Mar 29, 2018
Coworking spaces are those workplaces which offer a common working space and environment for different groups of people having different work profiles. In short, those who work there do not belong to the same organization, unlike the everyday corporate office that one sees.
The space set up can vary, as per the end user requirements. It can be single desk cubicles, wide lobby zones, compact or isolated cabins. It is all about work attuned designs rather than standard office layouts.
Co workplaces can also be termed as shared workplaces although there is a minor difference between the two as far as amenities are concerned. In the case of a shared workplace, the amenities pertain more to the established setups.
The Entrepreneur and Co-working space
For the new Entrepreneur, space is a necessity and a constraint. It is a bane and a boon. The former, because it means recurring cost even at the cost of no-profitability initially and the latter since it gives a presentable face to the new venture.
Working from home or in the cafe is fine till a certain point but when growth starts making a presence then ambiance and aesthetics should be given importance. Also, there needs to be a contact address and a receiving despatch point after some time. A residential address in a PPT being shown to the board of a prestigious client in a conference room is not something very comfortable.
Even if the company is on a steady ascendant path, still operational expenses need to be kept in check. The most important is office space.
Productivity in a well-designed co-working space
- Multiple single desks space co-located next to one another create a feeling of working just like a corporate office. It does not matter then that the people are from different work profiles. This increases the bond.
- The services like a cafeteria, tea, and coffee, smoking zones relaxation lounge are shared. It is in the relaxation and breaks moments of work that the ice breaks and a lot of idea sharing happen.
- Other Infrastructure like Internet Wi-Fi connection, Power, AC, usage of conference rooms, video conference etc. are also shared. Any breakdown is an inconvenience for all the co-workers. This again helps them to come together to protect their interest.
- Some of the shared spaces are designed in a jazzy fashion. This really helps if the freelancer is a creative artist or a musician or an ad director. This is especially so if space is a lobby or an open zone.
- It has been observed that most of the co-work or shared spaced tenants are entrepreneurs or promoters of new startup companies. This means regular sharing of ideas which is best for productive workspaces.
- All the freelancers are complementary by nature. It may so happen that a writer and a creative director are sharing the same workspace which means the best unison of ideas.
Conclusion
The objective of Coworking spaces is to provide the convenience of working in just like an office but at a minimal cost. This minimal cost means curtailing unwanted space and optimizing on shared infrastructure. These are also productive workspaces as not just space but ideas are also shared, leading to flourishing businesses and generating successful entrepreneurs.