The coworking craze has tamed the American business landscape in that it has revolutionised the whole idea of working cooperatively. Pre-coworking, the American office was characterised by professionals working in spaces that were either separated by walls and cubicles, if not an open floor plan. The most socially engaging part of these offices involved conversations that were held around the water cooler or staff lounges. Let’s not talk about how in-office competition made it particularly unbearable to work.
Well, the American landscape is increasingly recognising the benefit of the coworking space, which has transformed office space tremendously. No longer are professionals prevented from engaging their coworking space because the organisation of the space promotes social interaction. In the coworking space, conversations can be held in any corner of the office, and the focus on community all but roots out the source of competition. Because of this environment, coworking professionals can get the most from their space.
Keep reading for more tips on how to get the most from your coworking space.
Maximising Productivity
The one thing the coworking space has allowed businesses to do is to work more efficiently. The office is organised to allow businesses to perform a few functions more efficiently. In addition to being a workspace, the office can also be a source of networking but can be used to promote your business’s brand identity. One coworking space – Servcorp – has a flexible plan that allows businesses to use the space in these ways. In essence, your business becomes more productive simply because the space allows for increased efficiency through its multiple uses.
Creating Your Brand
Another way to get the most from your space is to create and promote your brand identity. The coworking space is the one place where a business can benefit from all of the various resources in the office. Because you work in an office with professionals from different industries, you can draw from these people as resources in helping develop your brand. Furthermore, use the space to connect community members to the venture all for the purpose of forging out an identity. Hosting events is just one way to promote your venture and possible make collaborative connections.
Coordinating Collaboration Opportunities
Of the many activities, finding ways to collaborate with other professionals can really bolster your business’s profile in the coworking space. Much of these collaborations are the culmination of much networking, but when established, these relationships can help your business get more business and exposure. Plus, the collaborations is the best way to meet mentors and to learn about other industries.
Developing Community
As a coworking professional, the community is going to be the jumping off point for any conversations that might happen in the space. For this reason, participating can be one way to become a part of the community. In addition to informal networking, make socialising a priority by attending as many of the space’s events as possible. Once established in the space, the professional connections you need to create other types of opportunities develop.
Meeting Mentors
Mentoring relationships in the business community have been a part of American business since the beginning. Through the various networking and collaborative activities, you meet experts in the field who can assist in navigating the coworking and business landscape. Through mentors, you get referrals, resources, and friendship, so when joining a space, think about how you can find mentors who can help you.
The Purposeful Coworking Space
When looking for coworking space, the people who get the most out of the space have a plan. This plan often includes what activities will happen in the space and how the space will be used. To maximise your coworking space, consider implementing a plan of action that will allow you most use of the space.
