Socialising in coworking spaces can provide numerous benefits for individuals and businesses alike. Coworking spaces are designed to offer collaborative and social environments where people can connect with others who share similar interests and goals. Making friends in coworking spaces can be done through networking events, workshops, and other activities that provide opportunities to meet new people and build relationships within the space. Coworking companies may provide their members an app with community profiles which can allow members to exchange information on their profiles like name, company, hobbies and some other personal information. These apps may also include other channels for networking, like a newsfeed informing members of upcoming events and news within the coworking space, along with monthly newsletters.
You can also strike up conversations with other coworkers in common areas such as the kitchen or lounge areas. It’s important to be open and friendly. Introduce yourself to others and show an interest in their work and ideas. Be willing to share your own experiences and expertise as well. Over time, you may find that you have developed a strong network of supportive and like-minded friends at your coworking space, that you may have not had otherwise.
Coworking spaces offer a range of social benefits for those who use them, including:
- Community building: Coworking spaces create a community among people who work in different fields, providing unique opportunities for collaboration and networking. This can be especially valuable for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers who may otherwise feel isolated. Keeping members connected and engaged, reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness that can typically arise from remote or independent working.
- Enhanced creativity and innovation: Bringing together people with different skills and perspectives, coworking spaces foster creativity and innovation. This can lead to new ideas and projects that may not have emerged in a more traditional work setting.
- Increased productivity: Coworking spaces can provide a more productive work environment than choosing to work from home or in a coffee shop. They offer access to amenities such as high-speed internet, printing and scanning services, meeting rooms and break out areas which can help people stay focused and productive.
- Improved work-life balance: Coworking spaces can provide a more flexible and accommodating work environment than traditional offices. Many coworking spaces offer 24/7 access, allowing people to work at times that are most convenient for them. This can help people balance their work and personal lives more effectively.
- Professional development: Coworking spaces often offer events and workshops, such as seminars, talks, and training sessions. These events can help people develop new skills and knowledge, enhancing their professional growth.
Overall, people thrive in coworking spaces because they provide a supportive, collaborative, and flexible work environment that fosters creativity, productivity, and personal growth both professionally and personally.
How coworking space helps businesses grow
- Access to talent: Coworking spaces attract a diverse range of professionals, including freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. This creates opportunities for businesses to tap into a pool of talent that they may not have access to in a traditional office setting. Offering a high-quality workspace to your employees will help you attract and retain talent for your business.
- Partnership opportunities: Coworking spaces promote deep collaboration and provide opportunities for businesses to partner with other members. This can lead to new business opportunities, partnerships, and even mergers and acquisitions for businesses.
- Flexibility and scalability: Coworking spaces offer flexible and scalable workspaces, allowing businesses to quickly and easily adjust their workspace needs as they grow. This can help businesses save time and money by avoiding the need to constantly relocate as they expand into the future. Businesses can have a greater sense of stability because of this.
- Increased productivity: Coworking spaces promote productivity and creativity, providing businesses with an environment that helps them achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.
- Professional development: Coworking spaces often offer events, workshops, and other professional development opportunities for their members. These can help businesses stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in their industry and develop new skills and knowledge.
Overall, coworking spaces are important for businesses looking to grow because they provide access to talent, collaboration and partnership opportunities, flexibility and scalability, increased productivity, and professional development. By socialising in coworking spaces, businesses can accelerate their growth and achieve their goals more effectively.
Who uses coworking spaces?
A wide range of people make use of socialising in coworking spaces, including:
- Freelancers: Coworking spaces are popular among freelancers who need a professional workspace but don’t want to work from home or commit to a long-term lease. Creativity breeds in these spaces making it a favorable working arrangement for a large portion of freelancers.
- Entrepreneurs: Coworking spaces are also popular among entrepreneurs who are starting a business and want a flexible, cost-effective workspace that can adapt to their needs. Entrepreneurs can network with other like-minded entrepreneurs creating opportunities for new ideas and collaborations, solely from being in the coworking space.
- Remote workers: Coworking spaces provide a workspace for remote workers who want to escape the isolation of working from home and have access to amenities such as high-speed internet and meeting rooms.
- Small businesses: Coworking spaces can provide small businesses with a professional workspace that they may not be able to afford on their own.
- Startups: Coworking spaces are often home to startups that are looking for a community of like-minded individuals and access to resources such as mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities. Startups often scale up quickly once funding is secured and benefit from a workspace that provides space to grow.
- Non-profits: Coworking spaces can also be used by non-profit organizations that need a workspace but may not have the budget for traditional office space.
Why are big corporations moving into coworking spaces?
Coworking isn’t just for freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. Big corporations are catching onto the trend and moving into coworking spaces for several reasons, including:
- Flexibility: Coworking spaces offer corporations a flexible workspace solution that can adapt to their changing needs. They can rent as much or as little space as they need and can adjust their space requirements as their needs change. You can take on an additional office space for a short term to accommodate a project, or move into a larger suite as the business keeps expanding.
- Cost savings: Coworking spaces can provide corporations with cost savings compared to traditional office space. They can avoid the high upfront costs of leasing and outfitting their own space and can instead take advantage of the shared resources and amenities of a coworking space.
- Talent acquisition and retention: Coworking spaces can help corporations attract and retain talent by providing a more attractive and flexible workspace option. Many younger workers prefer coworking spaces because they offer a more collaborative and social environment than traditional offices.
- Innovation and collaboration: Coworking spaces can promote innovation and collaboration by bringing together professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries. Corporations can tap into this community of innovators to foster new ideas, partnerships, and business opportunities.
- Geographic expansion: Coworking spaces can also provide corporations with a flexible solution for expanding into new markets or regions. They can establish a presence in a new location without committing to a long-term lease or investing in a new office space.
- Managed solution: Coworking spaces offer not only fully fitted and furnished space, but also manage all the operations and services in the building. This offers a saving for businesses who otherwise have to allocate resources to office management. By running your office from a coworking space you and your team can focus on the core activities in the business that generate revenue.
Big corporations are moving into coworking spaces because they offer a flexible, cost-effective, and innovative workspace solution that can help them attract and retain talent, foster collaboration and innovation, and expand into new markets.
What problems do coworking spaces solve?
- Isolation: Coworking spaces provide a community of like-minded professionals, which can help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness that individuals may experience when working from home.
- High costs: Coworking spaces provide a cost-effective workspace solution that can save individuals and organizations money compared to traditional office space.
- Lack of resources: Coworking spaces offer shared resources and amenities, such as high-speed internet, printers, and meeting rooms, that may be too expensive for individuals or small organizations to acquire on their own.
- Limited networking opportunities: Coworking spaces provide a community of professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries, which can expand networking opportunities and help individuals and organizations form new connections.
- Inflexibility: Coworking spaces offer flexible workspace solutions that can adapt to the changing needs of individuals and organizations, which can help address the inflexibility of traditional office space leases.
- Distractions: Coworking spaces offer an environment that can help minimize distractions, as individuals can focus on work in a professional setting without the distractions of home or other non-work environments. A coworking space will offer a range of work areas to focus or to take a break from work and socialize.
Socialising at United Co. Coworking space in Melbourne
United Co’s coworking space provides members with opportunities for socialising and networking in a friendly welcoming environment.
Whether you are attending our networking events such as monthly community drinks or breakfast events, there are plenty of opportunities to meet other members and form new connections. Members can access a range of shared spaces such as the kitchen, lounge areas, and rooftop garden. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you can expand your professional network and form new connections, aIf you are interested in coworking space in Melbourne, please get in touch today!
