Seven Benefits of Coworking

I’ve been enjoying the benefits of coworking for a while now and can see how such an arrangement can benefit Free Agents. If you’re like me, you work out of a home office.

If you have a spouse, kids and/or a dog or cat, that home office is a double-edged sword.

Yes, it’s great to walk down the hall and be in my office. I can start and end work in seconds – and that means any one of the people or pets mentioned above, can do the same.

As someone who has researched and followed co-working for some time, I’ve seen a lot more benefits than drawback.

What is Coworking

Basically, coworking is a shared work environment where independent professionals gather. In a coworking environment, you can get a dedicated space or sign up for first-come-first-served space. This space could be an office, conference table or even cubicle-like desk.

Don’t confuse it with virtual office spaces. I’ve tried virtual office spaces in the past.

These are large spaces with dozens of independent offices. Everyone is isolated and going door-to-door to meet your neighbor is unusual. Virtual office providers make the space look and feel like “corporate.”

That was the problem for me with a virtual office space. I felt too isolated. While I have a virtual team, I still like to chat with other like-minded professionals. I find it stimulating and vital for my sanity. Socializing seemed discouraged.

The Benefits of Coworking

1- Community

Instead of the isolation found in your home office, a coworking space provides instant community of other professionals. I love my family, however, there’s a different atmosphere and stimulation of being around other professionals working towards the same intentions as I am.

Let’s face it, sometimes sitting all alone is not the most effective thing to do. On occasion, you may feel like a wilting flower sitting alone and isolated in your office.

The vibe of being around others can feel like a wave carrying you even when you’re not sure where to go. Having that community of support and ‘place to go’ when you need a little human/social boost, can be very powerful.

Many coworking facilities offer frequent social events so members can meet in an even more informal setting. These are great networking events without the formality and dread of others you may have attended.

2 – Better than a Coffee House

Don’t get me wrong about this one. I’m a Gold Card carrying Starbucks member. I’ve respected and admired the company since I read an interview with its CEO, Howard Schultz, in a United Airlines magazine around 1996.

Regardless of your opinion for Starbucks, his passion for the coffeehouses of Italy and his ability to deliver on his vision of sharing those experiences with the world, is one of the great business lessons.

However, there’s a time and place for going to a coffeehouse. The other day I was sitting at a small table working when two friends sat at the table next to me and started talking.

I must have written the same sentence five times because I just couldn’t concentrate. They were overly loud and seem to regale in all the details of their night before.

I understand that’s what most coffeehouses are about, community and sharing. I felt bad for the insurance salesman two tables over trying to talk to a prospect. A coffeehouse is not ideal for such situations.

3 – Collaboration

Whether formal or informal, collaboration is a natural by-product of sharing a co-working space. When you’re socializing with the other members (which can’t be avoided), you’ll naturally connect with certain members.

These connections can lead to spontaneous brainstorming sessions or even formal partnerships. It makes sense, two or more people are attracted to a coworking space for similar reasons.

Being in the space, seeking collaboration, these individuals find ways to help and benefit from the environment. And besides, many coworking facilities have a directory of members so you can list your services, and see who’s providing services that might synergize with yours.

In addition to the social events mentioned previously, some facilities offer classes on such topics as; raising startup capital, marketing, sales strategies and many others – usually included in your membership, non-members need to pay to attend.

4 – Privacy without Isolation or Distraction

Let’s face it, whether in the home office or at a coworking facility, you’ll want privacy and the ability to do focused work requiring your full concentration.

In my home office, the understanding is that when I close the door, Daddy’s busy and not to be interrupted. Well, my wife ‘usually’ understands this, but try telling that to my kids.

When they want Daddy, they want Daddy. Now, I’m not crying about being interrupted to jump on the trampoline on a Tuesday morning, there are worse things.

But, it is a tremendous interruption to my work and train-of-thought to deal with these distractions, as much as I love them.

In my coworking space, when I want privacy, I close the door. It’s generally understood that a closed door means no interruptions.

If I’m out in the common area, whether getting coffee or a snack, it’s understood that you’re available to chat. And besides, if you’re not in the space to socialize, you can politely excuse yourself.

5 – Professional Workspace

I like my home office very much. I’m surrounded by my books, have everything I need, a great view of the Rocky Mountains. But, it’s still a home office because right outside my door is the ‘home’ part.

My coworking space feels more like a professional workspace inside and outside my office. There are other professionals outside the door, a snack room, water cooler (if you want to gossip I suppose), conference rooms and a training room.

I have all the amenities of a professional environment without the feeling of ‘corporate.’

6 – Success Mindset

You may have heard of the book, “Dress for Success.” The basic premise is you act the way you dress. This translates into your environment too. Working in your pajamas in a home office sounds great. And the first couple months, it may be great.

But most people don’t have the mental discipline to do this and be very effective.

In relation to the professional workspace, having a space to go to does something to my mindset. I don’t show up in shirt and tie (don’t have one), I usually wear shorts in the summer, jeans when it’s colder.

But, by being in a professional environment, I ‘feel’ more professional. I’m focused in my mind about work and work related tasks.

Even though my coworking space is only a few miles from my home, there’s a huge (and good) separation that happens when I travel to the office.

7 – Better Boundaries

As mentioned above, there’s a shift that happens when I go to my co-working space. During the commute, my mindset lets go of home/family related concerns, and shifts toward work related concerns.

And my commute is not very long. Twenty minutes by bike (preferred method). Ten minutes by bus or car (inclement weather). But it’s long enough for me to get into work mode.

There’s just something cleansing about a commute, no matter how short, that helps me reset and shift into a different mindset.

And if you have a hard time turning ‘off’ work, having the physical boundary between home and office, can be a very good reminder to turn work on and off.

The Argument Against Coworking

Yes, there are downsides to co-working. Right away, you can see that there’s additional costs. These costs can be much lower if you don’t take a dedicated office, and usually are lower than a virtual office location I discussed earlier.

There ‘s going to be a commute, but as I talked about before, if it’s not too far, that can be a good thing.

Perhaps you won’t like any of the other people at your coworking space, or that the proprietors aren’t putting much effort into socializing or collaboration.

You just have to do your homework, and when you find an environment that looks and feels right, give it a try. Most places allow for month-to-month agreements, minimizing your risk.

One of the things I like is that because I pay lower than I would for a dedicated office, I don’t feel pressured to go to the coworking facility everyday.

Like I mentioned before, my home office is great and I love it. But, sometimes, I need to distance and environment that my coworking space provides. I like collaborating with others.

If you’re working from a home office, feel isolated sometimes and miss connecting with like-minded professionals, consider the many benefits of a coworking space to break up the monotony and enhance your focus, networking and collaboration.

To Your Millionaire!

David Koons
FreeAgentCoach.com

 

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Tags: coworking, David Koons, Free Agent Coach