So you’ve heard of coworking, but you’re not 100% sure what it means and how it affects you or your workspace.
Well you’re in the right place. In this article we’ll check out what coworking is, the different types out there and the main benefits of this working environment.
What is coworking?
Coworking is a term used to describe a working environment where workers from a wide range of avenues work in the same office.
You might have workers from fortune 500 companies, freelancers along with entrepreneurs and start-ups. The number of different workers is endless.
With coworking, you work in a shared environment. This type of working is generally considered incredibly flexible.
You can rent out coworking spaces on a very flexible basis. You can rent out one desk or you can rent out 30 desks, it depends on what your needs are.
However, coworking is likely to fit around your needs very well. It’s far more flexible than traditional office space and also incredibly cheap, as we’ll look at later.
Different types of coworking
There are various different types of coworking including:
- Dedicated desks
- Hot desks
Let’s check these out.
Dedicated desks
These desks are generally for more permanent staff that are renting coworking space on a longer-term basis. Usually months or even years.
With a dedicated desk, you’ll be able to keep your possessions at your workspace. You effectively own the space and you’re the sole user. As you can see this is more like a traditional office environment.
Hot desks
Hot desking is what most people think of when you mention coworking spaces. Hot desks are generally for those looking to rent on a shorter-term basis. You can rent hot desks for as little as an hour at some locations.
Hot desks are similar to that of a library. You book your desk, arrive at your workspace and select your desk. It’s based on a first-come-first-served basis. Whilst not all workers will like this type of desk, there are others that it suits very well.
Benefits of coworking
Whilst coworking is very different from your traditional office space, there are distinct benefits when you compare the two. Here are just some of the advantages.
- More cost-effective
- Increases productivity
- Great networking potential
More cost-effective
One of the great benefits of coworking spaces is that they are incredibly cost-effective when compared to traditional office space.
This means companies, freelancers and start-ups can save a huge amount of money by opting for coworking spaces over traditional office space.
You’re not tied into long term contracts like you are with traditional office space. Coworking is incredibly flexible and can be built around your needs.
You also don’t have to rent or purchase office furniture and equipment when you first get started. What’s more, there are no utility bills to pay at the end of each month. This is all taken care of for you by the coworking location.
Increases productivity
There are various studies which have proven that coworking increases the productivity of workers. Whilst you might not think that workers swinging in armchairs or talking to clients in phone booths is very productive, you’d be surprised.
This modern philosophy of working in a more relaxed environment is proving to be very effective. Workers are getting more done which in turn allows them to reach targets and beat their peers working in traditional office space.
Great networking potential
Coworking also offers workers a great opportunity to network on a scale never possible before. One of the great things about coworking spaces is that new faces are constantly coming and going.
You’ll also have workers from a huge range of different backgrounds and businesses. You might have an accountant at one desk and then a website designer on the next.
The opportunities are endless. At a traditional office, you likely have the same people walking around each day which is incredibly boring.
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits of working in coworking environments.