Categories
Work Environment

Creating a Positive Work Environment With Coworking

Creating a positive work environment for your employees is essential for your productivity, and your bottom line. Shared office spaces can promote a healthier environment through smarter working.

 

Desk jobs aren’t healthy. Cubicles aren’t good for your mind. Open plan offices don’t seem to help either. And work as we know it – the usual 9-to-5 grind in a clunky and sterile office – is almost designed to make you feel tired and unmotivated.

 

Mental fatigue and burn out are just two ways that sitting at a computer and trying desperately to meet deadlines or please your higher-ups can leave you feeling depressed and anxious about the next day, and your ability to keep up your performances.

 

Do Shared Spaces Promote Positive a Work Environment?

The answer to our burnout isn’t to stop working altogether, of course. It’s simply to work better, and smarter.

 

There are ways to circumvent many of the problems associated with desk jobs and office jobs today, from smarter floor plans and healthier hours to better time management, more engagement, and a communal setting.

 

Shared offices and coworking spaces are doing a fantastic job of taking what we currently understand about sedentary work and all the ways it can be improved and implementing these improvements to help today’s and tomorrow’s generation work better, healthier, and smarter.

 

The benefits aren’t something we only stand to gain from in the future – they’re here right now.

 

1. They Provide More Flexibility and Relaxation

Few people are able to sit down and concentrate on a single thing for more than an hour or so before experiencing mental fatigue and a loss in overall efficiency. Sure, you can do something – anything – for much longer than thirty minutes, but you’re likely to get worse at it.

 

This is true even for professions that require concentration for several hours, from truck drivers and airline pilots to surgeons. Our reaction times slow, and our vigilance drops – we become slower to notice mistakes and our thinking is diminished.

 

There are ways to change this – the brain responds well to:

 

      • Incremental training
      • Frequent breaks
      • Greater stimulation

 

Taking breaks to stretch, meditate, or just look out into the sky can help you recharge.

 

The same goes for work. But many workplaces don’t account for this, and don’t have efficient ways to help remind workers to take breaks or help them manage their time in such a way that they can optimize their hours at the office. However, coworking spaces give you this flexibility.

 

Focus and concentration, as well a motivation and willingness to work are also linked to things like mood.

 

The more depressed you are, the easier it is to procrastinate and seek distractions. And the harder it becomes to focus on a single task and get things done at work. You find yourself checking your emails more often, listening to music, dozing off when you attempt to concentrate, and quickly finding yourself under increasing levels of pressure.

 

2. Coworking Spaces Are Communities

Traditional office spaces are often conducive to both a lack of breaks and increased depression.

 

They provide workers with fewer opportunities to take proper breaks due to increased workloads and a lack of amenities, as well as often driving workers into isolation due to:

 

      • Poor office design
      • Long working hours
      • Overtime
      • Increased pressure to produce and be productive at the cost of any social life

 

Benefits:

A shared office space can create a positive work environment and alleviate some of the pressure by:

 

      • Featuring better office design
      • A greater focus on the communal and social aspects of work
      • A series of amenities both designed to help improve worker productivity and focus
      • Provide further spaces for collaboration and human connection

 

As valuable as technology is, it does not fully replace the critical element of physical interaction. Coworking spaces re-emphasize how important it is to be among other people, often rejuvenating workers that spent years working non-stop hours out of stuffy cubicles.

 

People work better as a community, and it shows. 

 

 

3. The Collaboration Breeds Positivity

There’s no doubt that there are plenty of economic benefits to collaboration. But it’s more than just about the money. If you’re a business with a moderately-sized crew, then it’s in your best interest to find ways to maximize productivity without grinding your workers. That means maintaining a positive work environment through their job satisfaction and general mental wellbeing.

 

A mentally healthy person is a smarter, and faster person. They’re more likely to be motivated and take on a greater initiative within the company, as well as come up with better ideas.

 

One of the ways to promote a positive work environment through mental health is to generate collaboration. And this is something shared offices and coworking spaces excel at. While competition is a basic part of human nature, we’re actually better at collaborating than we are at competing.

 

And while all startups and companies have to compete regardless of where they work, it’s much harder to partner and collaborate with other businesses if you don’t have a physical presence anywhere where other people work.

 

There’s no doubt that shared offices help companies come together and find ways to work together on projects, often improving them beyond what either party could have hoped for.

 

Are Coworking Spaces Always Better?

A shared office often creates a positive work environment and is usually a healthier office, mentally and socially. But there are some cons to consider as well, and it’s important to remind workers and businesses that coworking spaces are not the end-all-be-all.

 

It’s difficult to create a unique office culture in a shared office blended with other companies. While collaboration is healthy, there’s always the fear of competition. There are plenty of conversations and crucial decision-making steps that you should have with your company in private settings.

 

Depending on how you work, some of the amenities and social gatherings in shared offices can make it difficult to focus and concentrate, rather than helping you be productive.

 

In the end, it’s important to take from the best of both worlds to create a genuinely positive work environment. Take advantage of the incubation and flexibility of coworking spaces, while learning to develop better and more productive practices in the future.

 

Categories
Office Space

What Are the Benefits of Coworking?

The benefits of coworking are aplenty. From lower costs to greater networking opportunities and plenty of improvements to innovation and productivity, these spaces enable over a million workers around the globe to work smarter, rather than harder. 

 

There’s nothing wrong with hard work – but it’s easy to argue that there’s plenty of that going around as is.

 

As mounting evidence shows that stress at the workplace and a lack of healthy balance is contributing to worker burnout and rising levels of depression and anxiety, we must do more to help keep workers and freelancers healthy.

 

The Benefits of Coworking

 

It’s only when we’re healthy that we can work productively.

 

As such, the benefits of coworking extend past the bottom line and toward critical issues, such as worker crunch and the mental effects of a monotonous and oppressive office atmosphere.

 

Combating the Negative Side Effects of Telecommuting

 

While telecommuting allows many to take better advantage of the time usually spent physically relocating to an office, showing up to work and being around other people is important.

 

 

Loneliness is a crushing problem affecting millions of Americans, and despite being more digitally connected than ever, we’re spreading ever further apart. Coming together in a collective space to share ideas and work together can be very healthy and productive.

 

The benefits of coworking spaces is that they enable more people to do just this, often with better commutes and a greater variety of options on where to work, and when to work. There is more flexibility and freedom.

 

Cheaper Overhead, Simpler Costs

 

Perhaps the greatest benefit at a glance is the lower overall costs, and the much lower time investment.

 

Startups with few resources as is now have the opportunity to seek out a premium office space at a monthly cost, without the hassle of finding the right space to lease out for a year or more, not to mention the costs of getting everything up and running with the proper equipment.

 

The overhead for setting up an office can be immense – yet there’s little reason to do so when there are more benefits to be enjoyed from working through a coworking space, especially in the first few months.

 

The flexibility of being able to renew a membership every month also removes the sense of commitment that comes with signing a lease. This gives startups the ability to change their mind at any moment and invest in a space of their own when they feel the time and money to do so is available.

 

Something for Everyone 

 

A common criticism among first-time purveyors of the idea of coworking is the fact that, at first sight, it’s an incredibly chaotic environment.

 

The lack of personal space in the classical sense, and the lack of the ‘box’ by the oppressive cubicles of old, seems to inspire the fear that anyone willing to give it a chance is going to find loud noise and chaos.

 

Yet this isn’t true of most flexible spaces, including The Collection. While some are overcrowded and underequipped, good spaces are limited in the amount of space they provide. Therefore, it is not an issue for workers or freelancers to find a spot they feel comfortable in.

 

Many spaces set aside a portion of their space specifically for areas of silence, where those bothered by the noise and the networking can retreat temporarily to do the bulk of their creative work, before returning to the ‘overworld’ to socialize, network, soak up fresh ideas, or just take a quick break before attending to the next task.

 

For example, our monthly offices are private offices, giving everyone in our office rental space their privacy, while only paying for monthly terms.

 

It’s important to remember that it tries to address the fact that many people work differently. Work styles don’t evolve per generation, but per person – some enjoy working in the small hours of the morning, before dawn, in a space entirely their own, with no noise to distract them save for the tapping of their own fingers.

 

Paid Networking

 

One of the primary benefits of coworking is the melding of ideas – and in a sense, it’s worth it to come back to that, and explore the benefits of networking with professionals in entirely different fields, despite the superficial lack of overlap.

 

As our ideas for the working conditions of the future continue to evolve in the face of ever-more sophisticated automation and machine learning, and the eventual reality of AI in the workplace, we must realize that career fluidity often trumps specialization.

 

The worker of the future will have to educate themselves on more than a single kind of work, especially when trying to develop products to sell and market. Shared workspace enables a unique form of socialization that benefits:

 

  • Writers
  • Coders
  • Accountants
  • Artists
  • Marketers
  • Executives

 

Of course, that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Creatives often struggle to work out of a traditional office but still need a healthy separation between home and work – and these spaces market themselves as the perfect place for individuals to seek a place of productivity.

 

A Rapidly Growing Industry

 

There’s no doubt that this trend will continue to thrive in developing and developed countries alike, as it becomes more expensive and more time-consuming to move workers to dedicated office spaces.

 

For startups, satellite offices, freelancers, and established companies alike, coworking will continue to play a role as a place for the free exchange of ideas, a melting pot of work styles, and a hub for creativity and productivity to flourish as everyone seeks their own ideal space.

 

Recent stats report that the number of people working in flexible spaces is expected to rise to 3.8 million in 2020, up from under half that (1.6 million) in 2017.

 

More spaces will be built to accommodate the expected growth, and although the traditional office model won’t go anywhere anytime soon, it’s not expected to come out unscathed – there’s plenty to learn from the benefits of coworking, even in regular offices.

 

Common Questions

What is Coworking?

Coworking can mean a couple different things; from renting one flexible space with individuals in a coffee-shop type setting, to renting furnished offices with other businesses monthly. It is a shared space where others come together in one location to work on their individual needs and projects.

What are the Benefits of Shared Space?

It can boost productivity and creativity, along with flexibility and freedom. It also provides cheaper overhead and simpler costs to businesses while promoting networking opportunities.

How Popular is Coworking?

Shared office space is an increasing trend, especially for startups, satellite offices, freelancers and established companies. The number of people working in such offices is expected to rise to 3.8 million in 2020 (from 1.6 million in 2017).

 

Categories
Business Trends

6 Reasons to Consider Flexible Office Space

Coworking is more than just a buzzword – more and more businesses are moving towards flexible office space, because it saves both money and time.

 

While the concept of coworking has traditionally been attractive to rising startups and small business, often in search of a transient office space to get setup and continue their growth, there are signs of a new development, as more and more corporations begin to invest in flexible office space.

 

Why?

 

Largely because it just makes sense – financially speaking, corporations have just as much to gain from turning towards monthly rental office space to entire more talent, save on costs, increase their locations, and more.

 

What is Flexible Office Space?

This latest trend is taking business by storm, and for good reason; but what is it?

 

Flexible office space refers to a fluid space to conduct business that allows for a wide range of diverse work environments. These shared office spaces allow you to have a designated space for work, but on your terms.

 

Traditional building leases make less sense for many business owners, as the new trend continues to grow.

 

Here’s why it’s becoming more popular.

 

1. Greatly Reduce Costs

The first benefit may be the greatest. Flexible office space greatly reduces overhead costs for corporations – cheaper leases, flexible terms (which means a smaller commitment, and less risk), and the cost of rent covers the expenses for not only the workspace, but for:

 

  • Amenities
  • Break rooms and lounges
  • Printers
  • Event space
  • Desks
  • Meeting rooms

 

An on-site manager means any complications may be addressed immediately, and crucial requests are heard right away. A stocked washroom and regular cleaning services further reduces overhead costs.

 

To simplify it further: it’s cheaper. While there are some benefits to leasing your own office space, there are other costs at play. Added up, most companies and corporations end up spending far more housing workers and departments in their own office space than potentially outsourcing that space to a well-managed and reputable coworking location.

 

2. Access to In-House Contractors

Coworking spaces attract not only companies, but plenty of freelancers, contractors, and independent pros.

 

This is advantageous to any large company, as the current marketplace is shifting more and more towards outsourcing most of the legwork to independent contractors, rather than hiring more full-time contract workers and in-house employees to handle the workload.

 

Furthermore, this helps corporations streamline, cutting costs and maximizing the bottom line. Coworking spaces are a great place for companies to scout potential independent professionals and make the best of their services.

 

As the industry grows, so does the pool of available and nearby freelancers, ever expanding to fill in any number of needed positions, with flexible terms and lower overall costs.

 

3. Widespread Presence 

For many larger companies, it’s fortuitous to have a large physical presence. While it’s true that we’re in the age of telecommunication, not everything can be handled over the phone – or over VoiP.

 

There’s still much room in today’s marketplace for face-to-face meetings, and clients often seek physical contact to the companies they work with. But it can often be very pricey to send representatives across the country.

 

Corporations could massively cut costs and boast a smaller carbon footprint by simply utilizing the cost-efficiency of coworking spaces to broaden their workforce across the country without the need for the acquisition of expensive and at times frivolous office spaces.

 

When you need a greater presence in one city for a set amount of time, it’s better to invest in a flexible office space than sign a lease for much longer than needed. In this sense, ‘satellite locations’ greatly broaden a corporation’s reach, putting them in contact with contractors and partners across state lines.

 

4. Cut Wasted Space

Landlords are eager to sign deals with companies and paying tenants, which sometimes leads to deals that might include more space than a company would initially need. Some companies get past this by renting out the extra space, but the costs of unused space could simply be avoided with more flexible office space.

 

Coworking spaces allow for terms that allow companies to customize their coworking plans, using up as much space as they need, or as little as they need.

 

For corporations seeking to streamline, this arrangement is ideal.

 

5. Flexible Terms

Rental office spaces boast other examples of flexibility. The most crucial one is time.

 

Office space can be rented monthly, avoiding the upfront costs and potential losses of a long-term lease. As corporations take on greater workforces – or cut down – they can adjust their plans accordingly and avoid unnecessary losses.

 

It’s no secret that coworking is playing an increasing role in the future of office spaces – and some would go so far as to state that it’s become the norm of today.

 

Startups cannot afford to lease valuable office space in a major urban hub to allow all their employees to converge and work together, as the overhead of running an office is often tremendous, to the point of being nigh unmanageable for most small businesses and moderately successful startups.

 

6. The Bottom Line

Because the nature of nascent businesses is the need to constantly adapt and overcome, and because the odds of failure are often so high, flexibility is key.

 

Transient office spaces with paid-for and pre-managed amenities and a reliable connection have gone from being a niche to becoming the norm for companies all over the world, and especially in the United States.

 

Yet flexible shared offices are more than just a steppingstone into a greater office. While corporations will likely continue to hold onto traditional offices, many are working on including the benefits of coworking in order to increase their bottom line, taking full advantage of the lower costs and extra benefits that come from sharing spaces with other companies and renting cost-efficient office spaces all over the country.

 

Conclusion

Regional offices are often cumbersome, underutilized, and very expensive – opting to transfer a regional operation to a coworking space can eliminate these issues at the cost of less privacy, which is not a major issue for companies and corporations that need not worry about data safety.

 

Even so, most flexible office spaces are entirely aware of the issue and are often working on providing the best possible physical and digital security on the market.

 

Perhaps the greatest final argument is talent – coworking has become more convenient not only for companies, but for workers as well, often offering comfortable and productive office spaces in attractive locations, with a much more modern office culture, catering to the work styles of the modern worker.

 

Why not provide the best spaces for your workers to do their best work? 

 

Flexible office spaces are the future, but it’s up to each company to figure the best way to take advantage of this growing industry.

 

 

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