Why Assertiveness Is Key to Your Freelancing Success CareerMetis.com

Why Assertiveness Is Key to Your Freelancing Success â€" CareerMetis.com Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comAn article by Sara Horowitz entitled“Freelancers in the U.S. workforce”quoted that: “The freelance surge is the Industrial Revolution of our time.”.And stats are encouraging this statement. In 2016, the freelance economy grew to atotalof 55 million freelancers in the U.S., making up 35% of the total U.S. workforce, and generating an estimated $1 trillion in earnings.Major advantages to starting freelancing include flexibility, earnings potential, control over life and business decisions, and work opportunities.evalCompanies enjoy working with freelancers thanks to their professionalism, cost per hour or per project and commitment to delivering results. But market feedback alone isn’t enough to scale your freelancing success.As you grow into your freelancing career, other factors define it.Assertiveness is one of these key factors. Here is why.It’s All About Standing Up for Yourself…evalYou would think that as a freelancer, there is no need to be assertive. You are wrong â€" assertiveness is needed in all aspects of business, whether you are the oneexecuting or calling the decisions. As this white paper by AcuityTraining quotes, it’s all about “the ability to express your opinions and feelings clearly without undue anxiety”.In freelancing, there is no guarantee that clients will always know what is the best work dynamic between their business and the service provider Pricing Your Worth…This goes beyond the saying “What you see is what you get”, and more towards“how you price your own value”.Any client will try to negotiate, especially if you have:A visible freelancing background where previous rates are displayed.A financial track record proving that you “charged less” than your average quote.An environment footprint And in most cases, this is true. However, nothing stops freelancers to step away from “the norm”. There are copywriters who earn a six-figure income without an issue. As there are fre elancers from other countries that charge a minimum $100 per hour, independent of their industry.What is stopping you from achieving the same?evalAnd Managing Disputes the Right WayBeing angry and frustrated will not help you win in the long run. Here is how to manage a dispute or a problematic issue with a client:Use active listening. Let the client start first, and show his/her that you value their opinion.Start small. Try to launch the topic that you aren’t 100% happy with how things are going in this collaboration (i.e. communication sector) and suggest alternatives while being open to the client’s contribution in the same time.Learn to say no, and explain why you think this is the right decision for both parties.Let go of guilt. There is no point in stressing over this and feeling bad if a collaboration fails. Sometimes, this happens and we can’t really have control over it.Assess if you want to keep the business relationship alive or not. Be honest and exclude the “mon ey” part. This is 100% based on how you feel and how motivated you are to carry on. Not about the money that comes out of it.Go for awin-win situation, even if you’re ending or keeping a collaboration open. Both you and your client should have something to gain from this experience. This blocks away potential frustrations and leaves room for future projects/recommendations.No matter your decisions, always offer value and leave your “footprint” on the project. Even after walking away, your client should feel like they’ve received something valuable in return and this wasn’t a waste of time.MOVING FORWARDAssertiveness is a skill that can be taught, learned, and applied. Even if you are just debuting your freelancing path, and feel you aren’t there yet to “demand” that high price quote, remember anyone should receive respect, understanding, and a friendly attitude.Your client is not your boss. The dynamic is based on growth and goes both way: by buying your services/p roducts, the client’s business grows and becomes more successful. By selling your skills/products, your business grows and becomes successful. If the thread breaks half way, manage it with dignity, assertiveness, confidence, and respect.Invest your energy and time in projects that are worth it, where you can dedicate 100% sweat, passion, efficiency, and results.