Top 3 freelancer fears and how to deal with them

Freelancing is a world of great opportunities, delicious brunches and work under the covers. But even in this world, not everything is so rosy. A business psychologist will tell you about the difficulties that most often arise in freelancing and how to deal with them.

Over the past two years, remote project work has become, perhaps, the most demanded format. Now this is not only the choice of students and representatives of creative professions, but also the everyday life of many Russians.

There are many advantages: the opportunity to lead several projects, work in international companies, manage employment on your own, spend more time with your family. What, it would seem, could be difficulties here?

Responsibility is the same freedom and at the same time the source of many fears

Employment flatters with its clarity: here is the work schedule, here is the salary, here is the bonus once a quarter and all contracts are concluded for the company. Yes, you have to endure processing and wait for a promotion for years, but there is stability.

Freelancing is different: it requires much more personal involvement. You independently conduct communication, name the price, choose projects and workload. In addition, you have to put up with unstable income.

I have good news for you: the main difficulties of freelancing can be eliminated. The main thing is to track them in time and start working with thinking.

DEVALUATION

The first difficulty is that freelancers often devalue themselves and their services. If you constantly feel like you don’t have enough knowledge, that you need to take another course, read a dozen books in order to finally become a good specialist, you have fallen into the trap of depreciation. 

I offer several exercises that help to “pump” a sense of self-worth and grow in income:

  • Write down all the training you have received

Collect all diplomas and certificates. Separately, I propose to highlight how much time, effort, and energy it took from you. What difficulties have you overcome? And what knowledge did you gain?

  • Describe all your professional experience, even those that may seem irrelevant

Any of your activities developed useful skills. Describe which ones. What difficult situations have you resolved? Describe your victories. What results have you achieved? What are you especially proud of?

  • Write down all your strengths and think about how they help you in working with clients

How can you develop them even more without resorting to buying new courses? It is important to look back at the opportunities that are here and now.

  • Stop comparing yourself to others

The most difficult and important point. How? Look at yourself seven years ago and write how you have changed, how you have grown, what you have learned, what you have understood during this time. Recognize the value of everything that has been done during this period. 

BREACH OF PAYMENT AGREEMENTS 

What I often see with freelancers is that they are so happy just to find a client that they rush to do the job without discussing the details.

Within themselves, everyone believes that the customer, like a good parent, will appreciate their efforts and reward them according to their deserts. But the reality is that sometimes clients come across not the most respectable and do everything to get more, pay less, later, or even leave the performer penniless. How to protect yourself?

Clear personal and professional boundaries need to be established. Don’t expect the client to do it. I recommend doing the following steps:

  • Choose the right position in communication with the client

Don’t treat him like a superior person. He is not your boss, he is a partner, you interact on a win-win basis: he gives you the opportunity to earn money, you help him develop his business or achieve a goal with the help of your service.

  • Indicate the working conditions for the client

Thus, you will demonstrate the areas of responsibility of each of the parties. I strongly recommend that you use the contract or at least fix the conditions in writing.

  • Don’t bend over if a customer asks for a discount

If you still decide to give the customer a bonus, be able to present it as a privilege that you give him. And if you are not going to do these privileges every time, emphasize its exceptional nature or associate it with some significant event.

  • Inform your actions in case of non-payment in due time

If the client still hasn’t paid, do what you promised. Do not betray yourself for fear of losing a client: you are alone at home, but there are many customers.

FEAR TO RAISE THE PRICE

“What if I lose a client? What if I ruin my relationship with him? Maybe it’s better to be patient?

This is how the inner critic sounds in your head and imposes doubts about the value of your work. Because of all these fears, an experienced freelancer keeps asking for a beginner’s price. Many fail here: they grow income by increasing customers, and not by a logical increase in the cost of services. As a result, they overload themselves with work and burn out. How to prevent this?

There is only one way out: to work out your fears. Below are the tools you can use to do this.

  • Fear of losing a client and being left without money

Imagine the worst case. It really has already happened. And now what? What are your actions? By imagining specific steps, you will see that this is not the end of the world and you have many options on how to act. This will make you feel secure.

  • Fear of not being up to the task 

Write down all the situations in life that you have already dealt with. For example, they learned a foreign language, moved to another city, switched from offline to online. See what internal resources you have, your strengths, the experience that helped you cope, and transfer them to new challenges.

  • Fear of not giving enough value for the money

Write down how much you have invested in yourself, in your education. How much professional experience have you already gained? What results have you already given to other clients? Write what customers get by working with you.

To summarize, I would like to say that if you switched to freelancing, you already have enough courage. Translate it into all processes: from pricing for your services to communication with customers.

You can remind yourself of one simple thing:

When a client pays more, he appreciates you, your work and the service he receives more.

Therefore, dare to create real value for yourself and for your client — this is the key to mutual growth. 

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