With a rising popularity in self-employment and freelancing,
co-working spaces have become a popular phenomenon that has been embraced by
those who work independently, but crave a sense of community in response to
working in relative isolation.
Co-working spaces are essentially communal open-space
offices and are an affordable solution to having a working environment outside
of your home that is not a private office. They are popular among freelancers,
entrepreneurs, start-ups and independent contractors. A simple Google search will show that there
are a wide range of co-working opportunities in most major cities in North
America.
Besides being an affordable alternative to a private office,
a co-working environment can provide many other advantages.
Escaping Isolation
Working in a home or private office can leave one craving
face-to-face interaction from others during the day – especially those who
aren’t clients! Self-employment can be isolating when your day to day
activities are individual ventures. Co-working spaces provide the opportunity
to work independently while being surrounded by others. Taking regular coffee
breaks or having engaging in some water cooler gossip can help break up the
day, create new friendships, and give you a chance to clear your mind from the
daily grind of self-employment.
Creating a Community
Those who work in co-working spaces generally have the same
values and influences, as they are usually made up of entrepreneurs and
freelancers who are working hard to develop and build their business. As the co-working environment is usually an
open concept, it aids in developing relationships and finding inspiration from
those around you. As friendships form, the community will naturally rally around
each other and help each other out, building a mutual bonding through
independent work that one can’t experience when working alone.
Networking
With a sense of community in the co-working space,
networking opportunities will naturally follow. It’s great to find contacts
that may be able to help you out in the future and for you to offer your
services as well. Looking for a copywriter? Chances are someone in your
co-working space has a recommendation. It’s much easier to go with a trusted
referral rather than searching online and hoping for the best. Surrounding
yourself with like-minded individuals can help your business grow and can build
some strong and lasting relationships.
