Beyond Shared Desks: The Real Benefits of Coworking Spaces

The world has experienced a drastic shift in how we perceive traditional office spaces. All of a sudden, there is no need for teams to work from the same office, sit close to one another, and collaborate in physical meeting rooms. Now, organizations are embracing a flexible work culture and a more diverse workforce.

In many organizations, employees can work from anywhere at any time. This has led to a substantial increase in demand for coworking spaces. After all, not everyone has a spare room or the resources to set up a home office.

Multiple studies confirm the rise of coworking spaces in the coming years and the benefits they provide. A recent study found that coworking spaces provide support to individuals which they cannot find in traditional workspaces or while working from home.

Therefore, one thing which is quite clear is that coworking spaces provide numerous benefits beyond shared desks. Let’s review the top benefits of coworking spaces from three different perspectives.

Coworking Space Benefits

– For Freelancers

Work-Life Balance

One of the most notable benefits of a coworking space for a freelancer is it provides a work-life balance. When you are working from home, you are working 24/7. It is impossible to draw the line between work and leisure or family time because your office and home are the same places.

Even if you have the resources to set up a dedicated separate space, separating yourself from work can be challenging. When a freelancer opts for a coworking space, it is equivalent to getting their own office. They don’t have to worry about household tasks when working nor worry about clients when at home.

Productivity Boost

Not everyone can afford to spend money on office equipment and high-speed internet. But without the right office chair, laptop table, headphones, and a reliable internet connection, your freelancing career will be over before you know it. What’s the best way to balance your freelancing career and finances?

The answer is a coworking space. You can opt for a single desk that costs very little per month. For instance, a high-end coworking space in Islamabad offers dedicated desks for only $70 per month, while in New York it goes up to $300. How does it benefit your freelancing career or how is it better than working from home?

By spending a few 100 dollars a month, you get access to high-speed internet, a printing facility, ergonomic furniture, free snacks, and a lot more.

Networking Opportunities

Fiverr, Upwork, and other freelancing platforms can only give you a limited number of clients. If you truly wish to excel in your field, you must diversify your client base. You will not achieve so by working from home. Instead, you need to network with other people and communicate your expertise.

By getting a desk in a coworking space, you get to network with other people. Use this opportunity to expand your reach. For example, if you excel in writing, talk to other people to see if they or anyone in their circle requires a writer.

Professionalism

A lot of companies opt against hiring freelancers because they perceive them as lacking professionalism. While there is not much one can do to change their thinking, the least you can do is work on your brand image. Suppose your client wants to hold a meeting to discuss a project.

In scenario A, you are holding a meeting from your bedroom or living room. There is considerable background noise despite your best efforts. It may be that your kids or neighbors are making noise. The client can see your bed or a part of the house throughout the meeting.

In scenario B, you are talking to your client in a well-designed meeting room that looks pretty lush. There is no background noise, and the surroundings give the impression that you are in your own office space. Now, tell me, which freelancer would a client prefer to hire?

If I was the client, I would prefer the individual in scenario B, not because I am writing about coworking spaces but due to the benefits I foresee. First, I know that the freelancer is free of distractions and can concentrate on the task at hand with full focus. Second, they have their own office, which is a sign of success.

– For Remote Workers

Improved Work-Life Balance

The lack of work-life balance applies to remote workers as well. Coworking spaces allow them to separate work and private life. As soon as their work is done, they can put away their laptop and head home. It is just like coming back from the office but without the mental and physical baggage associated with traditional offices.

Access to Amenities

During the pandemic, most organizations shifted to remote work. They quickly realized that some workers were having performance issues. The reason was not that they were wasting time or had different priorities but due to a lack of access to office amenities such as high-speed internet, a dedicated work desk, and free coffee.

It is why top organizations offer their employees special allowances to buy the required equipment and furniture. Not every organization has the resources to offer such policies to their employees. If you are working for one such organization, the best choice is to opt for a coworking space.

You do not need to invest any money in buying office equipment such as headphones, a table, or a chair. Your coworking space will give you access to all such amenities and much more at little cost.

Promotes Mental Well-Being

While most individuals prefer to work remotely due to its benefits, one should not ignore the side effects. If you Google remote work and loneliness, you will find numerous studies that find a positive correlation between remote work and loneliness.

Despite the many grievances against working in an office setting, it does have benefits. The most notable is that it allows you to interact with others. This social interaction can boost your mental well-being. After all, we are humans, and we need this social interaction whether we like it or not.

When working in a coworking space, you can interact with others. You will surely relish such interactions as these people don’t work in your organization and come from diverse backgrounds. Remember, lack of social interaction contributes to depression and other mental health problems. So, avoid it!

– For Business Owners

Flexibility

Regardless of which country you are in, there is great uncertainty. A traditional office lease offers less room to respond to this uncertainty. For example, if your revenue is shrinking, it makes sense to cut costs. When you have an office lease, you cannot terminate unilaterally without taking on substantial losses.

A coworking space allows you to scale your presence up or down without any hassle. For instance, a shared space allows businesses to add extra desks or dedicated rooms to the current arrangement. Likewise, a business can reduce the required number of desks or move into a smaller private space.

How is all this possible? Coworking space owners don’t bind you to a long-term lease, unlike traditional commercial space owners. Usually, the lease is on a per-month basis, or any other duration agreed between the parties. So, the lack of long-term commitment is a blessing, especially in today’s uncertain environment.

Cost-Effective

When you lease office space for your business, you must consider all the expenses, not just the rent. For example, you must pay for the office furniture, network cabling, and other design changes. Then, add the rent and the monthly utilities. Depending on your country, you may require insurance.

A coworking space is free from all this hassle. You do not need to worry about the network cabling as everything is already laid out. There is no need to buy office furniture as it comes with the space. On top of it, you don’t contribute to the utilities and other expenses like coffee.

Undoubtedly, opting for a coworking space is much more cost-effective than leasing a dedicated space for your business. The best thing is that you don’t need to hire a receptionist or set up a reception area for your guests. All coworking spaces provide access to a common reception area. Security is not your concern either.

Growth Opportunities

Lastly, one will find numerous growth opportunities within a single coworking space. A coworking space is home to other businesses, startups, remote workers, and freelancers. Your business can use the platform to explore new opportunities with others.

For example, a web development company can collaborate with a digital marketing agency or another web development company to create a new product. Indeed, growth opportunities are endless as long as you approach each business or individual with the right mindset.

Conclusion

These are a few benefits of coworking spaces for freelancers, remote workers, and businesses. I would like to emphasize ‘few benefits,’ because this post does not even scratch the surface regarding the countless advantages of using coworking spaces.

As more coworking spaces open globally, we will see new features and service offerings. In turn, it will lead to more benefits for all the stakeholders involved.