Keep It on Elance

Although not required, it’s prudent to keep all communication within the Elance system. Obviously, this won’t be possible with phone calls and face-to-face meetings, if you have them. But where possible, it’s sound business practice to keep records of what’s written and agreed upon. This is no different from traditional work environments.

We can design technology to be as flawless as possible, and yet glitches will still appear. The same goes for the human condition. As much as we like to think we’re civilized and all grown up, misunderstandings occur, personalities clash, and expectations can be unclear or even imagined.

By keeping good records, you pave the way for reducing problems and solving them quickly should they appear. After all, just like in life, most are due to misunderstandings of what’s expected. If you can whip out the email where you agreed to fluorescent green for those garden gnomes, rather than the puce the client thinks she ordered, you’re set to nip the conflict in the bud.