What is considered the work environment has changed dramatically over the last decade. What used to be an image of dark cubicles and office spaces has gone through a lot of changes in order to help employees become happier, more productive, and to grant them more flexibility. In recent years, there has been a variety of new approaches developed in companies and their office spaces. Things like open spaces, brainstorming rooms, games rooms, and community kitchens have all been adopted as a means to make the office a more enjoyable place.

One of the more recent contributions to more modern office spaces is that of Coworking Spaces. These buildings, rooms, and offices serve to provide employees with spacious, open areas to work, often without any employees of the same company. It is essentially a style of work that invites employees from all different businesses to share a working space outside of their home or office base.

Benefits of a Coworking Space

 Networking

Coworking Spaces are an ideal location to grow an employee’s network, both professionally and personally. Not only is it easy to meet like-minded people in Coworking Spaces, but you also get to meet people who are in a wide variety of different industries.

This can mean making very valuable connections for both parties, who might be seeking out other services or who are interested in expanding their knowledge of other industries. Networking is often the key to a company’s success, and Coworking Spaces are an ideal place to expand your connections and grow your business.

Brainstorming

Although not everyone utilizes Coworking Spaces to connect, one of the great benefits of these locations is that you can bounce ideas off of all kinds of different people. Although it may seem counter-productive, it can be quite helpful to get some ideas and feedback from people who are in other sectors or businesses.

One worker may see other sides of an idea or concept that you never considered before, simply because they work in a different field. It can be really helpful to get non-biased, helpful feedback from those who are looking for the same.

New Clientele

Coworking Spaces are not job fairs, but it is common for workers to find and hire or be hired by others for their services. The aspect of meeting people in person in a Coworking Space is often what makes this kind of connection so plausible; individuals looking for specific skill sets may just find exactly what they’re looking for in someone who appears to have all of the tools they need in the same space.

Motivating Space

Working from the same office space every day can be dull, and working from home can sometimes mean a lot of procrastination. Taking your efforts to a Coworking Space can often give you a new, refreshing space to recapture your productivity and create new ideas.

These spaces are often filled with like-minded individuals who are also on deadlines, working on projects, or looking for some motivation. It can often be very beneficial to surround yourself with other individuals like yourself who want to push themselves to work harder and to make a difference in their respective fields.

What Makes a good Coworking Space?

A Decided Market

Opening your doors to anyone and everyone can become a problem very quickly. When individuals come looking for a Coworking Space, they likely have specific values, goals, and preferences that will need to be met before they choose a space. Opening a space without any direction, culture, or common goals can often make the space confusing and more of a free-for-all.

Not everyone is interested in a loud office space, while others need constant brainstorming, motivation, and music. Deciding what your space will offer and who you are marketing to will help all of these workers decide whether your space is right for them. Make your market clear and consider reviewing applications if the interest is high.

A Great Location

Setting up shop in the middle of nowhere isn’t going to benefit anyone. Coworking Spaces need to be extremely accessible, considering people will be traveling from various locations on different days of the week. Figure out what kind of market you’re catering to, and then make a location decision based on that.

Is it easy to find? Is there parking for out-of-town commuters? Is your building wheelchair accessible both inside and out? Is it right off the highway or far into town? Consider accessibility in all of its forms for a successful Coworking Space.

Offering the Basics

For some workers, having an office space that offers all of the basic tools for work can be very enticing. While a simple space might look great in terms of design, it’s also important to decide what kinds of tools you will offer your workers.

Will free Wi-Fi be included? High-quality printers and inkjet cartridges? A kitchenette for making meals? Projectors and meeting rooms? There are all kinds of items that you’ll need to consider.

Here is how coworking spaces decide how much you they will be charging monthly for the use of the space.

Sense of Community

The main difference between a regular open office and a Coworking Space is the sense of community. There is a shared sense of common values and goals, and relationships are usually built and last within the walls of an effective Coworking Space.

How Can Coworking Spaces Improve?

Coworking Spaces that are struggling could be experiencing problems for a number of reasons. If the worker doesn’t feel a sense of community or welcome, chances are they’ll prefer just to work from home.

Creating a unique space that is inviting will include some possible amenities, music, various working spaces, and opportunities for individuals to collaborate. It’s also a great idea to consider your payment plans, and the options people have based on their needs. Having flexibility when it comes to the services they receive is a great way to reach a wide span of workers who have great intentions for your space.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking about joining a Coworking Space, be sure to do your research ahead of time. There are all kinds of options available, and what one office provides may not meet your exact needs in comparison to another. Take a visit to each and get a tour of the Coworking Space; you’ll likely connect with some spaces more than others and choose the best one for you.

If you need help finding a coworking space, contact us. We’d be happy to help.