discipline is crucial. While flexibility allows for adaptability to changing circumstances and client needs, discipline ensures consistency, efficiency, and accountability in your work .
- For large-scale projects, it is essential to outline project expectations and establish clear lines of communication with all stakeholders involved. By providing a detailed project plan, including deliverables, timelines, and milestones, you can align everyone's understanding and set clear expectations from the outset.
- Craft a comprehensive weekly calendar that allocates specific time slots for essential activities such as travel, meetings, planning, and pitching for each client or project. By structuring your schedule in this manner, you ensure that all necessary tasks are accounted for and effectively managed. This approach allows for better time management, improved organization, and the ability to prioritize and allocate dedicated focus to each client or project, maximizing productivity and ensuring timely progress.
Upskilling - Staying Relevant & Defining Metrics for Progress
- It is imperative to diligently observe and make note of industry trends, integrating them seamlessly into your core skill set. By staying informed about the latest developments, advancements, and emerging practices within your industry, you can proactively adapt and enhance your skill set. This continual learning and integration of industry trends enable you to stay competitive, deliver high-quality work, and remain relevant in an ever- evolving professional landscape.
- Cultivate a mindset of openness towards embracing emerging technologies and methodologies, not only within your specific industry but also in a broader context, recognizing their potential to influence and revolutionize your industry/domain.
- Create your own metrics; some of the options are - being able to choose the type of projects/clients, variety of projects/clients offered & quality of projects/clients that you take on
- Seek guidance from prominent Industry Leaders, harnessing their wisdom to enrich your repertoire, while embracing the acquisition of new skills and tools through courses or certifications.
- Take up teaching opportunities to embrace reverse mentorship as a means of upskilling where teaching becomes a reciprocal learning process.
Networking - Finding Peers & Building Connections to Learn, Share, Grow
- Prioritize nurturing your local network before expanding globally, as it can be challenging to maintain connections on a global scale .
- Engage in the vibrant community of freelancers by joining a dynamic co-working space. This not only facilitates valuable connections with fellow professionals but also serves as a platform to encounter potential clients, unlock enlightening learning experiences, and expand your network ambitiously.
- Harness the power of social media by actively following industry-relevant #hashtags. By doing so, you can effectively steer algorithms towards connecting you with like- minded individuals, enabling meaningful interactions and fostering valuable professional relationships.
- Research and register as a volunteer for activities and events such as assessment centers, lectures, forums, and seminars that align with your industry or domain. This involvement not only allows you to contribute your expertise but also grants you valuable opportunities to network, gain insights, and stay at the forefront of industry advancements.
