Living in a digital world and experiencing the life of a digital nomad sounds like a dream come true for many. However, working as a travel blogger isn’t the only way one can become a digital nomad. Being a digital nomad means travelling where you want in the world while working online. The concept of remote working has opened up this opportunity for travel enthusiasts to see the world and earn a living without worrying about going to the office.
Remote work becoming a regular possibility was perhaps the most exciting impact of COVID-19 on the workplace. A fast-emerging trend in the employment sector is digital nomads residing in different parts of the world. As a result, professionals started doing their jobs while being present in mountainous regions, at the beach, or some even moved to lower-cost areas to save money while receiving the same pay. But, Solomiia, a designer working at a Stockholm-based organisation, Klingit, is living the dream life in Indonesia (Bali) and Macedonia (Skopje).
When the pandemic locked the people inside the four walls of their homes, it also freed many workers that were confined to their offices. Solomiia is one of those digital nomads who took their laptops and beach clothes and embarked on a journey to explore the world. However, it wasn’t just her determination that opened up this opportunity to work from anywhere. Klingit also played a key role in ensuring that professionals like Solomiia were provided with the flexibility to work from anywhere while enjoying the little things in life.
Unfortunately, some people are not very accepting of the remote work model and have been perceiving it as a “drastic measure” until COVID-19 can be completely eradicated from the world. They still believe in micromanaging their teams by forcing them to be physically present within the office premises and complete their shift hours religiously. Perhaps, this is what companies like Klingit are trying to explain to the world. Employers need to get rid of their proximity bias immediately and open up their minds – and their business policies – to novel work models. Klingit houses several great examples of how digital nomads and remote workers can be highly productive teammates, and Solomiia is one of them.
“I am a team player, and I like to communicate with my colleagues about a project; two heads are better than one. At the same time, I don’t like to spend an hour to get to the office, and at Klingit, I have hit the jackpot – amazing people to work with, and my workplace can be wherever I choose,” says Solomiia.
It’s opportunities like these that help companies find superstars for their companies and encourage them to bring out their A-game. Further, the experience that Klingit has to offer is unlike any other. Imagine a designer from the outskirts of Nigeria working with a Creative Lead from Stockholm – the learning opportunities are countless. The company’s borderless policy has enabled them to attract a few of the finest professionals in the industry by providing opportunities to them. This is a huge boost for professionals living in low-income countries as it allows them to work with leading professionals from around the world. Solomiia certainly agrees with this; she thinks that remote working is the best way to work in today’s modern world.
Apart from the convenience, Klingit gives its workers a chance to share their experiences with team members from other countries. Solomiia claims that it’s essential for designers to put their heads together to come up with fresh ideas, absorb new styles, and get inspired by others, and operating virtually can help with this. After all, a heart full of encouragement and a mind full of ideas is crucial for building something creative. “It’s easier to feel freer in your creativity when you have no limitations in your own life,” says she.
The best part about all of this is that it doesn’t stop there. The digital nomad movement or work-from-anywhere policy will continue to accelerate with time. The fact that companies are reconsidering the potential of remote work is a big win for geographically spread talent. The trend skews towards creative workers who can not only continue working from anywhere but also tingle their creative buds by working from a beautiful destination of their choice, achieving work-life balance in its true essence.
One thing to remember is that one doesn’t necessarily have to work at Klingit to enjoy the life of a digital nomad. Experts suggest that digital nomads come in all shapes and sizes. Some travel for a week every month and spend the remaining days at home, while others move to other countries for a few months, work from there and return when their visas expire. For them, it’s a matter of enjoying the beauties of life without compromising on their jobs.
Klingit is a Stockholm-based a creative tech company with several workers living in different parts of the world who enjoy being a part of such an organisation. While workers get to enjoy flexibility, it’s a win-win situation for both them and the company. Klingit saves up on office expenses, can attract the strongest contenders for a position, and works 24/7 due to having a workforce that belongs to different time zones. Although the life of a digital nomad isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, Klingit’s offer to work from the comforts of home is still viable for most people. So, it all depends on the personal preferences of individuals and whether they are ready to embrace a new experience.
