Matrix on Board for Connecting Up 2011

Editor's Notes

• #2: For the title page – choose either this solid red slide, or Slide 2. Don’t use bothPartner logos CANNOT be used on this slideYour choice may depend on where you are showing the presentation – darker rooms may require the white background
• #3: Nonie introduce herself…I am MD People & Culture. Matrix on Board provides services to non-profits in the areas of financial management, management support and training & development. I directly supervise Emily’s work on some projects and indirectly on others.Emily introduce herself.. I am Matrix’s Virtual Assistant. Emily is currently working on a couple of ongoing projects within Matrix. Emily is on our Newsletter team working to our Marketing & Comms Manager. Emily sweeps our team for stories, prepares copy, produces the newsletter and manages our social media messages and the integration of our external messages.Emily is also working on an internal project to set up Matrix’s cloud file server and she is supporting our 67 staff to migrate their work to the cloud file server and develop their skills in using this. It’s a significant change management project internal to Matrix and Emily is our key hand-holder.
• #4: EMILYWhy Em uses online staffing portals to sell her services?...Freelance, usually virtual, admin and marketing assistant, worked in-house, then volunteered and took workshops, then worked as freelancerhad worked mostly locally and through connections and decided to try Elance, found a demand for skills, especially blog and social content, html and WordPress,so exciting to work for people in NY, Canada and of course Australia from MT!
• #5: NonieWhy Matrix uses online staffing services?Innovative solutions to our project needsEbb & flow of business needsWe like working with interesting peopleFostered relationships with freelancers from Montana to Bangladesh to the Philippines
• #6: Who is in this space?We have used.OdeskElanceFreelancer.comRemote staffonline freelance services usually include job or project posting, bidding process for those jobs and projects by freelancers/contractors and means to pay safely through the freelance service once work is completed to satisfaction Elance and Odesk are similar in that they have built in features that can track time and work and help manage communicationsFreelancer focuses on keeping costs for employers down. Also allows fulltime jobs to be posted for a one-time set fee rather than a % commission of pay for project in Sydneysince 2004 users have spent 90 million+,
• #7: Nonieonline freelance services usually include job or project posting, bidding process for those jobs and projects by freelancers/contractors and means to pay safely through the freelance service once work is completed to satisfaction Elance and Odesk are similar in that they have built in features that can track time and work and help manage communicationsFreelancer focuses on keeping costs for employers down. Also allows fulltime jobs to be posted for a one-time set fee rather than a % commission of pay for project
• #8: List of contractorsStar ratingsFilter based on score ratingsBased on categories of expertiseHourly rateLocation etcClick: Arrow 1: For example, a search on AccountantsClick: Arrow 2: 6,564 Contractors!Click: Daniel from the Ukraine $20ph and 5 stars!Click: Jennilyn from the Philippines, a CPA for $10phClick: Helen, also a CPA with 25 years exepreince, from the US, for $33phYou can filter to refine your search!
• #9: Accountabilty functions of the portal, Screen dumps of work being done by Dinesh
• #10: NonieBenefits of online servicesFlexibility- Ramp up and down, from short-term engagements to full-time teams… trial of freelancer and of role requirementsCost Savings-pay only for hours worked, no cost for office space , equipment, supplies, trainingPool of freelancers, almost endless
• #11: EMILYCreate, manage, vary schedule, Work from/near homeLearn/gain experience from range of businessesPool of employers (live in small town)
• #12: NonieRelationships (Matrix talks a lot about client relationships and equally values staff relationships) “Virtual” relationships can be challenging – building rapport, trust, understanding of project scopeAn adjustment for full-time staff – range from feeling their jobs are under-threat to overcoming attitude that have to be in the same office as someone to work with them…Only suited for certain types of work and projects – for example back office tasks, operational tasks, not usually strategy or front end…
• #13: EmilyRight now, would love to be there! communication missing live parts/emails and texts can have “tone”relationship can almost be more professional but have to watch for making less investmentsometimes miss resources such as mentors, on the job training, office trends
• #14: NonieWhat has worked?We shared personal stories, talk about the weather, about our children, build our social relationship and glueUsing skype, seeing each other, building rapport
• #15: Noniescreen employees and look for qualifications and references as usual, or more diligently AND look at reviews and ratings posted (or not posted) on freelance servicethink about which projects are suited and which are not (task-based) and who will supervisestart with a trial period, very minimal requirement with each new freelancer
• #16: EmilyBe honest with yourself about how well you manage time and relationships on your own as well as how motivated and ambitious you areMake sure you have a workspace without distractions, preferably in your home and outside your homeStart small. You can keep day job and try one project. Each one helps you focus on your marketable skills and how to find the best fit projects.
• #17: NonieNot only freelancers might work this way, but also consultants, staff and BOARD MEMBERS – can give org best help at all times Increase the pool of volunteersPeak periods or special events eg fundraiser, times when there is an unusually high demand for non-profit’s services, periods of growth and service expansion organisations may contract for limited time and scope to get quality work done without hiring a more permanent employee
• #18: EmilyRemote orgs can access larger pools of freelancers., consultants and VOLUNTEERS. Remote dwellers can now volunteer for orgs in urban areasWould expect online services that match volunteers to orgs will include and note volunteer positions that may be staffed by a “virtual” volunteerIf you are that org, have you thought about listing it as such on Go Volunteer that way?
• #20: NonieIndependent contractors, freelancers and temps have been valuable staffing solutions to organisations and businesses for a long time, but the move by these professionals to online services such as oDesk and Elance seems, to us, to have simplified this type of staffing arrangement. The exciting part is that the way of working, often virtually through email, web conferencing and calling and online software solutions, is part of a change in the way we all work, temporary contractors and permanent staff alike. A world of possibilities has opened up.And so has a world of talent. Our remote clients can find staff, and let’s not forget volunteers, from larger populations across the country. Urban clients have the opportunity to hire from other areas to broaden the spectrum of experience and knowledge. Whilst the perfect person for the job is often at a desk across the hall, this is not always the case and applications to more traditional job postings need not be the limit of an organisation’s options.
• #21: Independent contractors, freelancers and temps have been valuable staffing solutions to organisations and businesses for a long time, but the move by these professionals to online services such as oDesk and Elance seems, to us, to have simplified this type of staffing arrangement. The exciting part is that the way of working, often virtually through email, web conferencing and calling and online software solutions, is part of a change in the way we all work, temporary contractors and permanent staff alike. A world of possibilities has opened up.And so has a world of talent. Our remote clients can find staff, and let’s not forget volunteers, from larger populations across the country. Urban clients have the opportunity to hire from other areas to broaden the spectrum of experience and knowledge. Whilst the perfect person for the job is often at a desk across the hall, this is not always the case and applications to more traditional job postings need not be the limit of an organisation’s options.
• #22: If you would like a final “thankyou” slide you can either use slide 12 or 13 – not both