One of the big benefits that comes from working at a coworking space is how easy it is to interact with other professionals. Not only is this great for expanding your professional network, but the social aspect to it shouldn’t be ignored either. With modern-day professionals increasingly experiencing feelings of isolation that hinder their productivity, mental state, and even physical health, the abundance of opportunities that a coworking space offers for building real, meaningful work connections can be a game-changer.
Whether this is one of the reasons why you’re thinking of joining a coworking space, or you’re already working from a coworking space and need some help connecting with others, keep reading as Circle Hub explores how to make the most of the social side of coworking.
The Importance of Being Social
Serious workaholics often scoff at the thought of setting aside precious time for socializing. However, socializing is more than just a leisure activity. Humans are innately social creatures, and nurturing this part of you will not only make you a happier person, but it can also bring about some significant professional benefits:
A Reduced Risk of Social Isolation
Numerous studies point to how social loneliness and isolation are significant issues. Almost half of all workers feel lonely at times, with this sending job performance plummeting and burnout levels rocketing.
Being more social at work, which is likely where you spend a large amount of your time, can counter this. Even just a small amount of social interaction each day can make a huge difference.
A Boost in Job Satisfaction
While it may initially seem as though job satisfaction has nothing to do with how social you are, the two are surprisingly linked. Having meaningful work connections provides vital emotional support. You’ll feel less stressed, with the sense of belonging that you’ll experience, leaving you much happier and more satisfied with the work that you do.
An Increase in Innovation and Creativity
While there are a few people who feel most creative when they’re completely secluded, the majority of professionals need a variety of sources of inspiration, which social interactions provide.
Studies confirm this, showing that the more social you are, the more creative you’ll be. You’ll feel more connected to different perspectives, thoughts, and resources. All of this will allow you to come up with more innovative approaches to your work.
Access to New Opportunities
There’s no denying that a solid professional network is important when it comes to seeking out new opportunities, but good social connections can be just as valuable. You’ll have access to insider information, so to speak, in the sense that, with the right social contacts, you could be the first to know about job leads, collaboration opportunities, and more.
A Healthier Body and Mind
It goes without saying that the healthier you are, both physically and mentally, the better you’ll be at your job. Forming meaningful connections with others has been shown to help with this. From a reduced risk of developing various serious health conditions, along with inflammation, to a healthier brain and mental state, those work connections that you form have a deeper impact than you may realize.
How a Coworking Space Can Help
Socializing isn’t something that’s largely encouraged in a traditional office. At a coworking space, however, making real work connections is a big part of daily life! Most coworking spaces are designed to foster this as much as possible, with open layouts, shared amenities, and plenty of common areas scattered throughout where members can meet and mingle.
With coworking spaces often having such a diverse membership, you never know who you’ll end up meeting. You could end up forming strong connections with people whom you wouldn’t usually interact with in your regular social circles, which could open up so many new avenues for you.
How to Build Meaningful Connections at a Coworking Space
If you’re more of an introvert, you may be wondering how you’d fare at a coworking space. Will you be able to easily build meaningful work connections?
The answer is yes. Coworking spaces cater to all, and even the most introverted people will soon feel the sense of belonging that encourages social interaction.
With that said, here are some tips to help get you there even sooner:
Be Proactive
Chances are that if you spend a bit of time sitting on your own in one of the common areas at your coworking space, someone else will end up striking up a conversation with you. However, if you’re proactive about it, you’ll get so much more out of your whole coworking experience.
Make a conscious effort to make the first move when it comes to introducing yourself to the people around you. A simple smile and a “hello” go a surprisingly long way in breaking the ice.
Use Shared Common Areas to Your Advantage
Pretty much every coworking space will have common areas available for its members to use. These spaces are designated for breaks – it’s where members go when they want some downtime. As a result, they’re useful for meeting other professionals – anyone hanging out in a coworking common area is likely to be receptive to a conversation.
If your coworking space offers several common areas, like we do at Circle Hub, make the most of them! You’re likely to meet different types of people in each one of our common areas. For example, active people flock to our on-site gym while gamers love our gaming room. Meanwhile, our kitchen area is appreciated by all, although you’ll probably meet a few other caffeine lovers each time you stop at our coffee machine for a caffeine fix.
Be Authentic
If you want to build work connections that are truly meaningful, you’ll need to be authentic. This is important when trying to make real connections in any aspect of life, but it becomes even more so in a work environment where some people will be focused solely on making new professional contacts. If you want people to see that you’re genuine, this is how you need to act.
One good way to show authenticity is to truly listen to what others tell you. Show interest, ask questions, and actively engage with them. Experts say that being interested in others is one of the best ways to get other people to become interested in you, which is the precursor to a strong bond!
Participate in Events and Activities
Some coworking spaces host organized events and activities. At Circle Hub, our events are all casual and fun, ranging from yoga sessions to free breakfasts. Although professional networking in a relaxed environment is one purpose of these events, they’re also ideal for forming work connections that extend into your personal life, too.
Of course, if you don’t actually attend those events, you won’t be able to benefit from them. So, make an extra effort to do so for a while. Check out the events calendar for your coworking space, and try to attend as many of those events as possible. By becoming a ‘regular’, you’ll soon be a known face to the other members at that space, which will also make it easier for them to approach you.
Offer Your Skills/Knowledge
Another great way to build meaningful work connections is to share the skills and knowledge that you have. Don’t worry, we’re not telling you that you should be working for free. However, sometimes, a small snippet of advice from someone in-the-know is not only a great icebreaker, but could also lead to you developing a strong relationship with other professionals.
If you’re a website designer who happens to walk by a group of professionals discussing their problems with designing a website, give them your input and expertise. No matter what you specialize in, there’s a good chance that others at your coworking space would be able to learn from you. Sharing this knowledge will enable you to quickly build up some excellent work connections that you can then take further in the future.
Maintaining Your New Work Connections
The new work connections that you build are unlikely to be meaningful right from the start. Instead, this comes with time, meaning that you’ll need to put some effort into nurturing and maintaining those new relationships that you’ve formed. Here’s how:
Always Follow Up
After an initial conversation with someone new, always follow up. Whether this is in the form of a WhatsApp message, an email, a phone call, or anything else, it will help you to stay fresh in their mind while paving the path for a stronger bond in the future.
Schedule Regular Meetups
While digital networking and socializing may be convenient, nothing quite beats face-to-face interactions. If you want to ensure that your work connections turn into something that withstands the test of time, make an effort to schedule regular meetups with your new contacts.
There’s nothing wrong with doing this at your coworking space. However, taking things outside of your workplace can add a new element to your relationship with that person. Plan to do an activity together, or arrange for after-work drinks. Both of Circle Hub’s locations offer easy access to nearby restaurants and bars, making socializing after work so easy!
Celebrate Successes
In between those in-person meetups you’ll be organizing with your new contacts, try to make an effort to stay in their lives in other ways, too. Celebrating successes is a good way to do this. Whether they’ve just landed themselves a new contract, a new career path, or are revelling in something good that’s happened in their personal lives, taking the time to congratulate them is another way to show that you genuinely care about them.
Summary
People often underestimate the importance of building genuine work connections. However, this is something that’s well worth putting some effort into. Not only will it reward you in terms of professional progress, but the mental boost that it provides will benefit every aspect of your life.
Curious about the coworking spaces available from Circle Hub? Click here to book a tour of your nearest Circle Hub location today!