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Office Space

The Office Value a Coworking Space Provides, Plus More!

You might be surprised at the office value coworking spaces actually provide, especially after a pandemic. Read on for more details.

 

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Office Space

The Ideal Coworking Space Design for Success

A coworking space design is important, but it’s difficult to find the right one as there is a lot to consider. To assist, read below for ideal information to keep in mind.

 

Coworking spaces have been on the up and up for several years now, as businesses continue to seek more flexible, and more cost-effective alternatives to buying up additional commercial real estate for offices, while entrepreneurs and freelancers alike look to find a better way to work from anywhere but home

 

But what does the ideal coworking space design look like? And what metrics are most important when designing a space around collaboration, creativity, and flexibility

 

The Importance of Safety

 

While the coronavirus pandemic has landed a hefty blow on flexible working spaces everywhere, many have survived and even thrived by offering safe and sanitary workspaces, with mandated and enforced social distancing (through distanced desk spaces, isolated rooms, and outdoor ventilation), roving cleaning crews, and strict temperature checks and viral tests. 

 

As we enter the final stages of the pandemic, many of the lessons learned throughout the last year have been internalized by coworking spaces that are looking for ways to continue to provide a safe working environment, while providing the critical value proposition behind every coworking space: the networking and cooperative opportunities offered by hosting a slew of professionals and teams from different backgrounds.  

 

The ideal coworking space should continue to provide an environment where everyone can feel safe, even in a post-pandemic world, via ample hand sanitization, frequent desk and floor cleaning, open areas with ventilation, private conference rooms for tested teams, and outdoor spaces (such as balconies and terraces) for larger groups to collaborate, discuss, and brainstorm while minimizing the risk of transmission. 

 

What is Coworking Meant to Be? 

 

What is the core of a coworking space? Most people look to coworking spaces as:

 

      • Alternative workspaces for individuals and teams alike
      • Places for collaboration and networking
      • Workspaces that allow for a productive work process through quality furnishings, amenities, and infrastructure. 
      • An open and receptive staff and management
      • Places built with a flexible, open plan in mind. 
      • Workspaces designed to cater to multiple types of workers
      • Workspaces with an individual and creative flair
      • Spaces with a shared theme or philosophy at the center of their overall design

 

The ideal coworking space needs to embody these elements, first and foremost. 

 

Who is Coworking for? 

 

Coworking spaces can cater to specific types of people – creatives, tech experts, executives, entrepreneurs, writers, designers, women, men – or they can cater to multiple groups, or have no specific target. 

 

A coworking space’s target audience reflects in how it’s designed and built. 

 

If there is no specific target, then the philosophy behind a coworking space might have its origins in what the owner prioritizes in a workplace – be it in calming aesthetics, wacky art, a multitude of plants and greenery, or an emphasis on specific schools of architecture. 

 

Melding Wellbeing and Productivity

 

The ideal coworking space understands that the human brain functions best in waves – that there is a flow in which we do our best work, and that we subsequently need downtime. 

 

Coworking spaces that provide both stimulation and relaxation can help workers be more efficient in their transition from being productive to recuperating, and vice versa. 

 

Examples include a relaxing outdoor garden, elements of Zen design, nap rooms, colorful and ergonomic (i.e. comfortable) furniture, areas designed for concentrated work and areas designed for social activity, and so on. 

 

Many people choose to work in coworking spaces because they don’t have the means to do their best work from home, either due to the lack of a suitable workspace, too many distractions, or poor connectivity. Empowering workers to be able to do their best work should be at the heart of any successful coworking space. 

 

Creative Spaces for Creative Minds

 

The last thing a coworking space should be is drab. Color and creative design can go a long way towards stimulating us, in a positive way. A coworking space should ideally have a place where people can go seeking a little bit of inspiration or positive energy – as well as a space designed with limited distractions, both in design and environment. 

 

Access to the Outdoors

 

Even if it’s just a view of a park or a balcony filled to the brim with greenery, a touch of nature can go a long way towards calming the nerves, improving cognition and productivity, and reducing downtime and stress-related illnesses. 

 

Good Food and Good Ambience

 

Snacks are more than just a privilege. We run on good food, and good food is important for a properly working brain.

 

One of the biggest benefits of a well-stocked coworking space is that it comes with its own crucial amenities, including good quality coffee, coffee alternatives (for those who need a theanine fix instead), and a wide selection of snacks and, optionally, some light, nutritious meals. 

 

Setting up a coworking space near several good restaurants is a great idea as well – this gives coworking tenants an additional space to occupy whenever they need to take a break from work and want a moment to socialize or network, while fueling up on good food. 

 

Accommodations for Everyone 

 

Some people prefer working at a desk. Some people do their best work standing. And some people need a comfortable couch. 

 

Coworking spaces that offer a variety of seating options can give everyone the chance to find a spot that lets them do their best work – and choose whether to sit alone or in close (but safe) vicinity to others. 

 

Your Ideal Coworking Space Design

 

At the end of the day, the ideal coworking space design looks a little different for each and every one of us. Coworking as a concept exists to provide a space that appeals to both teams and freelancers, to managers and workers, to developers, writers, creatives, and executives alike. 

 

Some coworking spaces skew towards providing the ideal environment for coding. Others are built to appeal to designers and graphics artists. In most cases, you need to visit a few coworking spaces to find the one that best suits your needs, interests, and ideal networking opportunities. 

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Office Space

Why Create a Collaborative Workspace for Your Business?

No matter what, a collaborative workspace will always be useful for the growth of any business. To learn more about how to best create one now, read further on.

 

Flexible spaces, coworking spaces, and collaborative spaces were enjoying a meteoric rise before the onset of the pandemic. Is there a future for these workspace concepts during and after the coronavirus crisis? Are there ways to offset the risks of an office with a revolving crew? And do the benefits outweigh those risks?

 

In short, a collaborative workspace can and does still exist in a world with COVID-19. But just like any other workspace, collaborative workspaces need to be designed and organized with safety and hygiene measures in place that help protect employees and keep us safe, while benefiting from the agility, flexibility, improved creativity, and increased productivity of a collaborative workspace.

 

What is a Collaborative Workspace?

 

Collaborative workspaces are any kind of workspace hosting more than one company. They are usually structured so that each company has its own isolated and private space, but with a large common area where professionals can take breaks together, exchange experiences and information, and forge alliances.

 

Collaborative workspaces are often highlighted by their amenities as well, which are meant to provide reasons for professionals from different backgrounds to enjoy leisure activities together, or just take communal coffee breaks.

 

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, social or shared spaces can continue to exist, but they need to continue to exist with safety in mind. This can mean outdoor common areas or balconies, better ventilation, greater spaces, more amenities that facilitate virtual collaboration and interaction (such as video game nights), and improved privacy between professionals and companies.

 

What are the Benefits to a Collaborative Workspace?

 

The advantages of a collaborative workspace include the financial freedom and flexibility afforded by a simplified short-term lease with a coworking space of flex space, the fact that collaborative workspaces are completely set up and require no additional investment to support a growing startup’s needed tech infrastructure, the access to prime locations that make commuting easier for employees while helping smaller companies gain access to the same spaces used by much larger potential partners in the industry, and much more. Some other benefits include:

 

  • Easy to scale to the needs and size of a growing startup.
  • Community-oriented management that helps integrate new companies and facilitate cooperation.
  • Specialized private and common workspaces designed to improve productivity, maximize comfort, and inspire.
  • Unique design choices and amenities to help companies find and reflect their own brand and culture on.
  • A workspace style that strengthens the bonds between employees and their company.

 

Essential Tips to Creating a Collaborative Workspace for Your Business

 

There is more to creating (or finding) a collaborative workspace than simply opening your doors to multiple commercial tenants. Some of the crucial elements that help build a collaborative workspace are centered around the creativity gains realized through healthy social interaction, and productive networking. Here are a few strong tips to help you create the right environment for collaboration during the pandemic.

 

1. Build a Collaborative Culture

 

Collaborative workspaces live and die by the atmosphere they create, and the culture they represent.

 

Each workspace is made unique by the design and management choices of the coworking staff, and any would-be collaborative space needs to orient itself along the lines of a shared and consistent company culture, one that attracts companies with similar values and aesthetics.

 

The music choice, the color scheme, the art elements on the walls, the plants chosen for both the interiors and the balconies or garden, the choice in amenities, the aesthetic of the furnishings – each element represents a conscious choice to embody a style or provide potential tenants with a feel for what it’s like to work there.

 

2. Prioritize Safe Private Spaces

 

There can be no safe collaborative workspace without frequently sanitized private offices and meeting rooms.

 

While the common area is where the collaborative spirit resides, it’s in the adjacent rooms and floors that the concentrated work happens, and it’s here where companies need their own spaces to discuss projects internally, securely share files and documentation, and safeguard both themselves and their data from other tenants in the building.

3. Leverage Collaborative Technologies

 

Collaborative spaces benefitted from the ability to communicate over-the-shoulder, but with the pandemic, some of the old habits will have to continue to be met with safer alternatives, such as sharing files and information through the cloud, organizing collaborative chat groups between cooperating professionals through Slack, keeping track of private company progress through programs like Trello, and so on.

 

4. Amenities are Important

 

Perhaps the most important element to enticing social interaction after months of lockdowns and tight quarantines is a large selection of amenities and safe social activities, from a spectrum of snacks and beverages to outdoor exercise installations, communal gardens, nap rooms, and the staff to facilitate and manage said amenities.

 

Collaboration During the Pandemic

 

The defining features of a safe collaborative space during the pandemic is one that provides a large common area and plenty of amenities and spaced seats, while still prioritizing separate, well-ventilated spaces for small groups to work together.

 

The open office took a large hit with the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that the collaborative workspace model is no longer here to stay. The benefits of collaborative work for a company’s productivity and individual creativity cannot be overstated, and the cons of the open office as a vector for viral transmission can be addressed by preventing overcrowding, implementing frequent cleaning, open ventilation, and strict social distancing and frequent testing at work.

 

Even as thousands of Americans and millions of global citizens receive their vaccines with every passing day, we aren’t quite in the final sprint of this crisis.

 

As we continue to observe strict rules to stop and impede the transmission of the virus, we also need to embrace the benefits of in-person collaboration as a force for innovation, and a critical component to attracting and onboarding new talent.

 

Conclusion

 

Large spaces, safe distances, and adjunct meeting/planning rooms with frequent cleaning crews and open ventilation are just a few measures through which coworking spaces can continue to offer businesses the ability to benefit from the pros of having a creative commercial space of their own, without the costs and responsibilities.

 

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Office Space

What to Consider When Choosing Your New Office Space

While all of us are still in the middle of a pandemic, there are certain factors to consider when choosing a new office space. Read everything you need to know below.

 

Workspaces exist to serve numerous purposes: to be a place for productivity and cooperation, to provide the right stimuli for creativity, to foster positive working relationships between colleagues, and to improve and maintain the mental and physical wellbeing of a company’s most crucial and important asset – the worker.

 

Yet there are significant financial considerations and constraints for small-to-medium enterprises seeking a place of their own. Commercial real estate is not cheap, and the financial commitment behind creating a space for your own company and vision is tremendous and requires capital many companies do not have right now.

 

The need for flexible workspaces and low commitment, high-quality workspaces is higher than ever, especially as some employees look towards a future where work-from-anywhere policies become the norm and wish for a company culture that embraces flexibility in an uncertain market. When looking for workspaces in a post-pandemic world, flexibility should be the first critical condition.

 

Choose Workspaces with Flexible Leases

 

Small and medium businesses struggling to turn things around after a difficult year might not even be considering the costs of having their own office space, let alone the time and capital needed to fully outfit and adapt the space to the company’s identity.

 

Existing purely virtually has its drawbacks as well. Many employees are struggling to remain productive from home, are feeling alone and isolated from their company, and want to reap the benefits of working face-to-face with others, from the learning experiences provided by a real living workspace to the important social aspect and camaraderie that every company needs to keep its spirit and culture alive.

 

Rather than getting a full space of their own, smaller companies (and larger ones looking to spread out across a greater region or bring their employees back into workspaces without breaking social distancing nor risking huge commutes) should embrace flexible workspaces that offer fully furnished, sanitized, and prepared offices for short-term leases, cutting out the huge financial commitment while giving businesses the chance to leverage the benefits of a fully outfitted workspace.

 

Rather than a full floor plan, consider a few smaller private spaces for your business within an agile piece of commercial real estate, such as a coworking space or flex space. No year-long leases, no time and capital spent developing a digital infrastructure, no need to tackle issues like property upkeep and cleaning.

 

Find a Workspace That Attracts the Best

 

Hiring fresh talent is a critical part of success for any growing business that recognizes the importance of its workforce. As such, being able to attract talent and keep it around is vital.

 

A coworking space would help smaller companies afford to spend more on their best talent and invite them into a company that has already begun to adopt and embrace flexible working conditions, a blend between the virtual and the physical.

 

Coworking spaces are always short-term solutions but can work as a long-term plan by shifting locations and teams around to suit the company’s needs and goals and give employees the freedom to work from flexible spaces near their own residence or continue to work from home as well.

 

Coworking spaces are also often outfitted with the best amenities to attract the greatest freelance and single contractor talents, giving them not only the best space in town to work at, but giving companies the chance to collaborate and work alongside great talent outside of the company, forging partnerships and business relationships that could last for years to come, and providing unique local networking opportunities.

 

Another plus is that these spaces help small companies spend more time working together, and less time worrying about coffee and snack supplies, interior design and decoration, and workplace ergonomics. These spaces take care of all that and much more.

 

 

A Workspace That Prioritizes Health and Safety

 

Even with vaccines entering the picture in countries all around the world, concerns surrounding the virus haven’t completely abated, and the social impact of the coronavirus is sure to be felt for years to come. Some might not feel comfortable returning to the way things were and will seek out workspaces that prioritize de-densification, and allow employees to keep their own space and distance from one another.

 

Basic hygiene concepts, such as more frequent surface cleaning and better-quality HVAC solutions, will be important moving forward. Some might want to make the most of outdoor working spaces, especially during the warmer months, and want to work in spaces that sacrifice the open office floor plan for private offices and better integration of natural light, air, and plant life into the everyday office setting.

 

Many coworking spaces have had to radically adapt to the coronavirus by prioritizing clean and well-ventilated spaces, separated rather than open, with larger common spaces meant to host small groups that keep socially distant, and roving cleaning crews that ensure that the most-used surfaces are sterilized multiple times a day.

 

Consider Multiple Workplaces for Convenience

 

By saving considerable time and capital when choosing a coworking space, small-to-medium businesses and large enterprises alike can benefit from having multiple workspaces connected to one another virtually. This allows different teams in different neighborhoods, cities, regions, states, and even countries to collaborate both physically and virtually through coworking satellite offices and telecommunications tools like Slack, Meets, and Zoom.

 

The hub-and-spoke workspace model has been growing in interest for years and might help provide a solution against the time loss caused by long commutes.

 

Going Back to Work During the Pandemic

 

Not everyone has had the luxury of continuing to be productive during the pandemic. Many have struggled to stay focused while working from home and feel the need to collaborate and communicate with their team members on more than just a virtual level in order to function properly. But we cannot just go back to the way things were, not in the near future, and definitely not now. While it does feel like we may be getting a handle on the pandemic, we are still in the middle of it, and smart, safe concepts are needed to keep ourselves healthy while we work together.

 

Coworking spaces could play a central role in this process, providing companies the chance to rent clean workspaces for small teams in private and ventilated offices, while working virtually with teams in other locations around the country.

 


Read More:

How to Stay Productive in a New Working World

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Office Space

What are the Advantages of Renting an Office Space?

If you’re curious about renting an office space for you or your employees, then you’ve absolutely come to the right place. Here are all the advantages to know.

 

Even before the onset of the pandemic, remote work was on a meteoric rise – and rentable offices such as coworking spaces were following suit.

 

Work from home concepts evolved into work from anywhere concepts as advances in connectivity and communications have enabled companies to organize teams that could continue to productively cooperate while letting each individual team member pick and choose the location that best suited their workstyle.

 

Furthermore, small companies in need of flexible workspaces at a lower budget could turn to rented office spaces and coworking opportunities as a viable and attractive alternative to the prospect of laying down precious capital for expensive commercial real estate.

 

Now that we have seen firsthand what an abrupt move into remote work can do to workers unprepared for the distractions and challenges of working from home, companies are looking for safe alternatives to help their employees boost productivity, combat social isolation, and reintegrate them into the team without endangering their safety.

 

Rentable office spaces will be an important part of a comprehensive workplace strategy for small and large businesses alike, whether they’re looking to expand, rely on affordable workspace solutions after a hard-hitting pandemic, or need an alternative to team members who cannot come back to the office, nor stay at home. Let’s go over some of the other advantages of utilizing rentable office space in 2021.

 

Flexibility and Affordability

 

Flexibility is critically important in this climate. Many companies aren’t sure whether they will have the means and opportunity to grow, invest, or survive the month, let alone a year.

 

Rentable and flexible workspaces give companies the ability to expand when it is necessary, scale back down when it isn’t, and rely on a lean philosophy to build revenue and invest.

 

For businesses who have experienced a boom in the last few months, rentable office spaces provide them with the opportunity to rapidly rent the space needed to put their growing number of hires to work without lengthy lease contracts and risky investments in commercial properties they may not be able to make much use of.

 

The ability to expand and shrink as a business based on how the wind blows will be important, especially for smaller companies and startups weighing their options during the pandemic.

 

Access to Prime Locations

 

Affordable rentable spaces mean smaller companies will have the means to rent a space in a prime location, along with the opportunities that location presents. This allows startups and SMEs to reach for the stars without investing every last dime on premium real estate, while still having the option to scale back down to something else on short-term notice.

 

The professional image afforded by hosting meetings and conferences in a prime location can also open doors to partnerships and business opportunities that might be harder to earn when hosting a call from a busy coffee shop or your own apartment.

 

Fewer Liabilities, Fewer Headaches

 

Rentable spaces are a simple deal – monthly or biweekly payments for the right to use the space as a preconfigured and established workspace, with useful amenities, meeting rooms, roving cleaning crews, a reliable and speedy internet connection, and a central location that cuts down on commute time for your coworkers.

 

This can be in stark contrast to what you might expect from more long-term leases, where you can customize a space that you can call your own, but at an immense financial cost, alongside countless insurance and tax considerations that pile up and eat into your revenue.

 

A rentable space can help you minimize and even eliminate most liabilities tied to commercial real estate and give you additional freedom and flexibility.

 

Reorganize and Invest Working Capital

 

A space of your own is tremendously expensive, restricting your ability to invest capital into better tools for the company, more talent, and better opportunities. A good idea can only work so long as you continue to scale up and invest in it, and office space becomes a major hurdle to overcome for many startups that need the space to host new talent to meet the growing demand they’re facing.

 

Rentable workspaces and coworking space give your business the ability to scale better and faster and expand at a lower cost.

 

No Real Estate Liabilities Means Fewer Tax Headaches

 

Owning an office space of your own means taking care of both legal and tax liabilities, and potentially taking out loans to finance your new real estate investment in the company. On the surface, owning commercial real estate comes with several attractive tax deductions. But managing your costs and responsibilities and keeping track of it all while managing a growing business can be needlessly complex.

 

This in turn can lead to complicated local, state, and federal taxes come tax season – and paperwork that mounts until it becomes an unavoidable and expensive challenge for a tax professional and accountant to solve, at a premium price.

 

 

Cooperation and Networking Opportunities

 

Even during the pandemic, coworking and shared rental spaces provide an opportunity for companies, freelancers, and contractors to network and exchange information and opportunities, discover and hire new talent, or build long-lasting and meaningful business partnerships that could help you both grow.

 

Improved Productivity

 

Being surrounded by like-minded professionals in a space that caters specifically to people trying their hardest to get things done and make sacrifices for their dreams can drastically improve your productivity, especially if you have spent the last few months working in isolation or surrounded by distractions when you were trying to prioritize your work.

 

There is nothing wrong with spending time with the people we love, but we must make clear distinctions between the time we spend working and the time we spend at home, and that can be difficult for people who have to work from home.

 

Rentable office spaces don’t ask you to sacrifice your productivity for the opportunity to work away from company headquarters.

 

Better Onboarding

 

It can be tremendously difficult to onboard new hires in a virtual environment and make them feel like they’re part of a human crew through Zoom meetings and online ice breakers.

 

Rentable workspaces and coworking locations can be leveraged as short-term onboarding spaces to help mentor and integrate new hires into the company and give them some time to feel welcomed into the team and develop a sense of self within the organization before continuing to work remotely or from a different location.

 

The flexibility afforded by rentable spaces means companies can afford to rent out space in multiple locations at once to cater to different talents across a region, country, or continent, while still spending less money than a commercial space of their own might cost.

 

Don’t Skimp on Safety

Rentable office space does not have to be a hazard during the pandemic, and it should, quite the opposite, be a way to reduce the risk for employees by eliminating the need to travel to a location that might require a lengthy and dangerous commute through public space (by finding spaces within a bike ride of your team’s homes, for example), and without undoing the work you’ve done to de-densify the main office and make it a safe space for those who can still opt to work at headquarters.

 

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Office Space

Spacious Coworking Offices: Why It’s Needed Now More Than Ever

It’s true that working from home isn’t for everyone. But what’s the solution while still living in a pandemic? Spacious coworking offices are needed now more than ever. Read more below.

 

The shift towards remote work for employees following the onset of the pandemic was unprecedented.

 

Although there had been a trend towards more liberal remote work policies for years, particularly in the tech industry, the coronavirus forced thousands of companies to ask millions of office workers to perform their daily tasks from home, whenever applicable.

 

Now that companies all over the world are beginning to gain confidence in the idea of returning to the office, many companies are considering a permanent change to the way they handle remote work going forward. And thousands of workers are embracing remote work as a new way to live.

 

But for many more employees, the return to the office is a godsend – provided it can be done safely. While the pandemic has shined light on the benefits of remote work, it has also exposed the weaknesses of what can happen when employees are forced to telecommute without preparation, and without choice.

 

Many of us still rely on the interpersonal dynamics of the office to develop a bond with our team members and managers. Many of us seek the physical boundary between family and work to separate the personal and the professional. But none of us want to bring the virus into our midst or play a role in its continued spread. Spacious coworking offices may play an important role here, albeit an unexpected one.

 

Adjusting to the Pandemic

 

COVID-19 is an illness that is transmittable through droplets in the air, and through physical contact. To help mitigate its spread, companies and governments have turned to strict social distancing rules. And the use of simple but effective methods to minimize transmission. This includes frequent handwashing and mask-wearing.

 

It goes without saying why preventing the spread of COVID is critical to ensure worker safety. Not only does the illness cause worker absenteeism, but its spread to anyone – including young and healthy employees – and could potentially lead to the infection of someone at risk for serious complications.

 

Without proper adjustments, the office can easily become a hotbed for the virus. But these adjustments need neither be extravagantly expensive, nor overly complex. They involve:

 

      • Thorough screening of incoming and outgoing employees for symptoms.
      • Frequent handwashing.
      • Encouraged mask-wearing.
      • PPE whenever the job calls for it (i.e. for the cleaning crew).
      • Temporary barriers between desks and stations (plastic sheets), whenever private offices aren’t available.
      • More trash receptacles for cleaning materials, masks, tissues, etc.
      • Discourage sharing any equipment, from phones to notepads, pens, desks, and so on.
      • Frequent cleaning of all personal and common spaces (from floors to desk surfaces, computers, keyboards, mice, door handles, stair railings, and more).
      • Maintaining a safe distance at all times.
      • Altering or improving in-office ventilation (largely through natural ventilation, and selectively through better filtering HVAC systems).
      • And more.

 

Other adjustments may depend on local workplace requirements, and potential health hazards identified at work. Local and state resources exist to help businesses adjust their workplaces to meet minimum safety requirements.

 

But by far the greatest and most effective adjustment is the de-densification of the office, wherein companies are encouraged to minimize the number of workers returning to the office in order to ensure that employees can maintain a safe distance at all times, and safely cooperate and do their work without coming into contact with one another.

 

Spacious coworking will play a vital role in giving companies the option to allow employees to return to work in a safe and controlled office environment, either within the company headquarters or in a coworking space acting as a satellite office.

 

As such, coworking spaces have been adjusting accordingly – making the necessary changes to accommodate businesses looking for additional office space for employees, without breaking social distancing rules.

 

 

 

Why Return to the Office?

 

Given that the pandemic is not at an end, some might question any attempts at returning to “normal”. But a return to the office does not constitute a return to old practices and habits.

 

While some employees are able to work remotely on a long-term basis, others are not. It’s clear that the COVID-related effects of long-term remote work are beginning to rear their head in thousands of workers struggling to avoid stress-related problems with performance and mood.

 

A safe return to the office not only helps workers who cannot continue to function while isolated, but it also helps revitalize a struggling economy by employing more people in public transport, janitorial services, and much more.

 

With the right precautions and an emphasis on de-densification, companies can make a return to the office possible. And help workers who feel isolated seek an alternative to working from home for another six months or more.

 

Why Spacious Coworking Remains Invaluable 

 

In the early days of the pandemic, coworking spaces took a hit as people were encouraged to stay at home, isolate, and avoid contact with one another.

 

But many coworking spaces have since pivoted to allow for a safe return to coworking, via roving cleaning crews, in-office rules for safety and sanitation, separated workstations, improved ventilation systems, an emphasis on social distancing and safe private offices, and more.

 

As companies are looking to help encourage workers to come back to work away from home, coworking spaces become an excellent and cost-effective alternative to leasing more office space.

 

It’s clear that the near future will include a shift towards supporting work-from-anywhere policies, emphasizing a de-densified office, and ensuring that workers have enough space and a visibly clean office to work from without fearing infection, and without fearing that they may be endangering their loved ones.

 

Coworking companies that have quickly made the shift towards a safety-oriented and pandemic-proof workspace will play an important role in helping make these changes possible, allowing workers to re-engage with their team members and coworkers, and reap the multiple other benefits of renting a coworking space.

 

And if you’re in need of finding a quality shared creative office space, feel free to contact us here at The Collection located in downtown, Los Angeles. We’re happy to assist with your coworking needs.

 

 


Read More:

Businesses Turn to the Hub and Spoke Model Due to the Pandemic

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Office Space

How Corporate Coworking Is Improving and Shaping Culture

Coworking spaces come with a lot of benefits such as better productivity. Read below for more on how corporate coworking continues to impact a company’s culture.

 

Recent history has had many contemplating the future of coworking itself, amid fears that high-profile failures and worrying headlines will throw shade on the entire industry. But there’s no need to worry because coworking is definitely here to stay.

 

More than just a fad or an experiment, coworking’s rapid 600 percent growth over the last decade is indicative of a growing thirst for flexible office space, and a move away from the traditional office towards something different. That something better promotes productivity among a workforce that has become increasingly remote.

 

Why Coworking Is Still Growing

For many companies, coworking space is fast, flexible, and disposable. Companies thrive on the fact that they can avoid the commitment and overhead of a brand-new office space by buying into space that is already maintained, organized, and provided with loads of important amenities. Meanwhile, they can continue to invest in their own growth and the success of their product or service, until they mature into an organization in need of its own space.

 

Yet even this traditional view of coworking as a transitory workplace for smaller companies and entrepreneurs looking to cut costs and “make it” is only one small view into the service that coworking spaces offer. Coworking spaces can market themselves to larger and established corporations as a unique type of office space to help remote workers and smaller satellite offices share a collective company culture. This is absent among many workers who, for any number of reasons, are choosing to work remotely.

 

Even larger companies enjoy not having to invest in long-term leases and outfitting new spaces when they can rely on local coworking spots to help provide a short-term main office for their sales force, representatives, or the beginnings of a growing present in a regional market.

 

Representing a Growing Need

The demand exists. And it will continue to grow. Companies both large and small are no strangers to the benefits of a globalized workforce and are quickly continuing to staff talent from all four corners of the globe.

 

But for many freelancers and remote workers who find themselves corresponding with team members across the planet, Slack group chats and the occasional physical meeting at company HQ isn’t enough to really create a sense of belonging, or feel motivated to work effectively at all times. The biggest problem that remote workers report by far is loneliness.

 

Coworking becomes an excellent alternative to working from the main office itself, especially when that becomes prohibitively expensive for foreign or distant workers.

 

Many remote workers and freelancers are enjoying the look and feel of the coworking space, as well, which combines the coziness of a café or inviting home with the buzz and productivity of a busy office space. But more than just a certain aesthetic, coworking spaces are quickly taking advantage of something very important to many workers: culture.

 

Coworking is Transforming Corporate Culture

People assume that culture is yet another corporate buzzword, one meant to evoke images of camaraderie and productivity at work. But work culture is more than just another word for an office’s mood. A company’s culture is an amalgamation of its core mission and values, of the policies it defends and promotes, of its management and their personalities, and of the people it hires.

 

While there are a few metrics to codify what any given company’s culture might be, you can pick any host of characteristics and describe it as part of the company’s culture. This is a representation of who they are when they’re working on supplying their customers or clients with the products or services they specialize in.

 

Coworking, then, presents a unique challenge to many companies because it understandably can cause culture clashes. The better coworking spaces have their own cultures, yet these may clash with the cultures of the companies or teams that work in them. This in turn might alienate single workers who aren’t part of a greater organization. Or remote workers who feel left out, unable to experience their employer’s work culture.

 

 

The Corporate Coworking Impact

Solving the culture question is an important part of making coworking work. And thankfully, coworking seems to be having a positive impact on company culture when handled properly. Rather than negatively challenging a company’s culture, coworking can positively challenge it – putting it to the test by bringing it out into the open among other cultures.

 

Coworking spaces that host a large number of different groups and solo ventures specifically go out of their way to create a culture that harmonizes, and encourages other businesses to play nice with one another. This minimizes characteristics that interrupt other people’s work, while promoting characteristics that lead to greater opportunities within coworking spaces. This includes a healthy balance of adaptability and conscientiousness, collaboration, inclusivity, self-efficiency, and effective or blunt communication.

 

Coworking is a Litmus Test for Company Culture

Company cultures have the opportunity to prune themselves and weed out the qualities that make them isolating, uninviting, or toxic. This is done byy learning to coexist with others within a coworking space. Young companies in particular can thrive by growing alongside other companies in a coworking space.

 

The challenge here, however, is to still be able to retain an individual identity as a company separate of the group. Companies that have a culture that is far too strong will typically not mesh well in many coworking spaces. But they will have trouble finding candidates and talents that feel comfortable within their unique culture.

 

Meanwhile, companies with a more open culture will enjoy the flexible nature of the coworking space. Though, it will be hard to feel proud of one’s company when it simply feels too “samey”.

 

It’s up to the management of a company to determine what they want their culture to be. What sets them apart among a sea of hardworking enterprises, each trying to carve out their own space in their respective niches. It also allows companies to hone in on their truly defining characteristics.

 

Company Culture for Remote Workers 

Remote workers have a hard time getting a feel for the culture of their company, especially when they’re working solo and apart from a larger team in a different, inaccessible location. While coworking spaces provide a respite from the isolating nature of working from home, it’s still a far cry from being able to get a sense of what your employers are like at the office.

 

Coworking spaces can serve as proxy work cultures for such remote workers, giving them a different family to belong to while still working with their coworkers abroad or elsewhere.

 

Conclusion

Because coworking spaces bring company cultures together in a way never previously tested, many companies and groups find themselves immediately trying to distill their unique culture into something concrete they can hold onto to differentiate themselves from the rest. This then leads to greater unity, a sense of pride for one’s work, and a continued appreciation for the company as well as the others within the same space.

 

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Office Space

6 Types of Coworking Members to Know

Coworking businesses are experiencing a huge and promising boom – and as we move well into 2020, that boom shows no sign of slowing. As someone operating their business out of a shared space, what types of coworking members will you work next to?

 

Millions of people across the globe are congregating at coworking spaces, seeking other professionals to network with, trying to overcome the boredom and isolation of working from home, or trying to save on the massive costs and overhead of setting up a small office in a big international metropolis.

 

Some are simply chasing the trend, interested in what a shared space might have to offer over working from coffee shops or from the comfort of one’s own sofa. However, just as many coworking spaces are thriving, some are not. Some of that has to do with an increasing growth in competition.

 

Because these spaces have a wide variety of businesses, entrepreneurs, satellite offices and more, it may be confusing what to expect as a customer. What kind of coworking members will you work alongside in your office space? The answer is quite complex.

 

What is the Average Coworker?

 

Coworking members are extremely varied, yet the most significant common factor in all tenants is independence. People who work in coworking spaces are less likely to already spend a significant amount of their time in an office.

 

In other words, freelancers – in all their forms – will often make up the majority of coworking customers. But they certainly aren’t alone. Remote workers, startup teams, entrepreneurs, and smaller satellite teams from larger companies are some of the other people who typically seek out shared spaces as an alternative to expensive and long-term leases in big cities.

 

The average coworking space customer is:

 

      • 39 years old, and only a fraction (7 percent) are younger than 30.
      • People who work in coworking spaces are evenly split between male and female.
      • Many different professions utilize coworking – from graphic design to web development, software engineering, copywriting, management, and more.

 

A large portion of the people who work from flexible spaces subsist at least partially on what is currently known as the ‘gig economy’. They need a workplace that shares many of the qualities that their own work does: flexibility, transience, and mutual benefit.

 

As the gig economy continues to grow and is expected to account for over 40 percent of the US’ workforce by this year, this will likely be mirrored in the soaring growth that coworking itself is enjoying.

 

 

What Are the Common Types of Coworking Members?

 

These shared spaces consist of many types of coworking members. Some of the people expected to work in shared office spaces include:

 

Independent Workers:

 

These include any and all freelance and self-employed professionals who are not tied to a single client or company, and instead seek work while marketing themselves and their services as individuals. They do not represent a group or team, although they might work in several teams, and typically do not enter long-term contracts.

 

Startups:

 

Plenty of startups in larger, more expensive cities may opt to work out of co-working spaces in the first few months to avoid the costs of leasing an office. Because startups have a good chance of imploding early on, there is additional risk in leasing an office for a year or more. Flexible spaces provide the perfect alternative for these new companies. Similarly, these spaces are excellent for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

 

Remote Workers:

 

Remote workers may be employees in startups, SMEs, or larger corporations who do not have a set workspace, either voluntarily or as per their employer. Some companies have flexible workspace policies, allowing employees to work from the office, from home, or from anywhere else. Remote workers may relish a coworking space as an alternative to their main office or home, and as a more productive alternative to the local coffeeshop.

 

Entrepreneurs:

 

Entrepreneurs often enjoy working from coworking spaces because it allows them to meet with different professionals, network, and continue to work on their own projects while exploring new opportunities.

 

Part-time Workers:

 

Unlike remote workers who are full-time workers and freelancers who aren’t working for an individual via contract, part-time workers may work several jobs, one of which may be remote. Shared office spaces provide an alternative space to home if home isn’t an option due to poor internet connectivity, space issues, or distractions.

 

Satellite Teams:

 

Coworking spaces are increasingly becoming home to smaller satellite teams from larger companies and enterprises seeking to take advantage of the lower overhead and cost of setting up a team in a city where they may have an interest in better serving their customers.

 

From huge corporations to smaller, yet still sizeable multi-national companies, many different coworking members have an interest in using such spaces to save on costs and provide their mobile teams with a productive environment to do their work. Different companies have also recognized the collaborative worth of the shared spaces, understanding that there’s more to a coworking space than what meets the eye.

 

 

Creating the Right Space for You

 

As a business sharing space with others, there’s going to have to be a little give-and-take. You can meet people halfway and, as much as possible, create an environment that is inviting to you. That means avoiding harsh or contrasting themes, or strong or overly bold design choices. Luckily, the space is often furnished and has all the amenities you will need. The coworking office will often come with:

 

      • Large open common areas
      • A healthy variety of amenities
      • Several private rooms for meetings or sensitive work
      • Fast Internet
      • Quality cooling and heating
      • A meticulous focus on keeping things clean and pleasant

 

Often, the space will also provide different price plans for different groups of professionals, with various perks and levels with options for both an open space and the option for a private nook when a task calls for total concentration.

 

Should You Look Into Flexible Office Space?

 

If you find yourself in one of these categories, then flexible offices may be perfect for you and your team. There are many benefits to coworking that go further than just having a place to concentrate, work, and be productive.

 

Whether you are an individual freelancer, a management team, or a satellite office, contact us today to find the perfect office space for you.

 

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Office Space

6 Ways to Stay Focused in A Rowdy Co-Working Space

Co-working spaces are unique settings where employees are struggling to find ways to stay focused, in freedom filled environment, which can be seen as lackadaisical cooperation.

 

There’s plenty to like about co-working spaces, but there’s also a lot to criticize. Depending on the shared working spot you work at, you’ll have a different list of pros and cons. A general thread between all co-working enthusiasts is that while it does plenty to help you appreciate the benefits of cooperative industry and professional socializing, it can be tough to work out of a flexible office space if you’re having a day where you need to focus entirely on the task at hand, and are struggling to find ways to stay focused in a rowdy shared office space.

 

It can be a nightmare roaming the office for a slightly quiet spot, trying to cancel out as much noise and behavior as possible, and making it clear to everyone around you that you really need some peace and quiet for about three hours. However, with a little bit of organization and a little more prosocial behavior, you’ll have no problem finding ways to stay focused in a rowdy work environment.

 

It’s All About Pros and Cons

Open offices, shared spaces, and co-working offices share a few general philosophies: people work best when they’re working together, and shoe box cubicles are not doing the professional world any good.

 

Overall, people in flexible spaces are far more productive than their counterparts. Even though it may seem that spending a large chunk of your day conversing with your teammates is opposite of being a productive team member, there’s plenty of research demonstrating that people generally work better in a co-working environment.

 

It’s all about embracing the pros, and working around the cons. If you’ve recently made the switch to a coworking environment, then you’ll need to accept some change.

 

Shared spaces can be very different from normal offices in their overall layout, as well as their size, and in the variety of the professionals who occupy them. If you’ve recently switched to a co-working space, reserve a couple weeks to get to know everyone, adjust, and embrace the benefits of having a little more intimacy with your coworkers.

 

Sure, they’re more likely to see what you’re doing on your screen – which means you’ll want to be more careful about how and where you browse – but by embracing that, you’ll have the opportunity to share a little bit about yourself, how you motivate yourself at work, what you do to get into the flow, and how your coworkers do it (and what each of you do with your downtime).

 

Take the time to ask others how they accomplish work. They might surprise you with useful insights on how to organize your work, their successful ways to stay focused, and reap the benefits of an open environment.

 

 

1. Lay the Foundation 

If you feel like the environment you are in isn’t conducive to productive work, just come out and say it.

 

Don’t be aggressive, speak it with a tone of genuine curiosity, and you’ll get some real answers. Others might even feel the same but weren’t ready to acknowledge it or bring it up. Or, consider asking your team leader to bring it up for you.

 

This isn’t meant to be a matter of laying down the law – it’s meant to invite discussion on the creation of  basic boundaries, a rule set allowing the group to mold the work environment into a place where everyone can get their work done, and still reap the benefits of a social co-working space.

 

2. Choose Noise-Canceling Earphones

No matter how much you talk it out with the others, your first goal shouldn’t be to create an environment of deafening silence.

 

That’s oppressive and does the opposite of what co-working achieves through an improved morale and camaraderie. A certain measure of volume is expected in a social setting, and just because you’ve got work ahead of you that requires pure focus doesn’t mean everyone else can’t enjoy their reprieve from focused work.

 

Because of those moments, it’s in your best interest to invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones or earphones (depending on which you prefer). Some offices instate an unspoken earphone rule: one bud in means you’re focused, but may be interrupted for something important, and two buds in means you’re not to be touched.

 

3. Find a Better Spot

If there’s more going around you than just an auditory distraction, then consider packing up and moving to another corner of the office.

 

Co-working spaces tend to be quite spacious, with several nooks and crannies for workers who require a little more peace and quiet time away from the common area. If every silent spot seems taken, move to a less rowdy spot.

 

4. Just Take a Break (Away from the Office)

Some days, your preferred space in the office is taken or it’s very distracting. That’s okay, it happens, and it gives you a good excuse to breathe a little new air and stretch your legs in a completely different location:

 

    • Head out to the local library,
    • Hit up a coffee shop, or
    • Go work from the park.

 

Taking a break away from the office might also help you breathe a little extra creativity into your work and gives you the freedom to choose where you want to concentrate.

 

 

5. Put Your Phone on Silent

In the day and age of the smartphone, people have become easily manipulated by their phones. Start to cut your phone out of your life by setting a strict rule every time you sit down to work on a task that requires concentration: no touching the phone until you’re done.

 

If the phone is important for something (like reviewing notes you’ve taken down at some other date), transfer that data over to your workstation/laptop. Alternatively, put your phone into airplane mode to avoid any and all calls, texts, messages, and notifications.

 

Every time your phone buzzes, you’re distracting yourself from work. If you decide to let it be, the urge to check your phone grows. Even if you’re just checking and not opening the notification, those few seconds away from your work only serve to disrupt your flow.

 

6. Take It Up with Management 

When all else fails, it’s time to take it up with management. If the office isn’t suited for concentrated work, speak to management of the co-working space. Inform them that you’ve tried everything to concentrate.

 

If they’ve heard similar complaints, they can take appropriate actions to help make the workplace a little more conducive towards focused work. But if you seem alone in this complaint, it might be a good opportunity to seek alternative work arrangements.

Categories
Office Space

3 Benefits of Co-Working Office Space For Entrepreneurs

There are 582 million entrepreneurs in the world; some of them work alongside others, some of them work independently. But one thing is consistent: the need for office space for entrepreneurs. Are co-working spaces the answer?

 

Coworking spaces exist for one major reason: there is a significant number of businesses and individuals who find that it is too expensive and often unreasonable to rent or own office space in some of the world’s largest and most central metropoles.

 

These individuals create room for a unique demand: space that they can rent on much shorter terms, with far less setup and overhead required. As we continue to forge ahead into a future that emphasizes a fast paced approach to everything, many startups and new entrepreneurs desperately need a space they can call their own within minutes.

 

The Benefits of Shared Office Space for Entrepreneurs

 

The traditional office isn’t dead, its era hasn’t passed – but it seems there’s room for more than just one type of space, and co-working office space for entrepreneurs is evidently here to stay.

 

Should you pay it any mind? If you hope to be successful, the answer is yes. Here are the 4 main reasons to consider co-working or flexible space as an entrepreneur.

 

1. Having Your Own Space Can Be Expensive

 

More and more businesses are cropping up globally today than ever, but fewer people are starting them (especially in the US). This tells us two things:

 

      • First, it’s easier today than ever to start a business.
      • Second, it’s easier than ever to have a business crash and burn.

 

Becoming an entrepreneur and launching a startup business carries with it a considerable amount of risk and requires a serious amount of committed capital. It’s important to know when and where to cut costs, and where to invest.

 

For startups, one of the biggest initial investments is in space. Startups need space to flourish – they need a place to grow, a place where people can come to work and deliver to their market. Co-working office spaces for entrepreneurs exists to fulfill a critical demand in a time of economic instability, especially among young entrepreneurs, who are much more likely to struggle with student debt and financial stability.

 

These shared, flexible spaces provide room for potential startups to flourish and innovate, rather than die much earlier on. But the fact that we are seeing more startups despite seeing fewer entrepreneurs also leads us back to that crucial second point: it’s easier than ever to crash and burn.

 

This means that entrepreneurs today cannot afford to make serious long-term decisions without a backup plan, and a way out. Coworking office spaces for entrepreneurs provide a little less stress  of a security deposit and the mandatory long-term lease – instead, startups today can rent space on a monthly basis, and cancel their membership whenever necessary.

 

A lower initial cost, and far less risk: these are things that are highly attractive to individuals who know that 9 out of 10 startups fail, and most successful entrepreneurs are the serial kind.

 

2. Why Not Work from Home?

 

Entrepreneurs are not just self-employed, but they’re monetizing an idea. They’re commanding a business, and in many cases, work with teams to get their idea off the ground and into the realm of reality – and onto the market. When organizing and running a business, it helps to have a team to physically interact with and oversee. A coworking space lends itself as the perfect initial spot for small startups to work without investing massively into office space.

 

However, not every startup needs an office. There are plenty of businesses that can operate just fine virtually, and many business models can survive and thrive with each individual member of the team telecommuting and working from home. That being said, there are substantial benefits to being an entrepreneur (or even a freelancer) at a coworking space, rather than restricting yourself to your own four walls.

 

For one, the co-working space can help you thrive. For many, it’s better to work with others than to be stuck at home alone. It can make you: more productive, help stave off the feeling that things aren’t moving in the direction you want them to and can even help you avoid loneliness.

 

Not everyone feels this way. There are plenty of freelancers who do much better simply working from home, where they can prioritize their work, manage their time more efficiently, avoid unnecessary costs and commute, and spend more time doing the things they want to do after hours, like exploring the city or grabbing a drink with friends. Which type are you?

 

3. Networking is Critical 

 

Coworking spaces provide a spot for more productivity, more innovation, and better chances at thriving. Why? Partially because it is a communal experience. Members of a shared workspace do not feel disconnected or disjointed but feel as though they are part of something greater, despite not being connected to a single company.

 

There is no hierarchy, no single boss or upper management for the whole office, and no one’s tasks are dictated by any one individual or committee. Instead, small groups and industrious individuals can coexist and work on separate projects, while sharing a space together, becoming colleagues and coworkers, and even exchanging information.

 

Networks are created organically, projects begin and come to fruition, and all this happens without a sense of internal politics or the friction of direct competition. Joining a coworking space specifically to seek out clients and business prospects is a no-no. But these networking connections can happen, and they’re a definite plus.

 

 

Should You Go for It?

 

Ultimately, there are many arguments for co-working office spaces for entrepreneurs – and some against one. It bears mentioning that there can be good reasons not to opt for such a space, including the fact that some businesses need the space to truly function, and for entrepreneurs working purely from home operating a much smaller, more virtual enterprise, it may be a good idea to cut the time and financial costs of showing up to a coworking space and just getting organized within your own four walls.

 

But for thousands of potential and current startups across the country, and hundreds of thousands of businesses, entrepreneurs, and freelancers around the world, these office spaces represent a godsend in a market that otherwise requires immense capital and serious financial commitment, potentially with unfavorable conditions, no equipment, poor amenities, and no utilities.

 

Conclusion

 

Flexible office spaces for entrepreneurs come with their own amenities, a unique work culture, an environment tailored towards productivity and cooperation, and the freedom to move from space to space without being made to settle on a single spot.

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