The Coworking industry initially began as a small movement, catering toward a niche crowd of entrepreneurs and startups. It’s boomed into an industry with nearly 14,000 spaces worldwide by the end of this year, and over 1 million members using those spaces. How is Coworking renovating what we have considered traditional office culture for so long?
First of all, working from home for some people can be convenient. But it does create isolation. And in a traditional office, you don’t get much, if any, interaction with other types of businesses. Plus, if you’re an entrepreneur, Coworking provides you with unmatched flexibility benefits. No long-term office lease, benefits such as wi-fi and printing (among others), and the ability to interact and network on a daily basis. And for those who are on the go constantly, members of shared spaces can often use their memberships at multiple locations. The concept is changing the way people look at old offices.
One of the biggest reasons why Coworking has continued to grow is due to the expansion of independent workers in the labor force. Contactors, freelancers, and remote workers are in higher numbers than ever before. Combine that with a younger average age of workers, and its clear to see how and why the migration toward Coworking has continued. While those who are used to traditional offices may argue that having open spaces with ability to interact constantly can be a distraction, the results of a Deskmag survey say clearly otherwise. According to Deskmag, 62% of respondents reported an improved standard of work since joining Coworking, and 68% said they were able to focus better.
Added Benefits
There are also benefits to Coworking spaces that traditional offices wouldn’t even consider. Whether it’s a stocked kitchen, guest speakers, social events, workout spaces/classes, games, and many more, these shared office spaces are adding to a positive work-life balance in a way that old offices can’t compete with. That doesn’t imply that its all fun and games, as the Deskmag survey proved. The ability to book state of the art conference rooms, use high speed reliable internet, and collaborate with members from all types of fields, means a Coworking space beats working from home or a coffee shop.
Even among companies that eventually outgrow their space and need a more traditional office set up, they often take ideas that helped them succeed and implement it into their new office. Many companies say that among reasons they grew and expanded was benefits of Coworking, and in many cases, they now work with people they met at a shared space.
Coworking provides a solution for those who need different things from their day to day routine than a traditional office can provide or that the isolation of working from home creates. In a work environment where community is key, and sharing ideas is instrumental, and comfort boosts production levels, it’s no wonder Coworking is redefining office culture. To find out how WUN can improve your shared space, please click the link below.