Pros and cons of co-working spaces

Communal workspaces are not just for start-ups anymore, according to Adam Shapley, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand.

“Big business is embracing the co-working phenomenon, but it’s not for everyone.”

GCUC and Emergent Research found that there were 11,790 co-working spaces globally in 2017, with 1.74 million members. They expect membership to rise to 5.1 million by 2022.

Shapley added that the opportunity to network is a big attraction of co-working spaces.

“Most co-working companies want to foster a community and many use open-plan desks, as well as hosting regular social events, wellness sessions, product launches and investor meetings,” said Shapley.

“The open layout of co-working spaces also leads to a more collaborative, personal and socially dynamic culture within an organisation.

“Just make sure you find out which other businesses are in the space before you sign up, and whether they align with your goals.”

Moreover, another benefit is the opportunity to spot emerging business opportunities.

KPMG is one example of an organisation working along start-ups in co-working spaces to spot emerging trends and opportunities to support them earlier in their lifecycle.

Kirsty Mitchell, Director of Growth for KPMG in the UK, said that by placing small KPMG teams into co-working spaces, they are part of a fast-paced ecosystem, working daily with businesses to help them as they grow, and to identify key issues and opportunities for them as they arise.

Mitchell said these environments could help KPMG project teams come up with new solutions to problems as well, rather than internal project rooms which “can stifle creativity”.

 “We are not all the same and to be effective a co-working space must therefore be able to adapt to the needs of individual tenants and their staff,” said Mitchell.

“This includes ensuring there are enough meeting rooms and private areas in which to meet clients or have private conversations.

“If you don’t take the appropriate steps, the culture of the co-working company can become more dominant than the employer’s.”

Regular video conferences with your head office team and private offices within co-working spaces can help to minimise this risk,

A private office within a co-working space also addresses some of the other common drawbacks of co-working: overcrowding, noise, mess and lack of privacy.

If you think co-working might be for you or you’ve accepted a job that’s based in a co-working space, these tips will help you make the transition:

• Make the effort to introduce yourself to your fellow co-workers – first impressions count;
• Set a routine as quickly as you can. You will have more flexibility in a co-working space, so it’s important that you are diligent and mindful of your time – otherwise, your productivity could suffer;
• Make the most of the opportunity to work with different people each day to build your network, upskill and make new contacts. Many co-working spaces run regular networking and office events, so head along to these wherever possible;
• Make your desk feel like home – experiment with different areas of the shared working space and see what works best for you;
• Get to know the office/community manager – having a good relationship with them will make it easier to get help from them if the printer breaks or the Wi-Fi goes down;
• Move to a quieter space if you know you are going to be on a long conference/video call that could be distracting for your co-workers;
• If you are working for a brand, keep your employer front of mind, rather than the culture of the office space you’re working in. It can be easy to feel detached, but regular communications and face-to-face meetings should help;
• Eat away from your desk and take breaks out of the office. In many co-working spaces, everything is under one roof, so it can feel like there’s no need to get out, but the truth is that you do need to get out for your own wellbeing.