Are you a boss? How do you deal with your staff? Advice greatly appreciated.

[2nervesleft]

I am now running a project and am supervising 2 members of staff and 15 freelance workers. I am worried about assessing them and ensuring quality for the project without offending and losing them.
What's your advice?

It is a training project BTW.

1st day back today after 6 months Maternity Leave, so am in 'work' mode! Suggest the following.

1. Have a start-up meeting, if possible, where everyone is present and introduce them face to face.

1. Go through the high level aims and objectives of the project and what the end goals or products are, with emphasis on key dates and deadlines.

1. For each individual, go through their expected roles and responsibilities and ensure each is aware of the chain of command for reporting etc. Again emphasise key dates and deadlines applicable to each person if they are different to the overall project ones.

1. Have regular mtgs - in person if poss or conf call etc. Sometimes meet in a coffee bar if poss, as it is more informal than an office, and people tend to open up more about what they really think re any problems or negative aspects of the project.

1. At the end, have a closedown mtg, if poss, to thank everyone and discuss 'lessons learned' thoughout the project etc.

HTH

Wow mamijacacalys. My project is an ongoing shambolic little trainig course mostly run by hippies and generally lovley weirdos. LOL.
However what you have said makes a lot of sense and I will certainly use your suggestions esp the one about meeting in the coffee shop.

In answer to your opening post

Yes - very badly, I feel that I am asking favours to get the job done - it bugs me