(Operators are worried about the unseen, but running a coworking is a gradual process.)
Over the past couple years; there has been a continuous rise of coworking spaces in major cities of India. The idea is new, and its future is bright. And, it has successfully pulled the freelancer and independent professional community to come and enjoy an uninterrupted work environment. However, several coworking managers and owners have seen or felt a few recurring trends and a few other points of disagreement in their coworking spaces. Although nobody can deny the importance of an industry expert’s advice to an aspiring coworking space operator; still there are few essential that you absolutely cannot miss in your coworking.
To create a successful coworking space, it’s better to chart-out your own problems than scrutinizing others. For the majority of coworking space owners, making their work floor appear energetic and enthusiastic was the first approach that killed many of their own problems. The very reason why they decided to go for creating a coworking office was to make it stand apart from the conventional “9-to-5” schedule. And, by going this path coworking have already walked away from the “blue-grey-white” monotony of an office space.
For an owner of a co-working space, the problem of affordability puts up a good challenge to their business. Freelancers feel the pinch when the dedicated desk that they liked isn’t enough affordable. And, that happens in a lot of coworking spaces in Gurgaon, Bangalore, or Mumbai; where the freelancer population is quite high.
There will always be hindrances once you begin, and building a coworking is a gradual process.
Some owners term it as accidental progression, where they “accidentally” found out ideas to evolve their spaces.
(Keep your members updated and informed about all the latest happenings beforehand.)
Back in 2007, co-working was more or less unheard of, and the internet was the only place where you could find relevant ads for them. Today, you can see ads of big co-working companies on the front page of your daily newspaper. That’s the transition what you, as a coworking space owner, should believe it. As the demand grows, so will the organization, culminating in the formation of a veracious platform.
Space is another issue, which most of these coworking spaces deal with. Even if you don’t have a personal workspace problem to solve, it pays to pay attention to the problems around you. Your immediate surroundings can give you a good hint as to what kind of workspace the neighbourhood needs. Are your coworkers always complaining about something specific? Are the cafes always filled with disgruntled freelancers?
Several co-working are operating in locations where people are often moving in and out. These could be a commercial tower with high footfall or a business district. People will always bring their jobs with them, and you should be prepared to cater to the crowd. Most of your co-working members might have recently moved out of big companies and that fondness to work in a “pop-up office” would take some time to settle. The culture, design, and overall feeling of the space have to suit your target audience. The only way to do this is to know who you’re targeting.
Social media has really helped coworking operators to open their ideas to the modern, tech-savvy working community. The 25-35 age bracket is what they target the most and from whom they get the best response. This young community believes in entrepreneurship, and as a result, you can find a lot of startups grooming in coworking spaces.
Still keeping all that aside, you should give attention to each and every community member and understand their preferences to build a coworking that delivers a comfortable touch. You can learn from the best and imbibe the inspiration onto your space. If you liked what you saw in Bengaluru, you can bring it your coworking in Gurgaon; maybe your community might actually enjoy it!
When you run a coworking space, you’re part of something bigger than yourself.
For many, the sense that coworking would soon become a global phenomenon is unmistakable. That’s why you need to make your members feel that they are part of a “global movement”. Coworking is leading to a lasting change in the way the world works. In practice, riding the wave and being part of the trend is all it takes to found a successful space.
But there’s no harm in guessing, either. For one manager coworking is special because it helps them to take the stress off of running a business. And, there’s where they take off most of their stress. Once you start taking coworking as a business, it becomes daunting; and that transfers to the people around you who could experience the same thing. If you’re an aspiring founder and you want to push the boundaries of your coworking space, use your insight to stay one step ahead of the competition.
Inside and out, the feeling that you’re a piece of a bigger movement and not simply running a one-man show is a major piece of what makes co-working feel exceptional. There are numerous ways to progress, however all require a profound understanding of your members.
(Keeping your community engaged with surprises, activities, and workshops is a great way to make it stronger.)
Community building is the major source of inspiration for the majority of coworking operators. Several even believe that is it better to start building a community before you even start selling your space. Once you’ve made a good network of potential customers, you’ll see your seats filling up sooner. For some operators incubation for startups and professionals, where receive help and learn from more experienced peers is the best way to create a good co-working community. There is valuable knowledge to be forwarded and that brings members closer beyond a desk and a chair.
And, beyond building a community coworking space should also be very understanding. Understanding your audience and what they want in a community is essential to building one! You need to understand what type of people you are catering to, then design the space based on people’s needs. From the type of office interior, they find appealing to the range of refreshment they want in the kitchen. Customization plays a huge role in becoming a favourite of your members and spreading the good word out.
So, as a coworking space operator, there are a lot of things, beyond tables and chairs that make or break a co-working space. Getting into the customer’s head is the best way to guarantee success as a coworking space. With your efforts in the right direction, you’ll discover the greater potential for yourself what your audience truly wants in a coworking environment.