Niklas Högström: Helping customers succeed remotely

Since March 2021 all the Learnifier employees work fully remote until we find our new space. Every week we check in with one Learnifier, getting a glimpse into their remote work life and get their best tips for wellbeing and productivity. This time we interviewed our tech-savvy and wise Key Account Manager Niklas Högström.

Hi Niklas! What do you do at Learnifier?

- I work as a Key Account Manager. 

Exciting. What does it mean and what do you do on a daily basis?

- I am part of the Customer Success team and you could say that I am the link between Learnifier and our largest customers. During the day I usually have meetings with our customers. I check in, get feedback on the product and what they need help with going forward to succeed. I focus on building long term relationships and really understand what the customers need to achieve - not just now - but in the future. This feedback from our customers shape the product roadmap and I really enjoy being part of this journey.

What do your days look like now and where do you work?

- I work from my house north of Stockholm city. When the weather is nice I work outside in my garden.


How did you end up doing what you do?

- I have always been interested in IT and technology as well as talking to customers. This has made SaaS companies a great place to work for me and I have worked in this world since 2008 - both in small and larger companies. My role in these companies have always included a lot of customer contact and discussions on how technology can help the customers achieve their goals.

How did you end up working here at Learnifier?

- Learnifier is a tech company within learning and development. Learning has always been very important to me - both in my work and private life. I am curious and always learning new things. And as I mentioned, I enjoy working with technology and people so the role seemed perfect.

What is your main super power and how has it helped you now during Covid?

- My super power is that I am not afraid of change and I am quick to adapt. I like this quote by Jack Welch - “Change before you have to."

Which are some of the big work challenges you have faced during Corona and have you overcome them? How?

- You get tunnel vision and by that I mean you focus on everything you need to do during the day and week. This is great for productivity of course but if you do that too much you can miss out on building relationships and take part of the culture as well as learning from each other. One way I have tried to overcome this is to keep being social and call people at work instead of emailing or chatting (with the old invention called the phone). :)

"To me the key word is flexibility. I see the advantages of having certain meetings and/or days in the office. The rest of the time I can choose working in the office or working
from home."

What good aspects have you found working remotely?

- No travel times when you do not have to transport yourself between the office and home. Great if you are a parent - you get more time with the family. You also get much more time for exercise. Sometimes I go running at lunch. Another upside is you eat much healthier.

What have you learned? Advice for others?

- Take breaks throughout the day. I try and use the Pomodoro method (Editor’s Note: time management system). I use an app for this called just that - Pomodoro.

Also - try and have a structure for your days and prioritize . I recommend the book “Get things done” for inspiration. I also recommend looking into David Stiernholm, expert on productivity and author of several books.

How will your dream work situation be in a few months?

To me the key word is flexibility. I see the advantages of having certain meetings and/or days in the office. The rest of the time I can choose working in the office or working from home. 

You are more productive at home but you want to see your colleagues so I think the question we all have to try and find an answer to is “How can I work better at the office than at home?” to navigate this.

I hope we will see each other more - but more in the shape of conference and workshop days and/or internal meetings and social activities such as aw:s etc. Learnifier is looking into acquiring this type of place in the near future - Learnifier studios - which will be a natural meeting place to meet colleagues and customers so I look forward to that.

Interview by: Rebecca Cannerfelt

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About Learnifier

Learnifier is the leading Learning Platform in the Nordics. 
Since 2012 companies and organizations of all sizes use our platform to quickly and easily create and share courses for onboarding and training of employees, customers, partners, members and other groups they want to reach with their knowledge.
Read more at www.learnifier.com

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