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Have you ever typed “I hate my office” into a search engine? Google spits out nearly 6 million results for that query. In contrast, not a single result is returned for “I hate my coworking space”. Space operators must be doing something right. Of course, there are always things that can be improved. As regular visitors to coworking spaces worldwide, we at Deskmag identified some neuralgic points.
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One of the reasons freelancers enjoy coworking is that it provides the opportunity to participate in a global community of like-minded professionals without being tied down to one office. Most coworking spaces offer a free or very affordable drop-in option. Although you may feel right at home in coworking spaces around the world, it’s still a little awkward to be working out of your laptop bag.
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Two days ago was the first official day of summer on the upper side of the globe, and although that means the kiddos are out of school, freelancers are still hard at work. If you’re planning to take a few days for yourself now that the weather is nice, preparing a summer reading list can help you expand your mind while working on your tan.
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Coworking is all about building communities anchored around a shared space. These days, some of the fastest growing communities are being built online. There’s a few things offline communities could learn from online ones, which is why today we’re presenting a few tips from David Noël, community manager at SoundCloud.
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How close do individuals need to be physically to exchange inspiration and ideas? Extremely close, according to a study of a shared workspace in Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is home to a new style of low-cost workspace that encourages collaboration - similar in concept to coworking, but with a slight twist. A recent study tested how proximity affects real interaction between individuals working in the space.
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These days, almost everyone is looking for ways to be green, but just like Kermit said, it’s not always easy. By working for yourself, instead of a bloated company full of time and resource-wasting bureaucracy, you’re already pretty lean and mean. But coworking instead of working from home could help you reduce your impact even further. Here’s how:
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These days, many people start to work in a coworking space for the first time. Those new to coworking are often amazed that groups of people sitting together in the same room can really be productive. While it’s true that coworkers often have super-human talents, they also have some tricks up their sleeves.
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Do you remember the good old pyramid of human needs by Maslow? According to Maslow, the needs at the base of the pyramid must be satisfied before being able to satisfy higher ones. It turns out this can be effectively applied to coworking. Each coworking space has to focus on providing some basic services before being able to deliver the true value of coworking. In other words, don’t start giving yoga lessons before being sure you’ve got a reliable WiFi connection and a highly functional space.
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Between January and April 2011, Deskmag analysed the results of the first Global Coworking Survey and published them in a series of twelve themed articles, which are listed here as a summary. Through our analysis we wanted to provide coworking spaces with helpful information to better understand and serve their members.
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Coworking naturally creates community—it’s the beauty of freelancers and independents working together in a shared office space. No doubt you’ve benefited from this coworking community goodness. But have you ever thought about having a group that is more focused on a niche you’re interested in? Here are eight easy steps for how to create a local meet-up group for other freelancers and small business owners.
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When we scored the coworking.com domain early last year, my personal goal was to have a digital placeholder for the word “coworking” and tie it to the shared core values of the community: collaboration, openness, community, accessibility, and sustainability. As I watch announcements of new coworking spaces pour in, and the beginnings of another of my predictions being fulfilled at an equally alarming rate, I’m seeing yet another pattern emerge. // A guest article by Alex Hillman of IndyHall.
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Coworking communities are unique collections of people that can provide just enough sun, rain, and fertilizer for your ideas to grow and bloom. However, just like you can’t just toss a sack of seeds into the dirt and expect to get a garden, you can’t just sit in your seat with your headphones on, waiting for the community to nurture you.
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Over the past five years, the growth rate of coworking spaces has averaged 100% each year. Yet at the same time almost one in five coworking spaces has closed its doors, according to Emergent Research. The income from renting desks often doesn’t cover all the costs. What are the models of sustainable success?
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If you’re a coworking space catalyst or a coworking space owner, you should probably have a welcome mat in front of your space. Okay, not necessarily a literal welcome mat. I’m talking about making new members feel welcome by doing the basic “host”-type duties in your space. While these my seem like no-brainer things to do, I’ve discovered that in some coworking spaces, these things are simply not happening. However, some actions are musts.
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"Several years ago, I asked my mom where she keeps the plastic wrap for leftovers. She replied, 'I don’t believe in it.' My initial reaction was that she was crazy! It obviously exists! You can buy it and lots of people use it every day. She said, 'well, I don’t really care about those people, it has never worked for me.' Today I think the same about private offices, I don’t believe in them.” Angel Kwiatkowksi writes about why privates offices weaken a community.
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People thrive on stories. Whether fact, fiction or a little of both, as is most often the case: Stories are what bind us together, as friends, families, companies, religious group, political sway or country. Stories can also enhance the connectedness of coworking communities. We all have to tell something, whether our own personal story or the story of our business. However you’re involved in coworking, tell your story. Here are a few suggestions.
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Angel Kwiatkowski had attended her fair share of networking events in the last year, and she just want to go on the record as saying: "Most networking events are a waste of my time and yours." She's been to networking events for web people, sustainable people, people with “integrity,” early risers, late nighters, coffee drinkers, tea enthusiasts, women, pet lovers, commerce lunchers, bar hoppers and more. Here are a few examples of why those events are falling short.
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Technology is a major part of coworking life. Nearly all coworkers use laptops and the internet on a daily basis. So what operating systems and internet browsers do coworkers use most often? The answer differs widely depending on age, gender and location. There’s good news for Google – its Chrome browser has overtaken Firefox in several demographics. Internet Explorer, however, has become as popular as the Ebola virus. In terms of operating systems and brands, Apple remains the favorite except among women.
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Coworkers like their workspace to be small and interactive, flexible on opening hours and close to restaurants. Most work daily and prefer 24-hour access. A coworking visa with access to coworking spaces worldwide is of high interest for them. And the majority don't care much about the recreational activities on offer. Those are some of the findings of the first global coworking survey, which is being released over the next few days on Deskmag.
