Freelance Freedom Framework - Fr)3

Terminology

The <Hub> is the party that contracts a freelance consultant for internal work or a contract with a third party client.

The <Hub> is creating the <Network> and provides the basis services for it. Typically the <Hub> is a legal entity (company).

<Brand> is a placeholder for the reputation of the <Network>, particularly its ability to perform marketing and sales for services provided by <freelancer>.

<freelancer> is the party that enters the engagement in order to earn money and sustain themselves.

<Network> means the wholeness of parties, companies or freelancers, that partake in the same derivative of this agreement.

Mindset

Hubs and freelancers need to engage in a new way that aligns and supports agile work and personal growth. Traditional contracts cover the financial aspects and organizational aspects. They are actually based on Theory X. This framework is founded on Theory Y, with the strong belief that people have a genuine interest to support each other, work productively and form better relationships.

What is the difference between this framework and a loose network?

• The Hub provides a homebase for their freelancers. It can provide services like bookkeeping, invoicing client contracting and more. It provides a facility for mutual learning and team work besides client engagements.
• Moderation functions ensure systematic and continuing networking, foster learning and encourage mentoring within the <Network>

Basic assumptions & Principles

The cooperation between Hub and <freelancer> – or two companies – is based on the idea of growth, support and sustainable development. This agreement regulates the modus operandi of joint learning and cooperation.

• All parties serve each other.
• All parties seek mutual growth.
• All parties create trust and reliability.
• All parties are to feel safe.
• All parties meet at eye level. The relationship is symmetric, not asymmetric. There is no dominant party.
• Besides working for the customer, there needs to be time for personal growth. All parties contribute both skill and willingness to grow for this purpose.
• The purpose of this relationship is that all parties do not feel alone with regard to the mutual goal, but mutually back each other up and become part of their respective networks.
• The agreement for cooperation is not mutually exclusive, but can be extended on both sides.

Strong brand

For most freelancers it is difficult to have good market visibility for their own brand due to limited time and resources on marketing activities. With a strong network and partnership freelancers can benefit from intensive marketing and an established brand.

As a freelancer you are allowed to use the marketing material and marketing services the Hub provides. This includes a back-office team that supports you in presenting yourself under the brand of the company.

The brand is advertised by the Hub which includes advertising in social networks and at conferences or community events.

The <freelancer> may use the company’s website to present their online profile as a part of a tight network under the brand’s identity.

Training and supplementary materials that are provided are branded and supplied by the Hub.

Hub benefits from this agreement as their brand is strengthened by a bigger network of highly professional freelancers with a large variety of experience and skills. Hubs benefit from a growing stock of training materials created by freelancers that they share with them.

The risks of a freelance network and how this agreement framework can help

• loosely coupled networks typically fall apart on the long run

• establishing a facilitator role in the group
• creating incentives to continue to work on the common goal

The Fr)3 is not …

• … a company to make money. It is a framework for free and can be used by a company and their freelancers to make money
• .... a consultancy brand. It is
• … closed source. It is under a common license
• … not blueprint or replacement of a legal form of a company, it’s just a set of principles and rule for the co-work of freelancer

Code of Conduct

The fundamental guidelines for human communication apply. We refer to the Core Protocols [1] but want to point out a few particular rules for collaboration:

• A safeword is to be used if any party feels treated in an unfair way.
• “Go ahead” is to be used to signal the other party that everything is fine.
• “There is doubt” is to be used to signal situations in which one party is unsure about whether and how to continue.
• The Core Protocols may be used if agreed upon, extending the above..

Rules for mutual benefit

Time and space to learn and grow

• Regularly scheduled, mutually conducted training sessions within the network.
• Hub offers a platform for mutual exchange for the network.
• Each member of the network is assigned one or more mentors.
• A moderator is available (e.g. by monthly rotation).
• At least one push-operated means of information is available, e.g. a newsletter.
• There is at least one weekly exchange between two parties that are mutually under the agreement.
• Regularly scheduled meetings of the network: There is at least one monthly exchange with the majority of members of the network.

Safety network

A portion of the shared revenue is reserved to provide a financial buffer to avoid premature switching of companies and freelancers. This portion is kept low and serves as a kind of insurance against contracting gaps for a short period.

Hub ensures that the <freelancer> has a fixed contact person as supporter / trusted counsellor or even mentor.

Jobs offerings / available tasks are advertised preferably within the network.

Financial Honesty and Transparency

All parties of the agreement have a high interest to have a healthy business in the agile coaching market. To make sure, that everybody is treated in a fair way, they agree to create transparency on all financial relevant contract informations:

• duration of contracts
• rates (hourly/daily) on all sides: customers, freelancers, company
• money retained for safety network or activitie to sustain the network
• money spent for safety network, network maintenance or marketing activities
• no extortion margins
• no chain contracts with resellers

More impact and bigger mandates

Within the network the freelancer is not operating alone. The trusted relationships within the network of freelancers and the company allow to bid for mandates that would be beyond the capabilities of a freelancer on his own. More impact on larger organizations and the perspective to be part of something big.

Personal growth within the network

The network offers the unique opportunity to get into an exchange of professional experience. There can be various tools to facilitate this:

• mentorship relationships
• regular usergroups in a setting of trust and confidence
• be part of trainings to learn
• conduct trainings to grow on helpful feedback and share your knowledge with peers

References

[1] Mc Carthy Techologies, Inc. (n.d.) Core Protocols V. 3.03. Downloaded October 04, 2015 from http://www.mccarthyshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/The+Core+Protocols+3.03.pdf

[2] Douglas McGregor at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the 1960

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