The benefits of coworking are vast, and more and more people are beginning to recognize this. In fact, the number of coworking spaces around the world is set to double by 2024, with this modern-day approach to the workspace appealing to so many.
While that may be the case, if coworking is a concept that you’re not personally familiar with, then you may be wondering what all of the fuss is about. What exactly are the benefits of coworking, and is this something that would suit you?
Today, Circle Hub is going to talk you through three of the biggest advantages that coworking spaces have to offer; collaboration, community, and creativity.
Coworking Encourages Collaboration
Let’s begin with collaboration – something that can significantly boost productivity. Coworking spaces are all about encouraging collaboration. The term coworking space itself actually stands for collaborative workspace, meaning that the idea of collaboration is truly at the heart of the coworking concept.
How does coworking encourage collaboration?
It all starts with the basic design and layout of a coworking space. Rather than being compartmentalized and restrictive in the way that a traditional office space can be, coworking spaces are designed to be open and inviting. Most coworking spaces will offer different types of areas for people to work at, but they’ll all see you working alongside other people.
You’ll be working next to other freelancers, business owners, and entrepreneurs, in an environment that encourages you to speak to the others around you. Right from the start, you’ll be able to establish a sense of connection and openness with everyone else that’s sharing the space, making this one of the biggest benefits of coworking. The people that you strike up a conversation with may not be from the same industry as you, but that contrast in skill sets may be exactly what you need to come up with your next great business idea.
Of course, networking and collaborating with others isn’t going to be something that you’ll want to do every single time you’re at your coworking space. However, that’s where the beauty of coworking shines. Find yourself a quiet corner on the days when you have a tight deadline to meet or seat yourself at the center of a buzzing business environment when you could do with a productivity boost. It’s completely up to you!
Coworking Fosters a Sense of Community
Another one of the very influential benefits of coworking is how it fosters such a rich sense of community. Coworking spaces encourage their users to connect with others, and it’s this community feeling that often keeps people coming back. It’s something else that really sets a coworking space apart from a more traditional office space, and it’s also an advantage that people who choose to work at cafes or libraries won’t experience.
Wondering how you would integrate yourself into a coworking community when all you’ll be doing is sitting at your desk and working?
Well, pick the right coworking space and you’ll find yourself doing so much more! For example, at Circle Hub, many people love to socialize in the shared kitchen. They usually stop in when they need a quick break or a caffeine fix, giving them a precious few minutes to get to know others who happen to be using the kitchen at the same time.
We also offer plenty of other amenities that have helped our unique community to thrive. From our on-site gym to our gaming room, there are so many fun ways in which you can meet other people with similar interests at Circle Hub.
If you’re on the shy side and don’t enjoy starting up impromptu conversations, we also host organized events. From free breakfasts to yoga sessions, these events are casual but they make it so much easier to socialize.
Coworking Inspires Creativity
Research has found that more than 75% of people feel more creative when they’re working at a coworking space. There are a few reasons for this…
Firstly, rather than being set up like a traditional office, a coworking space will have a variety of different areas for you to choose from. Whether you’d prefer sitting at a desk or kicking back and sprawling out on a beanbag, you’ll be able to choose a type of workspace that suits you. The comfort and ease that you’ll feel from working in a space that’s perfectly conducive to your personality will get those creative juices flowing.
Creativity can also be boosted by collaboration. And, as we mentioned earlier, collaboration is one of the big benefits of coworking. There’s nothing quite like being able to bounce ideas off other people, especially when those people are able to offer such a unique perspective.
Many people also find that they’re more comfortable being their true selves when working at a coworking space. They don’t have to worry about company politics or competing with everyone else in the office. Instead, they can focus on doing what they do best while still being surrounded by interesting people. This can really help to enhance a person’s work identity, which allows creativity to really shine.
Other Benefits of Coworking
We’ve talked about three of the biggest benefits of coworking, but there are so many other advantages that you can expect to experience if you make the switch to a coworking space. Let’s run through a few of them:
Flexible Hours
We’ve already shared a few ways in which coworking spaces differ from traditional office spaces. However, here’s another one; they’re so much more flexible when it comes to the hours you work.
Traditional offices are known for promoting the 9-5 grind, if you’re lucky. Many expect even more working hours to be put into each day, which can really wear away at a person’s morale.
However, start working at a coworking space and you’ll be able to pick your own hours. At Circle Hub, we offer 24/7 access, meaning that you can start your day as early or as late as you would like.
Cost-Efficiency
Coworking spaces can be very cost-efficient in a few different ways.
When compared to leasing your own office space, the amount that you’ll save each month on rent could turn things around for your business. You’ll save so much on overheads too. At a coworking space, you won’t need to worry about energy bills, cleaning services, WiFi charges, or any other mundane administrative tasks – all of that will be taken care of for you! At Circle Hub, we also offer printing facilities. These could cost you a pretty penny if you were to set up a similar system yourself.
But what if you weren’t even considering leasing an office space? Surely setting yourself up in a cozy corner of your favorite cafe each day would work out cheaper than signing up for a coworking membership?
Turns out, it usually isn’t. All of those coffees that you order throughout the day can really add up. Plus, don’t forget about those small snacks that you treat yourself to. After all, you need food and drink to sustain productivity! And very few cafes will let you take up a seat for hours on end without buying anything. On the other hand, set up shop at Circle Hub and you’ll be able to enjoy complimentary refreshments whenever you need them.
Plus, working in a solitary way at a cafe isn’t going to provide you with all of the other benefits of coworking that we discussed above. You’ll be missing out on the collaboration, sense of community, and creativity boost that coworking offers, and there’s no putting a price on that!
More Credibility for Your Business
When you work from home, or even from a local cafe, it can always be a little awkward when you need to give a client or a customer your address for any reason. Having to use your home address just doesn’t seem very professional. Not to mention, it could also come with security risks.
That’s where choosing a coworking space with a reputable address can be a gamechanger. At Circle Hub, we offer a virtual office service. This means that you’ll be able to use our professional mailing address for your business correspondence. We will then store your mail in our office for you to collect when you’re available. Alternatively, we can forward it on digitally if you’re overseas.
The backing of a coworking space can also help with your credibility if you ever need to host a meeting. Using one of our private offices or conference rooms will give off a much more professional vibe than if you were to gather at a cafe.
An Easy Commute
No one enjoys wasting hours each day stuck in traffic. This is why an easy commute is yet another one of the major benefits of coworking. As mentioned earlier, coworking spaces are now popping up all over the place. This will make it easier than ever to find one that provides you with convenient access.
Take Circle Hub’s two locations as an example. Our Ventura location is located just off the Telephone Rd exit on the 101 freeway, and offers plenty of parking directly in front of the building. No more having to spend precious time driving around looking for somewhere to park! Even better, our Ventura site sits just minutes away from a few different beaches, making it easy to establish some work/life balance.
If you’re in or around Northridge, then our Nordhoff Street location would be better for you. Just a short walk away from the Northridge Fashion Center, this site provides easy access to three different freeways, along with plenty of street parking. It’s ideal for people who live in Northridge itself, as well as those in surrounding areas.
Making the Most of the Benefits of Coworking
We’ve shared some of the biggest benefits of coworking above, but the concept has even more to offer, making it no surprise that more and more people are now making the move to a coworking space. The way in which coworking enhances creativity, collaboration, and a sense of community provides an environment in which people can work to their full potential, enabling productivity to soar higher than ever before.
Want to find out more about the different coworking spaces offered at Circle Hub? Click here to get in touch with us today!