5 Things You Need to Consider Before Working from a Shared Office Space
Working from a shared office space has a lot of benefits. You can collaborate more efficiently with your team and clients, and you don’t have to worry about finding an affordable place to rent or buying furniture for the office. But like any other company initiative, working from a shared office space comes with its own unique set of challenges. If you’re thinking about putting your team on the same floor as other companies or in an open-plan office space, then here are 5 key things you need to consider beforehand:
1. Make sure that the space is designed for collaboration.
If you’re going to work from a shared office space, it’s important to make sure that the space is designed for collaboration. Collaboration is especially important for teams, who need to be able to communicate with each other about projects and progress. If you’re going to be working in an open office environment like this one, you want your coworking space to be designed with collaboration in mind.
You can tell if a coworking space has been designed for collaboration by looking at how the desks are laid and what kind of rooms are available for meetings and private conversations. The following lists provide some examples:
· Desks are arranged in pods around common areas
· Desks have privacy shields that can be lowered when needed.
2. It needs to be easy for people to get together and brainstorm in an impromptu way.
In addition to the more obvious benefits of having a shared office space (cheap rent, a good location), there are some hidden ones that may not be obvious at first. But once you’ve been working from one for a while, you’ll realise how important they are.
One of these is that it needs to be easy for people to get together and brainstorm in an impromptu way. The best shared office spaces have plenty of meeting rooms available at any time — a couple of dozen different options are ideal, and they’re not just large conference rooms that might only be convenient if you’re running late or want privacy from other employees. They should also include smaller rooms with whiteboards where small teams can gather informally and discuss their ideas without worrying about being overheard by someone else doing something else simultaneously. These spaces should also be easily accessible by all employees, so your coworkers are never far away when they have questions or ideas.
3. Ensure the office’s layout offers privacy but also creates a strong sense of community.
You want to be able to meet with clients and coworkers without feeling like you’re on display. You also want areas where you can get away from it all, focus on your work and recharge when necessary. On the flip side, some people need or prefer a more open environment that encourages collaboration and interaction.
While we’ve found that most of our members are looking for private offices or quiet rooms where they can get their heads down, we’ve also discovered that many want collaboration opportunities. Many companies have taken advantage of this by creating communal spaces where people can easily interact while working in different areas of the office at the same time — think coffee nooks or lounges with couches where people can sit together but still maintain their privacy during meetings.
4. Make sure there’s space for employees to relax and recharge when they need to.
When you’re working in a shared office space, it’s important to have a place for employees to relax and recharge. This will help keep your team productive and happy.
The best way to ensure that people can take time away from their desks is by creating an area with plenty of seats, some soft lighting, and no distractions. It should be free from interruptions by phone calls or other coworkers coming by. If possible, the room should also be quiet (especially if there are cubicles nearby).
5. It should be a space that employees love coming into each day.
f you’re a business owner or manager, it’s important to ensure your employees are happy and comfortable at work. After all, they spend an average of 8 hours each day in their office space. It should be a place that they can look forward to coming in every morning and leaving at the end of the day.
If you want employees to enjoy their shared office space, there are several things you need to consider:
· The atmosphere needs to be positive — both for yourself as well as other people working there. If employees are having a good time in their shared office space, then it will be easier for them to focus on work instead of being distracted by annoying coworkers or other factors outside of work.
· Your company culture should allow employees some flexibility when it comes down how they act within your company’s walls. Employees like being able to express themselves freely without fear that something might go wrong because someone doesn’t agree with them.
In a nutshell
Working in a shared office space has indeed its pros and cons but choosing to move a foot forward will allow you to see more in the horizon. Just remember the 5 tips we shared in what to consider before moving to a shared office space. As a recap these are:
1. Make sure there’s a space for collaboration
2. Has easy access for impromptu brainstorming
3. Ensure that there’s a privacy
4. A place to recharge
5. A positive company culture
Having all of these will not just bring your employees together but a place where one can boost performance. Some of the questions that may help you decide whether to jump into a shared office space are how will it affect your business? What kind of amenities do they offer? And finally, how much will it cost me? A normal office setting may indeed work, but having a place shared with others could also mean broader networking.
