Coworking Communities

Coworking is redefining the way we do work. With a pretty simple premise that independent professionals and those with workplace flexibility, work better together than they do alone. People love working for themselves and running their own businesses, but often feel a void with the lack of information and social sharing that happens when part of a corporate structure, studio, or firm. Coworking is a solution to this problem for a multitude of businessmen and women who share this same issue. These coworking clubs or communities serve perfectly as a combination of business and social needs providing networking and interaction, as well as high-speed, wireless Internet access, color printer/copier/scanner/fax machines, coffee, tea, snacks, full kitchens, dedicated desk space, communal desk space for drop ins and client meetings, meeting spaces, and lounge areas.

Beyond just creating better places to work, coworking spaces are built around the idea of building communities and sustainability of professional networks.coworking is not only about the physical space but also initially, and mostly about establishing the coworking community. The benefits of coworking can already be experienced outside of coworking spaces and it is recommended to start with building a coworking community first before considering opening a coworking space Initial coworking values include: collaboration, community, sustainability, openness, and accessibility, which are the core necessities of a coworking community.

There are some things about working from your home office or even the coffee shop that can’t be beat: you’re comfortable at home, and most importantly, it’s fairly free from distraction. Unfortunately, free from distraction often means free from interaction, which can be a danger zone for entrepreneurs, networkers, and freelancers that would benefit from a face instead of a screen any day. One of the best parts of the coworking community is camaraderie.

The coworking office space movement continues to build momentum. There’s only a certain length of time before a Starbucks gets a little old or working at home there are only so many days or weeks before you just say ‘I’ve got to get outside of these walls. By giving people a method of making their ideas move, coworking can be the remedy for the isolation of telecommuting, giving people a place to hang out and exchange ideas. coworking offers a solution to the problem of isolation that many freelancers experience as well while working at home, while at the same time letting them escape the distractions of home through the incorporation of elements of a traditional office and a casual college dormitory, infusing a communal sensibility into the work atmosphere that encourages people to mingle and talk.

Many professionals are faced with very similar challenges each day and may find significant advantage to the ability of solving a problem or two by just listening to someone else’s approach in finding a solution with a client or a project. People today enjoy learning more about web design, marketing/branding, social media, the arts, photography, sports, accounting, software development, and mass communicative efforts. In a room filled with diverse professionals, conversations and viewpoints can be shared by experts in these areas, helping a professional not only expand his knowledge base, but his range of future conversation as well.

Coworking communities are going to make up a significant component of the wave in which people utilize technological convenience to telecommute and freelance in their jobs. As easy as it is to work on your own, from home, or from a local café, it is even easier to fall into a daily trend of stagnation and autonomy in business interaction, motivation, and creativity. Go check out a coworking center near you. See what it’s all about. Who knows? Maybe you’ll sit down for a few minutes and realize that you like the feeling of being surrounded by others, making new connections, and being in a community.