Tag: Coworking

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Coworking vs. Traditional Office Pros and Cons

Multicultural businesspeople working in an office lobby. Group of happy businesspeople smiling while sitting together in a co-working space. Young entrepreneurs collaborating on a new project.

Professionals have many choices in how they work these days. The workplace environment is constantly changing, and hybrid work has become increasingly popular. Employees don’t only have to choose between working at a traditional office or working from home. Coworking spaces – neutral spaces designed to accommodate people from different companies to work side-by-side – are also available.

Given the options of a coworking space or the traditional office, which suits you better?

It’s easy to jump to conclusions solely based on emotions when making your choice. But it’s worth first looking at things logically. What kind of worker are you? What type of environment do you need? What professional traits do you have that lend themselves to one work environment over the other? Look at the pros and cons of each situation before making a choice.

Coworking Spaces

What are the pros and cons of a coworking space versus a traditional office? It comes down to greater autonomy and a person’s ability to adapt to that freedom. Coworking spaces attract workers with good time management and organization. They must set and keep their schedules productive outside of being directly managed. Coworking spaces also mean getting out of your comfort zone and routine, so it’s not for the skittish or those who prefer rigid structure.

Check out some of the top pros and cons of coworking to understand why it works for some but not others.

Benefits of Coworking Spaces

  • The freedom to work where and when you want
  • Change of scenery can be good for mental stimulation
  • Ability to book different types of workspaces for different lengths of time
  • Choice of many different types of coworking spaces and themes
  • Opportunities for socialization with other professionals

Cons of Coworking Spaces

  • Open office environment makes it hard to find privacy
  • Can be louder or more distracting than a traditional workplace
  • No face-to-face, in-person access to peers and coworkers
  • Not guaranteed a seat or any seating consistency
  • May not include perks like parking or a break room

If you’re not willing to create your own framework for productivity, a coworking space might not be for you. If you prefer predictability and do better with a clearly defined path, there’s no shame in choosing a traditional office workplace.

Traditional Office

In deciding between a coworking space or a traditional office, many people gravitate toward the idea of “more freedom” with coworking. But there’s a catch: less predictability. That difference in perspective is why many people are keen on the traditional office.

If you like having a clear, specific roadmap for the day and values routine, look to a traditional office. A structured workplace also gives you access to peers and amenities in ways remote working can’t offer. For many, choosing a traditional office is a prime example of the adage, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

Here’s why traditional offices appeal to some and why others choose to embrace coworking spaces:

Benefits of the Traditional Office

  • Familiar working structure and expectations
  • Direct, in-person access to peers and managers
  • Inclusive amenities, including parking, IT help, etc.
  • Comfort from a routine, including commute
  • Feeling of inclusion and not “missing out” on workplace happenings

Cons of the Traditional Office

  • More rigid oversight and management
  • Susceptible to monotony or “brain drain” from the same routine
  • Much higher leasing and facilities upkeep costs
  • Can be harder to adapt to changes in real-time
  • Feeling of isolation that comes with a 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. schedule

New Normal in Workplace: It’s up to you

Given the choice between a coworking space and a traditional office environment, neither is the “right” option. The best choice depends on you and your working style.

Coworking spaces are likely appealing if you’re a driven, independent worker with excellent time management and a mastery of digital communication. If you like structure and order and feel more confident when collaborating with your peers face-to-face, a traditional office may better suit you. If you’re somewhere in between, take the opportunity to work fluidly between the two.

The great thing about the workplace is that the new normal is up to you and what working environment suits you best.

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Workplace Thought Leadership

Work From Home: Not a Forever Option

By Nai Kanell
Vice President of Marketing
SpaceIQ

As articles continue to show that company after company believes it is a good idea to embrace employees working 100% remote, an uncomfortable thought sinks in. What if SpaceIQ followed Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s vow to let his employees work from home “forever?”

There are organizations like Gitlab that have been successful in 100% remote work. However, it’s a tech company and employees knew what they were getting into when they signed on. I doubt healthcare, banking, or manufacturing could ever move to 100% work from home (WFH). But what about a SaaS company like SpaceIQ, or its owner Archibus–Serraview?

I am a proponent of remote working to some degree because it allows you to source the best talent and, ultimately, create a workforce culture that supports flexibility. Before COVID-19, employees weren’t pushing for 100% remote working. We wanted flexibility in our work schedules and accommodation from our employers. There are some of us who’d like to start later in the day because “productivity” and “morning” aren’t compatible. And what about parents who need to drop kids off at school after the start of “normal” work hours? The list goes on: put in a day’s work even when we’re sick; save a PTO day for a real vacation, not watching a plumber fix the water heater.

We’re asking for freedom to work when we want, how it is best for our productivity, and where we can get the job done while supporting our teams.

There are many disadvantages to 100% WFH—excluding mandated remote work due to COVID-19. Here are 10 reasons to think “flexibility” instead of “entirely” when it comes to WFH.

  1. Home Not-So-Sweet Home. As commercial real estate becomes more expensive, residential real estate is following suit. Some people buy just enough home to accommodate their families. Outside of that, they may not desire more space. So, when COVID-19 forced the world to shelter in place, many of us were unprepared to do so. We jimmy rigged ironing boards into makeshift standing desks. Many of us don’t have a spare bedroom for private work areas or endless Zoom or Teams calls.
  2. Did the Second Hand Move Backward? Do you know what day it is? What time did you start working? How many times did neighbor Fred walk his dog by your house this week? If you’re anything like me, I want a change of scenery from my home. Prior to COVID-19, coworking spaces were taking off because people want to work in environments that nurture creativity and collaboration. With 100% WFH, the world seems to stop spinning. Even Aristotle understood the importance of work structure: “Time is the measure of change.”
  3. I Miss the Bean Bags. Many newer workplaces were designed for productivity. Companies created activity-based workspaces that cater to how employees of all shapes and sizes work their best. WFH hinders spontaneous, active brainstorming or collaboration. Try doing a white boarding session over video conferencing—easier said than done.
  4. My Monitor is Smoking. Home office equipment wasn’t meant for the day-to-day grind of a busy workplace. How many of us have lightning-fast laser printers for those long contracts you just can’t read on a computer screen? Not me. And let’s not forget business vs. personal internet connections. How many times did your lousy connection speed end a meeting in the middle of an important discussion? people dropped off a meeting because of your internet? (Hand raise!)
  5. Remember the Titans! Whether we want to admit it or not, some employees perform better in the office with a coach guiding them to success.
  6. Death By Meeting. More than 100% of my working day is spent in meetings. You read that right. I have to work longer to fit in more meetings. Prior to 100% WFH, I spent about two-thirds of my working day in meetings. Those five-minute discussions that quickly solved an issue are now full-fledged meetings. I sometimes feel like Doctor Who—jumping from one meeting to the next. WFH requires more communication because we feel obligated to spend time with our teams and colleagues because we don’t see them every day in the office.
  7. We ARE Family! Let’s face it, I think we all miss socializing personally and professionally. COVID-19 and working remotely has completely killed that. I miss my colleagues at work and hearing about their weekends or a funny joke. When SpaceIQ was acquired, it was difficult to feel a sense of solidarity amongst the team because we weren’t in one place together and connected. Now, try to virtually build working relationships with new bosses and coworkers. You need to plan time into your meetings for pleasantry and small talk—more so now than when you were together in the office.
  8. Can You Hear Me Now? Communication was tough enough when people were in the office, in the same room. Now, we “talk” via Zoom and Teams, voice calls, or through email. It takes many more written words to clearly communicate than it does to have a simple, in-person conversation.
  9. Kickstart My Brain. There are certain personalities that feed off other people’s energy to jumpstart their creativity. Who hasn’t relished in sitting down with your team and brainstorming the next great offering? Yes, we communicate more in our 100% WFH world, but there’s a lot to be said for congregating in front of white board and free-flowing ideas to solve the latest problem. In-person creativity sessions demand our full attention. Admit it, you multitask on video calls.
  10. Mmmm…Doughnuts! OK, this isn’t true for all companies, but I work in tech. It’s common to have snacks and, on occasion, some meals provided at no cost. They call that a perk! I chose to work for you not just because I liked the job, the company, and the pay, but because you have provided me a place to work where I feel I can be productive and get fed. Sounds weird, but when you’re pulling 10-hour, stressful days getting a product release out on deadline, those Hot Pockets and chocolate-covered almonds may be all there is for dinner.

To WFH or Not to WFH…

Remote working is not going anywhere. There will always be a desire to work from different locations. However, the whole 100% WFH situation doesn’t sound appealing…and probably by a lot more people than you’d think. My guess is that if polled, employees would like the option to work from home but also to come into the office when needed.

Give me the choice and I’ll opt for a mix of WFH and time in the workplace. And that’s the key: provide employees with a choice. Work from home forever isn’t for everyone. Maybe we can dub it WFHWIRFM…work from home when it’s right for me.

Keep reading: 8 Apps for Remote Workers Productivity and Success

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Blog

What is Shared Workspace?

As the workplace landscape continues to evolve, there’s often confusion about what constitutes a shared workspace. Is it a place where multiple people work at once? Or is it an area where many employees work at different times? What about a place where employees from different companies work side by side? What is shared workspace?

“A shared workspace” vs. “a collaborative workspace”

The biggest misconception about shared workspace is that it’s shared by many people at the same time. This is actually what’s referred to as “collaborative space.” Understanding the difference means understanding the qualifiers: shared workspace vs. collaborative workspace.

  • A shared workspace is shared by many people at different times. The workplace is static; the occupants are dynamic.
  • Many people use a collaborative workspace at the same time for the purpose of working together.

A shared workspace implies an individual occupant using space for a limited time. When they leave, that workspace will become occupied by someone else, instead of sitting idle.

Best practices to transform your workplace into a high performance environment

Coworking, shared workspaces, and shared offices

The rise of coworking has created confusion between the meanings of coworking, shared workspaces, and shared offices. While coworking and shared workspaces can be used virtually interchangeably, both are different from shared office spaces.

Shared workspaces (coworking spaces) are workstations rented by remote employees, freelancers, gig workers, consultants, and anyone else who may not have a central office—one space for one individual. Shared office space is a much larger workplace rented for many people in a similar fashion. Where a freelancer may rent a coworking space, a startup may periodically rent shared office space to bring its entire team together.

Shared office space also differs from shared workspaces in the amenities and resources offered. Because these areas generally support small companies, they’re outfitted with perks, tech, and features for a broader group of people. They’re also a lot more spacious—with a price to match.

Benefits at every level

Understanding the differences in terminology for each type of modern office space is advantageous in leveraging them. If you understand your need for space, it’s easy to spot the right solution and see the benefits of coworking or shared office space. Here’s a quick look at the benefits of each type of space:

  • Collaborative workspace: You still maintain the space in-house, allowing you to use it however best suits your company’s current needs. Use collaborative workspaces to stage a big project, ping-pong ideas back and forth, meet with high-profile clients, teach a seminar, or any other task that involves multiple people in the same accommodating space.
  • Shared workspace: Employees without a permanent desk get access to an individual space where they can work supported on an ongoing or as-needed basis. They get the freedom to use the workspace on their terms, while companies unburden themselves of costly commercial leases.
  • Shared office space: Startups and agile companies without the need for permanent office space can keep overhead costs low, while still utilizing a traditional workplace setting. They also get access to workplace resources and a professional setting that’s useful for meeting with clients or collaborating on large initiatives.

There’s scale built into this model. Collaborative workspaces benefit companies retaining their own real estate, which maximizes space utilization opportunities. Shared workspaces benefit individuals by giving them flexibility. Shared office spaces benefit groups that exist somewhere in-between an established company and freelancers.

The landscape is painted by terminology

Pairing the correct terminology to the many definitions of modern workspaces legitimizes them. It creates industry-wide consensus and allows for standardization in how these spaces are perceived and operated. Like the coworking movement is vital to the evolution of the way we work, the vocabulary used to describe it is equally as important.

Understanding terminology also helps make sense of this emerging industry. When you understand the difference between shared workspace and a shared workplace, you’ll also understand why the latter costs as much as four times more in many cases. Likewise, when evaluating the cost of collaborative space vs. coworking subscriptions, you’ll be able to do a proper cost-benefit analysis. It’s all about having a definite understanding.

Be cognizant when reading industry articles and reports that use this terminology. Not everyone is on the same page as to meaning and vocabulary. Look for context to make sure terms aren’t interchangeably used. A firm grasp on industry terminology will lead to better realization of the way these spaces are presented, portrayed, and capitalized by your business.

Keep reading: The benefits of coworking.