Why Co-Working is Great for Networking (and More Reasons Why You’ll Want to Try It)
Do you have a job where it’s not essential for you to be at the office, but you find that you’re too distracted at home? You may think there’s no other solution than lugging your laptop to a noisy coffee shop, but you’re wrong! Co-working spaces are a great way in order to work away from the office, while still working in an office-type environment to keep you focused. And bonus – co-working spaces are a fantastic place to network as well. We’re going to talk about why co-working spaces are great for making connections with your fellow colleagues and even more reasons why you’ll want to try it.
When you work from home, you may feel isolated and like you’re the only person on the planet that doesn’t work at an office. Having a bunch of fellow workers just like you in one place gives you the sense of community that you’ve been lacking. As a result, you feel less lonely, the desire to make connections is higher, and you are more than likely to find fellow colleagues right under your nose.
Ann Smarty of Entrepreneur.com expands on this sense of isolation in “6 Benefits of Coworking With Strangers”:
“Working at home can have an isolating effect after a period of time. Coworking is an easy fix. Working amidst others can lend a sense of camaraderie, even when you’re creating alongside complete strangers.”
While making connections with others within your own industry is highly beneficial in terms of networking, sparking conversations with those who are in entirely different fields is valuable in itself.
SBBC shares their thoughts on inter-industry networking in “The 6 Benefits of Coworking Spaces”:
“Working alone places a barrier between you and people who could potentially help your business. Another one of the benefits of Coworking is that it puts you near people who might have vastly different skill sets or solutions to problems, allowing you to “pick their brains”. If you can find a coworking space that aligns with your field of work, it makes this benefit all the stronger.”
Do you feel more of a sense of purpose when you get up and get ready for the day, versus staying in your pjs, leaving your bed unmade, while trying to complete the same tasks? Doesn’t your day somehow becoming more meaningful when you show up for yourself? This is similar to working in a co-working space – you may be doing the same work, but you made an effort to get ready, change locations and commit yourself to the tasks at hand.
The Harvard Business Review expands on this in “Why People Thrive in Coworking Spaces”:
Now that you know why you should rent out a co-working space instead of doing your work in your pjs, check out our co-working space here and claim your desk.