Coco Space https://cocospace.pk 4m 1,062 #productivity
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
It would not be wrong to say that the modern work culture is undergoing a transformation, as evidenced by the rise of hybrid and remote work. Resultantly, the concept of the office is also changing as organizations realize that they don’t need all of their employees to work from a single place.
Instead, they are more open to the concept of coworking spaces. These spaces offer a perfect balance between flexibility, creativity, and productivity. This article discusses how a shared office space in Islamabad or anywhere else promotes better creativity and productivity.
Before doing so, we would like to reiterate that not every shared office space is the same. As coworking spaces are becoming increasingly popular, individuals and businesses are venturing into this area. They are opening coworking spaces whose sole purpose is to earn money.
They forget that a coworking space is much more than offering a desk, meeting room, and free Wi-Fi. It must have a purpose. Without it, members will hesitate to continue their membership. Therefore, let’s first delve into how to select the best coworking space for your requirements.
Selecting the Right Coworking Space
Location
When selecting a coworking space, most individuals or businesses only focus on the location. Sure, proximity to public transportation and amenities like cafes should be considered. However, remember that the choice shouldn’t be solely based on the location alone.
Evaluating Facilities
Another significant aspect to focus on is the facilities available in the shared office space. Ensure the coworking space provides reliable internet, printing/scanning amenities, meeting rooms, private workspaces, and a dedicated kitchen area.
Assessing Your Requirements
Your next step involves determining your workspace requirements. Decide whether you or your team are content with open desk seating or require a designated desk. There is also the option of a private space. If you wish to work in isolation and away from prying eyes, consider a private office in the coworking space.
Fellow Members
Do the fellow coworking space members align with your business or professional growth objectives? Indeed, compatible coworkers can potentially lead to more opportunities and business expansion. If you are an IT expert, it is better to prefer a coworking space that houses IT freelancers, remote workers, and businesses.
Membership Fee
Moving forward, it’s wise to compare the membership fees of the coworking space with those of others in your vicinity. Evaluate which option provides the most value for your money.
Flexibility Considerations
Evaluate the coworking space’s ability to adapt to your evolving needs. For instance, if you require a private space or additional workstations for your team members, does the space have the capacity to accommodate such changes?
Trial Period
Explore reviews and seek recommendations from existing members. This practice can help you identify potential concerns and make an informed decision. Finally, if available, take advantage of any trial period offered by the coworking space to ensure it meets your expectations.
How Coworking Spaces Promote Creativity and Productivity
Collaborative Ecosystem
A coworking space brings together individuals from diverse professions. You will find freelancers, remote employees, entrepreneurs, and established businesses within a single coworking space. This diversity encourages collaboration and the exchange of ideas. It can help address specific challenges or develop a new, innovative idea.
Fosters Creativity through Design
Unlike traditional workspaces, shared office spaces differentiate themselves in multiple aspects, including design. These shared spaces prioritize aesthetics and ergonomics, thereby ensuring a much better experience for all members. All this contributes to a visually appealing setting that can foster greater creativity.
Trust us when we say the last place you expect to get creative is the traditional office cubicles. Apart from that, the flexibility to choose your own work arrangement allows individuals to select a place that matches their work preferences. When basic requirements are met, individuals can focus more on their work.
Breaks Down Silos
The problem with a traditional workspace is that individuals belonging to the same department sit together. How is this a limitation? Unfortunately, these individuals have no motivation or need to interact with others. Thus, they develop a silo mentality, looking at everything from their own perspective.
A coworking space breaks down these silos. How? Within a coworking space, the person on the next desk might be from a completely different background. With regular interaction, you can understand how individuals from other professions operate. This interdisciplinary interaction contributes to new ideas and innovations.
Amenities
How do coworking spaces foster productivity? In a typical office or home environment, there are numerous distractions. Within an office, coworkers might try to engage you in gossip. At home, you may get distracted by house chores or a screaming kid. Within a coworking space, you are free from all such hassles.
That’s not all. All coworking spaces offer high-speed internet, ergonomic furniture, private meeting rooms, and more. These can enable individuals to focus on their tasks with utmost dedication. Lastly, with like-minded individuals throughout the space, it can provide the much-needed motivation to accomplish tasks.
Work-Life Integration
Unfortunately, freelancing and remote work blurs the lines between professional and personal life. A coworking space offers an office that is separate from your home. Therefore, it allows individuals to maintain healthy levels of work-life balance. It contributes to better well-being, thereby improving productivity and creativity.
Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovation
A lot of startups start from coworking spaces. Indeed, they cannot afford large spaces due to financial constraints. Therefore, a coworking space is now considered a platform for entrepreneurial activity. Also, such spaces host events and workshops to foster knowledge sharing.
Apart from this, coworking spaces now offer experienced mentors that offer guidance and even resources. It helps entrepreneurs and others navigate the challenges facing their growth. Indeed, a lot of shared office spaces now differentiate themselves based on the experience of their mentors.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, coworking spaces offer numerous benefits, including that they foster greater creativity and productivity. However, these benefits are only realized if you select the right space. Therefore, adhere to our tips when selecting a space for yourself or your business.
Author Bio
Humza has spent the past seven years building a successful career in the coworking industry. With a deep understanding of the needs of modern entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, Humza has helped established productive and inspiring workspaces. Humza’s most recent project in this field is CocoSpace, a coworking space in Islamabad.
(
