Finding unity in the freelance communityFreedom to work on what we want, setting our own working hours, flexibility of working from anywhere and being able to take long-lazy lunches. Sounds like the freelance dream, right? Photo by Anna Shvets © from Pexels Freelancing has many benefits, but it can also be a lonely way to work. And it’s not all easy breezy all of the time. In fact, it’s usually far from that - especially when you first start out. Ask any freelancer, and they’ll probably confirm that they’ve had a few (if not all) of the below thoughts (many times):
Since we don’t have office colleagues, we have to work a bit harder to build a community around us. Sure, we have our clients that we can interact with, but sometimes these relationships are short-lived and sporadic. And it’s not quite the same as talking to someone who is going through the same things as you are. This is where the benefits of a freelancer community comes in. Why communities matter Freelancing can be an extremely competitive space. The industry is expanding as more and more people seek the ‘freedom’ that comes with the lifestyle (or, were forced to after a hard 2020). So, why would you want to form a community with your competitors? According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, feelings of belonging and love are critical to motivating human behaviour. We have a psychological need to feel connected to other people. As humans, we’ve evolved to become dependent on each other for survival. This is especially important for freelancers, where there’s a whole world of collaboration opportunities. We need to let go of the whole ‘it’s a dog-eat-dog world’ concept. It really doesn’t have to be and building a solid community of freelancers can actually be your greatest asset. There is always unity in a community! Benefits of a freelance community Ultimately, all the benefits of freelance communities boil down to a simple theme: not feeling so alone. One of the biggest adjustments of becoming a freelancer is the lack of support. Which is the main reason that so many freelancer communities have popped up. The best ones are built on providing support. Whether that’s emotional, practical, in-person or virtual. There’s a few other benefits, including:
Freelance communities can take many forms, from virtual networks to coworking spaces. Luckily for freelancers, they get to choose what works best for them. Co-working spaces are great for offering that office-esque community feel. Where you’re regularly going into the same space to work and have the opportunity to physically interact with other freelancers. It’s a great way to ‘fill up your cup’ (in the energy sense) with casual banter, water-cooler discussions and networking opportunities. If you aren’t a fan of co-working spaces, then there’s plenty of virtual communities that foster collaboration and support. From Facebook groups to virtual freelancer networks, Slack groups and niche communities (like digital nomad groups and copywriter collectives). A community is a circle of support Remember that old saying that says, ‘what goes around, comes around’? It’s the same here, if you support the freelance community, they will support you. While the freelancing pool is expanding, it’s still a shockingly small world. We’re all in it together, so instead of side-eying your competitors rather join them. You’re going to get so much more out of it. After all, there’s always unity in a community. If you need help with connecting with other freelancers, we’re happy to help. About the author[[https://www.linkedin.com/in/chilequebezuidenhout/ Chileque Bezuidenhout]] is the director of Unity, a cloud-based property management software, designed to help manage agents and estate managers streamline their operations and customer service. |