‘Proworking’, Coworking
Entrepreneurs, start-ups, freelancers, gig-economy workers and even large corporates used to term everything. From coffee shops to kitchens to airports and offices as well.
But today, they have a new option to add to the list: coworking spaces or ‘proworking’ spaces. This is how most premium shared workspaces have come to be known. “And there are a lot of businesses that can learn from their global rise,” said Linda Trim. Director at FutureSpace, a high-end, shared workspace joint venture between Investec Property and workplace specialist Giant Leap.
Shared workspaces operate in a variety of ways: at the basic level, people can claim seats for a daily fee. Rent out rooms at a monthly or annual cost, or pay for a monthly membership to sit anywhere in the common areas.
But ‘proworking’ spaces are more like a mixture of five-star hotels and luxury business lounges. They offer the best of everything you could want in an office from concierge services, personal assistants and of course the latest communications technology.
“Shared workspaces give the old-school office plenty of envy in terms of cross-pollination between workers, flexible location and community,” Trim added. Here are a few ways the office can learn from the rise of coworking and ‘proworking’ spaces.
Proworking Department Mix-and-Match
In a “proworking” space, electrical engineers sit next to marketers, while entrepreneurs sit next to programmers. There could be dozens of different businesses in one shared office at any given time. To inspire similar levels of mingling, offices could start a game of musical chairs. “Instead of the legal department in the legal room. Mix them up with accounting for one day a week,” said Trim. “From that proximity, they can strategically interact and collaborate.”
She added: “People are happier in bright open spaces with good acoustics, proper lighting and airflow where they’re making social connections – not just a desk to work at.”
People in coworking spaces rate their level of “thriving”—defined as their vitality, learning and work performance—an average of nearly six on a seven-point scale, according to a study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, far higher than in traditional offices.
Location Independence
One of the major selling points of the coworking environment is the flexibility and location independence that users can enjoy. “To attract and retain a competitive workforce, those features can be adopted in traditional offices too,“ Trim noted.
“In coworking offices that effectively balance focus and quiet space with collaborative space, workers say they feel innovative.”
The depth of ‘proworking’ amenities can also draw people in. Special technology – like state of the art video conferencing, or, just a really good private space that’s reservable. This will make the space hugely appealing, but good food and coffee is a must too.
Community Management
Some ‘proworking’ spaces are beautifully designed and are more akin to presidential suites than offices. This makes them places people want to hang it out in. While impeccable design is important, one of the most crucial parts of shared space isn’t as visible.
“Community management is a major component of what makes these spaces come alive and so valuable to users, “ said Trim. “People make invaluable contacts, secure contracts and greater knowledge just from being in a coworking community. Select ‘proworking’ offices also hold frequent, free educational events. Great for skill-building and career-enhancing. The topic of these events is often based on requests from the community.”
