Five Reasons Co-Working Spaces are on the Rise

The days when we used to work in set offices belonging to a single company are quickly coming to a close. Offices belonging exclusively to one company are becoming a thing of the past, mostly due to the rise of co-working. There are many reasons why co-working offices have increased in popularity, whether it’s money constraints, a search for a more creative office or even as a convenience. Shared workspaces are especially popular among freelancers, independent workers, consultants and small enterprises. Here are a few of the reasons listed below.

Why Co-work?

Every answer begins with a question. The question asked here is “Why the rise in co-working spaces?” There are many different reasons as to why this is happening. Here are five reasons why

Co-working spaces are growing in popularity.

1> First and foremost is the rise in start-ups and small businesses. When you’re a new company, capital is at a premium. The endless effort in setting up and ensuring success, to the rigorous search for investment, sparing the money to lease an office space is a burden on most start-ups. Generally speaking, office spaces are mostly located in premium localities, making the price for workspace rentals prohibitively expensive.

2> The second reason for the increased interest in co-working spaces ties in to the first one.

Renting or leasing office space, especially one that meets your needs is a daunting prospect.

You have to find the right one location-wise, size-wise and one that fits your style. What makes this even more troublesome is that you’re locked in to a rental or lease agreement for a specific period of time, whether it’s a year or more.

3> Offices generally follow a one-dimensional structure, like a top-down work structure. Co-working spaces on the other hand encourage creative workflow, collaboration and more importantly, networking and “career fluidity” as Anne Kreamer, a writer for the Harvard

Business Review described it.

4> Co-working office spaces also come with many benefits. You get plenty of opportunities to share ideas, communicate effectively with others, collaborate on projects with your co-workers and brainstorm when you need to.

5> Another positive of co-working spaces is that they are incredibly flexible. They can be designed according to what a company needs and, the layout of the office can be changed as needed too. Co-working spaces are also flexible in their rental agreements, whether it’s for a day, week, month or year.

There is so much more to a co-working office. Increased productivity, better networking, more creativity and a higher level of freedom compared to a traditional workspace are even more reasons for enterprises and freelancers to go the co-working route!

Content Source: iKeva

Four Ways Coworking Encourages Community

Changing workspace trends over the last decade have seen the gradual move from traditional cubicles and office spaces to other, alternate places to work from. We’ve seen people running their businesses from homes, or working out of coffee shops. The downside though, was that home workspaces lack social interaction and, coffee shops and home offices both share a problem with distraction.

That’s where coworking spaces made their entrance, filling the gap between the need for a workspace, and the need for social interaction. Coworking spaces offer the best of both worlds. This change, one very much to the positive, has seen more and more people actively opting for these spaces, to make the best of what they offer. There are many benefits to working in a shared office space. Each coworking space is different, and the culture in each is different too, based on the city the shared office space is in. The culture in a Bangalore coworking space will be different from the culture in a coworking space in Hyderabad. That’s another way these offices promote community and togetherness, by reflecting the culture of the place they are located in.

Here are four ways coworking spaces encourage community.

• The Collaborative Force: Coworking spaces are a very open environment, making it as easy as leaning over a desk or pushing you chair back to ask someone’s opinion or ideate on a project. Coworking spaces also make it possible to hold brainstorm sessions with a varied group of people, each with their unique opinions and ideas. The idea of coworking encourages working together to solve a problem and a focus on being a community rather than just individuals working together.
• Easy Networking: There are many good things that can be said about Coworking but, one that really stands out is the ease of networking. If you’re a fresh start-up looking to expand your network or just hire new people, a coworking space is a great source for leads. It’s even better for freelancers, who can expand their network and find new sources of work from the same workspace. They could even get hired by start-ups looking to expand.
• The Social: We’ve spoken about how coworking spaces are collaborative and good for networking. The reason for this is because they’re structured to be really social and encourage interaction. Coworking spaces also have a lot of events organized, from seminars and workshops to office parties, and celebrating festivals and other holidays. This makes for a really social work setting, which is a big plus!
• Relationships that matter:
  When you work in a shared office space, one of the great things is the people. When you find an office of people who share the same ideals, the same thought processes as you, is when coworking spaces really shine! You meet so many new people and, most of them end up being more than just colleagues, coworkers or contacts. You meet interesting people who might become really close friends, someone who shares hobbies with you and much, much more!

That’s why coworking spaces are such a great draw compared to normal, boring old office spaces. There’s so much to see and do, and so many new people to meet! Coworking spaces are definitely a great community-builder.

Content Source: ikeva

Optimizing your Co-working Space: Five Things You Should be Doing

The number of small enterprises and start-ups is rapidly growing. With this, the demand for workspace and for creative work environments is rising quickly. A majority of the companies started recently are highly innovative technological start-ups or creative works like media agencies, social media marketing or advertising agencies. As real estate is increasingly becoming a commodity, and with start-ups focusing on better utilizing capital, the need for shared workspaces is high.

Here are five things you should be doing to optimize your co-working space.

Furnish and Supply:

Structure is a vital part of any office. The way an office is structured can affect everything from productivity, to workflow and creativity. Your office sets the tone of your workspace. These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when furnishing your workspace. Make sure you have absolutely everything you need to keep your office running. Choose your furniture depending on the type of work atmosphere you need. As an example, if your office is meant to be a creative, energetic and happy workplace, choose bright colours and warm lighting, with comfortable chairs that one can sink into while working.

Another important facet is resources. Resources matter, especially in a shared workspace. Your workspace will need enough office supplies and anything else that is required in a modern office in ample supply. Essentials like charging points, internet access, and access to stationery are all necessary.

The Nerve Center:

A shared office is meant to boost creativity and, what better way to do it than with a brainstorming session? Having a dedicated space where you can gather your team and brainstorm is essential to success. In co-working spaces, the need for a “nerve center” or a place meant for brainstorming is immensely important. For one, it gives you and your team a place to think and discuss in peace. As a second point, it allows you to carry out your meetings without disturbing the people you share your office with. On occasion, you can even invite them to join in your discussions!

Scrum Mastery:

The secret behind the success of most creative teams is the scrum; a regularly held meeting meant to discuss the things of importance happening in your business. Holding a regular scrum, whether daily or weekly serves as a reminder of goals, allows you to establish objectives for you and your team and, on top of it all and lets you know where you stand in your business.

Open The Floor:

Contrary to most office spaces that are divided by cubicles, co-working spaces flourish better when they have more room, or at least the appearance of more. Cubicles are generally considered stifling, cramped spaces. So, open up the floor of your co-working space with interspersed furniture. This helps create a feeling of togetherness and removes the feeling of separation that working from a cubicle causes. Having an open office floor boosts creativity, team spirit and allows for more open communication with the people you are working with.

Grub and Glug [OR] Food values:

In any office, break time is valued highly. It allows people to wind down from a day’s hard work, catch up on other concerns or just spend the time getting in touch with friends. One of the most important things for any break is food. Having a well-stocked and equipped break room is vital. Here, your employees can interact with their co-workers during the break over a small bite to eat. This helps boost camaraderie in the office as well as providing a small energy boost to keep the productivity going. Stocking up on healthy snacks and beverages also helps keep energy levels, productivity and an overall healthy, positive attitude in the office.

Source: iKeva