Mental load

When you’re freelancing for someone, think about their “mental load.” This is the amount of information they need to hold in their brain throughout the course of their day. One person can only remember so much information before they drop the ball. 

This is a great opportunity for you as a freelancer. 

The basic freelancer does grunt work. “The boss says email this person, so I’ll email this person. Then I’ll wait for the boss to tell me to do something else.” On paper, this seems great. In reality, it doesn’t really reduce the boss’ mental load. They have to remember things to tell you, which, in some cases, is more work than just doing it themselves.

The smart freelancer does work the boss doesn’t want to do, too. But they do it in a way that’s proactive. They anticipate need. They solve problems before they happen. When they need the boss’ input, they present condensed solutions. They take responsibility for good communication. 

This is an idea to keep in mind the next time you’re freelancing. “Does my work decrease my boss’ mental load? How can I think of solutions for them?” If you do this, you’ll get hired again and again.