Shared Workspaces: The Future of Productivity

The traditional 9-to-5 office setting is becoming obsolete. Companies all over the world are realizing the benefits of allowing employees to work from anywhere, and some of the largest organizations are embracing the remote work trend. That being said, there are entrepreneurs who believe that collaboration and face-to-face communication with colleagues are essential elements to getting their business up and running – this is where communal workspaces come in.

A shared workspace combines the benefits of a traditional office setting, in terms of socialization and collaboration, with the freedom provided when working from home. ShareYourOffice recently conducted a survey of entrepreneurs who utilize a shared workspace, revealing how this non-traditional setting benefits their companies, as well as their industries as a whole.

A meeting of minds

The key benefit of a shared workspace is the fact that so many hard-working, intelligent, and innovative people are brought together under the same roof. The amount of knowledge and creativity being passed around these communal spaces optimizes everyone’s chances of reaching that “A-ha!” moment that leads to a breakthrough.

Communication

Though electronic communication capabilities have come a long way, there simply is no replacement for good old-fashioned face-to-face interaction. Having a physical space to hold meetings in is important to the success of a company. Derric Haynie, co-founder of digital marketing agency Splash OPM, said he “wanted to have a place to meet so that we wouldn’t have to do it…at a coffee shop.” Having a central headquarters of sorts makes it much easier to communicate without having to contend with potential disruptions in a public area.

Collaboration

Since multiple companies are simultaneously working on a variety of projects within a shared space, the potential for collaboration is huge. Alex Sunnarborg, co-founder of Lawnmower, believes communal workplaces are “quite valuable for collaboration, idea generation, (and) business integrations.” The members of the various startups within a single communal workspace are often more than happy to share innovative solutions and help each other overcome obstacles.

Feedback

Shared workspaces are also a great place to get feedback on your work from people outside your company who are still familiar with your work. While working within a shared workspace, startup teams may come into contact with others who are at different stages within their own company. Not only are these situations conducive to collaboration among companies, but they also optimize the potential for mentor-mentee relationships to form.

Getting up and out

One of the main differences between a typical office setting and a communal office is that, in a communal workspace, everyone present wants to be there. Since working from home or elsewhere is certainly an option, there’s no reason for a member of a team to be there if they’re not feeling up to it. When working in a communal office, you can be almost certain that you won’t run into those dreaded toxic employees who seemingly exist only to make other people miserable.

Breaks up the monotony

Many of us stuck in a typical 9-to-5 dream of being able to work from home every day of our lives. But when we actually get our wish, we realize something we never thought of before: It can be boring. Founder of Odden Creative Darren Odden reported feeling “isolated” during his first entrepreneurial venture, which was strictly based online. Having a central hub allows you to get up and out of your PJs and get some much-needed face time with your colleagues.

A sense of camaraderie

Communal workspaces are full of individuals with similar goals, a similar work ethic, and similar mindsets. Ryan Heneise, of MemberMan, discusses at length the benefits of working within such a community: “Aside from having a comfortable place to work, it’s nice to be around other entrepreneurs and people doing similar work. There’s a sort of camaraderie that develops as you get to know other people in the office.” The teams working within a communal workspace have different goals, personalities, and talents, but they are tied together by one common factor: they all want to create something to improve the world around them.

Keeping expenses down

All other factors aside, sharing a workspace has a major effect on a startup’s bottom line. Any time a company can save money on expenses, it can be counted as a win – especially if you’re just getting your business off the ground. Haynie writes, “Larger companies don’t necessarily care about price, but when you’re bootstrapping a startup, you’re going to be more sensitive (to such costs).” Especially considering that team members of such startups might not necessarily utilize their workspace as much as traditional companies use their facilities, buying into a shared workspace in which employees can come and go as they please is much more cost-effective.

Conclusion

The Digital Age has brought about many changes in the way economies, and we as people, work. Access to computers and mobile devices has made it possible to do work from anywhere with an Internet connection. While the eight-hour workday is not yet a relic of the past, shared workplaces are making a case for the idea that it’s not how long you spend at work, but what you accomplish during your time spent working that matters.

In conclusion, working in a shared workspace is the perfect blend of a traditional office setting and the freedom provided in remote work. The collaboration, communication, feedback, and sense of camaraderie that is found within a shared workspace is invaluable to the success of startup companies. There’s a sense of community within these communal spaces that can’t be achieved when working from home or in a traditional office environment. It’s important for entrepreneurs to recognize the benefits of this non-traditional setting and embrace the future of productivity.