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As time goes on and people’s professional priorities shift, more and more people are becoming interested in the idea of coworking. Being tired of the traditional office scene, many people are looking for something new and modern in a workspace. But what exactly is it that people want, and what is it that they are trying to get away from?
There can be multiple reasons why people want to ditch the traditional office scene and move on to something more progressive. Each person’s situation is different, and this is part of what makes coworking interesting for many of those involved. Let’s take a closer look at what is motivating people to shift to a different type of office space.
Open spaces
Shared offices or coworking spaces might be divided in certain ways. They might have clusters of workstations together, enclosed sets of furniture…they might even have glass walls separating conference rooms or other types of units that allow for privacy when needed. But they generally do not wall people off in the way that traditional office spaces do.
A psychological study has been conducted about feng shui and the effect that different physical settings have on people’s psychology. Time and again it has been proven that open spaces in specific layouts more easily lend themselves to productive activity than traditional cubicles do.
Unusual designs
Not only is the overall space of an office important, people aren’t going to be inspired unless they have the right kind of designs around them. This can take the form of simple things like unusually-shaped furniture or desks, or even more unusual ideas. New trends in coworking design include things like wellness spaces, where people can go to meditate or practice trampoline yoga. In these wellness areas, strategically placed mirrors can enhance the experience by making the space feel larger and more open, and also allowing individuals to observe their form and posture during exercises or meditation.
Some spaces also include things like game rooms where workers can play things like foosball, billiards, and ping-pong in their free time.
Modern amenities
Coworking spaces usually occupy more modern and advanced buildings than their traditional counterparts do. One of the advantages of living in a modern building is that basic features
Flexible schedules
Employers have long realized that traditional work schedules are far too rigid and don’t allow workers to go through the natural rhythms of daily life. By forcing people into an office at particular times, insisting that they stay for exactly such-and-such numbers of hours, and generally restricting their movement overall, employers are burning their employees out and making them feel trapped.
With coworking spaces, work units are designed to be flexible. Thanks to advanced technology, conference rooms can be booked electronically in advance of meetings, “hot desks” can be used by different people at different times (and even moved around when necessary), and the overall flow of employee movement can be greater.
Security
Advanced coworking spaces can actually be much more secure than traditional workspaces. Many offices are using biometric data or some other foolproof form of identification as an entry requirement. Similarly, although desks might be shared among different people, there are now advanced ways of logging on that can ensure the right person has access to the right data, and that the potential for cyber crime is minimized.
In addition, different rooms can have different means of access. If there is a company that has highly sensitive data, for example, access in specific parts of the coworking space can be programmed in such a way that only designated people are allowed in.
Increased possibilities for collaboration
Having open spaces not only makes people more comfortable and inspired. When people are able to physically move around, they get more work done. The overall volume of work is increased, and people are able to form different groups and thereby come up with a greater number of ideas.
Coworking spaces should be designed in such a way as to encompass complementary groups and companies. They should have workspaces designated for staff of different numbers, but also larger spaces for multi-group events, lectures, parties, etc. This is what makes people really thrive. Work has traditionally been a word that is dreaded and associated with endless amounts of drudgery. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are still traditionalists among us
Despite all the exciting things that coworking spaces have to offer, they are not everyone’s choice. There are, of course, still companies whose work must be very focused, and who are not interested in socializing with others around them during work hours. There are companies for whom the idea of sitting on couches and brainstorming is totally contradictory to their professional needs. And this is fine too. It all depends on the nature of your company and where your priorities lie. The point of broadening the scope of office space possibilities is not to replace the traditional office space entirely, but to simply offer more options for those who might be looking for something different.
It’s all up to you
Whether you are an individual entrepreneur, a small startup looking for collaborative possibilities, or even a medium-sized group who just wants a more lively atmosphere than the one you’re used to, you should look into the idea of coworking. It can make your work life better in numerous ways: You can have access to new, modern facilities with updated amenities; you can have access to other groups who are similarly looking for greater collaborative options; and you can create more flexible and logical schedules.
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