As a married couple, teaming up is an important part of the relationship. This means taking turns with household chores, caring for children, and making decisions together. Working together as freelancers has helped us to increase our creative output. While we have differences, especially in our work ethics, we’ve learned to adjust and combine skills to achieve a better outcome.
It has been our trademark when dealing with clients. Normally they would hire a single individual when they require assistance with their business, . However, in our case, we are a husband and wife duo. Many of our clients have expressed amazement at how effectively we collaborate and produce exceptional work. It’s like having an extended team working with you to tackle your business needs and projects.
Some might disagree saying, “No way can you work with your spouse!”
Truly, there are times when we get on each other’s nerves. But we have learned and continue to learn how to effectively work together as freelancers, just as how we are learning everyday in our marriage.
1. Have boundaries on work at home.
As a freelancer working from home with your spouse, it is important to establish boundaries for work. Although you may be working in the same environment, there can be distractions and other tasks that need to be attended to. Unlike working at an office, you have other responsibilities that you need to juggle in a day. Therefore, it is crucial to set clear boundaries that help you focus on your tasks and avoid disturbances while working from home.
We need to remember that our relationship is not just about work or business. We make sure to set boundaries, such as specific work hours and taking turns with other tasks. If one of us has an urgent task, we take turns taking care of our child so the other can focus. It’s also helpful to implement rules like avoiding work conversations during dinner or scheduling a weekly meeting at a coffee shop.
2. Know each other’s working style.
This is an effective and efficient way of completing our tasks. I prefer working alone, gathering all ideas before sharing them with my teammates. My husband is the exact opposite. He’s a team player who enjoys brainstorming ideas on the spot.
I can also take frequent breaks and interchange tasks, while my husband prefers to work without distractions once he starts. By being aware of each other’s working styles, we were able to adjust and find common ground to produce great results in our work.
3. Fill in what your spouse lacks.
As husband and wife, we almost already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And as human beings, it’s easier to point fingers at the weaknesses of others. Through the years, we have learned to complement each other and fill in what the others lack.
For instance, my husband is great at coming up with ideas and an idealist. However, sometimes this strength can turn into a weakness as he may overlook important details and loopholes. I, on the other hand, tend to be more realistic and practical. So whenever he comes up with an idea, he often seeks my assistance to analyze the finer points and potential drawbacks.
This mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s strengths has allowed us to support and complement one another. As a result, we can be both creative and confident especially when offering our services to clients.
4. Schedule personal time.
When working 9 to 5, you’ll get tired from the everyday commute. When working at home as a freelancer, you might not know but you’re already burnt out. That’s why it is important to schedule a personal time where you can simply relax and enjoy activities apart from each other. When my husband’s friends invite him to meet up, I allow him to spend uninterrupted time with them. As a first-time mom, it can be quite difficult to set some personal time as I have a lot of things to do and think about. But from time to time, my husband also allows me to have short naps while she takes care of our daughter.
Choosing to work together with your spouse can be both rewarding and challenging. Along with the challenges of managing a household and raising children, you’ll face additional difficulties in the business. Therefore, it is essential to check in with each other frequently and communicate your current goals and responsibilities – both at home and work.
Remember that you are a team and together you’ll grow stronger in the process!
Do you have other tips? Drop it in the comments below.