Companies looking to attract and retain top talent must embrace the hybrid workplace and offer their employees the flexibility they crave. The COVID-19 pandemic changed what working looks like for millions worldwide. While many jobs can only be done in person, most employers shuttered their physical doors and managed their staff remotely online while working from home. For instance, Fortune Mag reported that NYC workers fled during the pandemic to towns like Greenwich, Connecticut, driving a boom in home sales and remote-work rates. And while these workers may not all be moving back into the Big Apple, they’re commuting to the city more frequently.
In 2023, workers have since begun to return to the office in waves, at least for part of the week, and navigating that transition is an ongoing and significant hurdle for employers and workers alike. While some employees are still hesitant to return to the office full-time five days a week pre-COVID norm, many companies ask their staff to come and work 2 to 3 days in the office. Many people are experiencing ‘zoom fatigue’ and are a little isolated working remotely from home, craving the energy, structure, and collaboration of working in an office.
So, if you are a small business owner or remote worker wondering if it is time to consider working from a shared coworking space, here are some of the benefits, which include networking, business growth, enhanced collaboration, human connection, relationship building, increased focus productivity, employee well-being, and team building, to name a few.
Enhanced Collaboration and Employee Engagement Working In Shared Workspaces
According to data from a recent LiquidSpaces report stated, “that people, when empowered with flexibility and choice, still opt to work outside their homes to gather in person, fostering connection and collaboration.” Coworking spaces provide a vibrant, collaborative work environment fostering team building, innovation, and creativity. Shared open-floor workspaces offer a sense of community and support that can be lacking in traditional office settings.
Startup and small business owners can work alongside like-minded professionals from various backgrounds and industries, promoting idea-sharing and unlocking partnerships. Discussing best practices with professionals from different sectors can also uncover better ways of working or looking at a problem. In-person interactions remain the most effective way to build trust and respect, navigate conflict, manage change, and innovate, all essential social capital components.
Overall, the camaraderie of in-person social interactions elevates engagement, fulfillment, and collaborative potential substantially.
Coworking Spaces Foster a Sense of Community and Worklife Balance
While remote work eliminates commuting time and costs, a lack of in-person connections can diminish employees’ sense of belonging and productivity. As social beings, humans, even self-proclaimed introverts, require real human interaction sometimes for mental health and well-being. Working a few days a week in a shared workspace fosters social connections and alleviates feelings of loneliness among workers. Working from home every day can feel isolating, but having the ability to work in shared office spaces when you want and spark up a conversation while grabbing a coffee can be serendipitous.
Companies can include shared workspace memberships in their hybrid work strategies to better support employees’ social autonomy and enhance their well-being and job satisfaction. Flexible coworking offers the benefits of a professional environment without the constraints or internal politics associated with traditional office life. Having on-demand access to workspace at their chosen hours is fantastic for a person’s work-life balance.
Collaborating In Person With Teams Can Reduce Organizational Silos
Organizational silos can lead to communication breakdowns, even in thriving businesses. Many tech companies that embraced remote during the pandemic now see the benefit of getting teams together. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, an early public advocate of remote work, has recently mentioned the importance of in-person collaboration. Improve hybrid employee collaboration by periodically bringing teams together to work from the same space for in-person meetings on a project or weekly basis.
Bond with colleagues, rediscover group synergy, and celebrate shared company milestones. Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, said in an email to staff in April 2022: “Airbnb is in the business of human connection above all else, and we believe that the most meaningful connections happen in person. Additionally, some creative work and collaboration are best done by working with people in the same room. “Empower teams with coworking spaces and meeting rooms where and when they need them across three major cities.
Networking Opportunities
Coworking spaces are more than shared desks and office equipment; they’re vibrant hubs for collaboration and connection. For individuals and businesses of all sizes, networking with a diverse community of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and professionals is an added benefit.
Imagine working alongside talented individuals from a variety of industries. Working in a shared floor plan office opens opportunities for valuable knowledge exchange, bouncing ideas off other professionals, potential partnerships, and recruitment.
Small and medium-sized businesses also benefit from the collaborative spirit of coworking spaces. Many solopreneurs and consultants work from our spaces and use them to make new connections, expand their business network, and find new clients or partners. We have often seen our members hire each other for projects or their services.
Cultivating Culture and Mentoring for Employees
Building a company’s culture is complicated, with employees always working remotely on Zoom. Amazon has started requiring its corporate employees to begin working from an office three days a week. The CEO told Fortune magazine, “There’s more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since we’ve been working together at least three days per week, and we’ve heard this from many employees and the businesses surrounding our offices.” Company culture is also essential for attracting new talent in the future. Meeting in person helps strengthen an organization’s health.
Conclusion
As we look to the future of commercial office space in the post-pandemic era, these workspaces will play a crucial role in enhancing hybrid work policies’ effectiveness and productivity. Whether your company is looking for a new satellite office location in a convenient metro area, providing your employees access to modern workspaces has many benefits, including collaboration, project ideation, team meetings, and maintaining culture. When a person or team rents desk space, a managed private office, or a suite, they will receive support and learning in an environment that encourages innovation and collaboration.
