It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a freelancer or a new full-time employee: finding yourself in a new environment and joining up with an established team can be a challenge \u2014especially if, like many creatives, you don\u2019t consider yourself a \u201cpeople person.\u201d Some people live for meeting new colleagues and eagerly throw themselves into a new work dynamic, while others (like myself)\u2026well, you may never relish it, but you can coach yourself into being a valuable team player, right from the start.<\/p>\n
Go in looking professional and appropriate. (Truth be told, I think it\u2019s a good idea to err on the slightly-more-professional-looking side for the first week.) Don\u2019t go out of your way to solicit conversations, but be polite, forthcoming, and attentive. It doesn\u2019t hurt to have your \u201celevator pitch\u201d rehearsed, since you may be asked about your qualifications or what you can bring to the team.<\/p>\n
On your first day you\u2019ll probably meet a lot of people – and then promptly forget all of their names. You may feel like a nerd, but there\u2019s nothing wrong with carrying around a small pad to jot notes down on. Try to learn the essentials, such as where they sit, what hours they work, contact info, if they prefer phone calls to email, etc..<\/p>\n
Getting acquainted also means understanding roles within the team: finding out who does what, and when and why you\u2019ll work with them. It\u2019s especially important to find out who the point-person is: the person you can go to with questions about the job, team, process or project. This is usually a project manager\/coordinator or even a traffic manager.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll just come right out and say it: it can feel lonely being the new freelancer on a team, but you\u2019re not there to make friends. Initially, keep conversations professional. Naturally, as people warm up to you, there will be plenty of opportunity for interpersonal relating, water-cooler conversations, and coffee runs. But during the first few weeks when you should be establishing that you\u2019re a competent member of their team, just chill and focus on the work.<\/p>\n
Even if you\u2019re brought in for having special expertise in a design program, you have a background in a specific industry, or you\u2019ve even worked with the client before, you won\u2019t know everything about the assignment\u2014nor should you be expected to. Consider your teammates the experts, and ask about anything you don\u2019t understand or need clarification on. Asking questions is a good way to show that you\u2019re engaged, and it can make people feel respected. Most importantly, having the right information is what will help you do your best work.<\/p>\n
Being part of a team means other people have input, too. Look at it like this: the fact that you were brought on means your supervisor already recognizes your skills and creativity. Give other people credit for their good ideas, and let them have input on yours.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s great to advocate for your ideas \u2013 especially if you have facts, experience, or research that supports them \u2013 but get used to letting go. No matter how much a rockstar you are, it\u2019s going to happen a lot during your career, so if you can do it with grace and quickness, you (and your work) will be better for it.<\/p>\n
All those things you have to respect about your coworkers\u2014they should respect about you, too. You may not always be able to say, \u201cI won\u2019t take phone calls or answer emails after 7 p.m.,\u201d but you should be able to have lunch, take breaks, and enjoy a working environment that doesn\u2019t negatively affect your health or your ability to do your job.<\/p>\n
As a freelancer, you may think you have to \u201csuck it up\u201d and accept it when people ignore you or brusquely give you orders. Being slightly rude is one thing, but it\u2019s never OK for someone to yell at you, threaten you, demean you, or otherwise treat you badly. If this happens, talk to your supervisor. Or if it IS your supervisor, talk to your recruiter or rep.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s true that working in advertising and marketing can feel like a popularity contest, but, in my experience, the best way to quickly become a valued team member is to show up every day and do your very best work. Don\u2019t worry about trying to make people like you \u2014 just keep solving their professional problems and making the company look good, and then the trust and the relationships will follow.<\/p>\n
Lisa is a seasoned advertising copywriter who lives in Los Angeles. Her background includes both in-house and agency work on Fortune 500 and global accounts in the consumer and healthcare\/pharmaceutical fields. She excels at words, fashion, and cats. If you want to work with Lisa, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a freelancer or a new full-time employee: finding yourself in a new environment and joining up with an established team can be a challenge \u2014especially if, like many creatives, you don\u2019t consider yourself a \u201cpeople person.\u201d Some people live for meeting new colleagues and eagerly throw themselves into a new […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":46960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life-as-a-freelancer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n