The best thing about a coworking space is its community. You’ll be more productive, you’ll make a lot of new professional connections, you’ll be invited to all kinds of interesting events and you’ll have access to all the free coffee you can drink (in The Venture Studios HSR Layout that’s how it is), but what makes coworking so great is being surrounded by talent. People like you who are fighting for their dreams and sincerely want you to really succeed in what you’re doing.
There are a few things you should do to get into this great flow as quickly as possible if you’re new to coworking.
There are 15 tips to consider here:
- Introduce yourself
If you’re a little introverted you’ve got to try to overcome the tiny barrier: the best way to get to know people in your coworking space is to introduce yourself to your colleagues.
Because you’re the novice!
People can wait to contact because they don’t know if you’re going to be there for an hour, a day, or years to come.
When you sit near them, many people will have a friendly gesture. Look for a moment that you feel that you are not interrupting their work and take the initiative when you present yourself and tell them what they are doing.
- Spend time in the common areas
This is the best-kept secret of a coworking space: in the areas where the team gathers, some of the best experiences and most powerful connections happen the kitchen/office, the sofas and foyer, the play area… Generally, these places are a hive of activity, where people chat, eat, smile, where we are more normal. Make sure to spend time and discussions in these fields.
When you creep into the coffee pot and turn your back in silence as you come in for coffee and people talk, you’ll convey the message that you don’t want to be linked or interrupted.
Be kind, say hello, and although you are very busy with this project you have in your hands, spend at least 2-3 minutes with your Co-workers.
Do you know the funniest place at a party is usually the kitchen? The same can often be said of a coworking space. Take note and take advantage of it.
- Use your headphones sparingly
Headphones are a universal symbol coworking to tell others you do not want to be disturbed. If you really want to be concentrated and isolated, headphones worked amazingly well. But, if you need a little concentration and are open to the greeting, interaction or questions, please do not connect them.
The message was sent that you are not interested at that time in people or events around you. If you want to be part of the community, plugin and isolate themselves only when needed. A good way to listen to music and tell others that you are open to a conversation only to have one of your headphones.
- Attend events and workshops
Most coworking spaces have recurring events, presentations, networking meetings, breakfast or lunch to learn (in The Venture Studios HSR Layout you can enjoy our monthly Coffee & Learning), and stayed outside the room. When your work schedule allows, make an effort to attend them.
They are a great way to learn more about your coworkers, you can make some valuable connections, and you can get an idea of the cultural space in which you work.
If something is not interesting at all, do not feel pressured to make an act of presence, but if you believe or just intuition that it can be interesting, check it out and come. I’m sure you’ll be glad you took advantage of the opportunity.
- Attend Happy Hours and other celebrations
One of the best things about working in the office is that we can celebrate the success of those around us. Also from time to time, you have to decide and talk about the challenges and dreams you have with people who are in the same boat as you.
Take advantage of the birthday celebrations, parties, anniversaries and the accomplishment achieved by your peers. The types of meetings in which the spirit of support and collaboration of workspaces really shines.
- Be kind and generous with your time
What is sown is harvested. We see this every day in the best coworking spaces, because we find a wide variety of professionals: designers, developers, writers, engineers, financiers, lawyers, journalists… and much more, a good coworking space is connected to the entrepreneurial ecosystem of your city and has formed large networks with everything you need to help you start and grow a business. And if you can’t find a particular service in your space directly, chances are you can get a solid and reliable reference from one of your fellow space members.
You’ll have a lot of opportunities to help, and the more you help people, the more people are willing to help you. Be generous in offering your time and knowledge and you will find that when you need help or a favour, the people around you will be happy to lend a helping hand. Karma works great in a coworking space.
This is no exaggeration. In a true coworking space, the community, generosity and the spirit of collaboration are at the heart of it all.
- Be active on the mailing list, WhatsApp, facebook group or similar.
Most coworking spaces have multiple systems that are more or less formal so that members can ask questions, get references and stock news. Maybe it could be a custom software (such as slack or nexudus) or perhaps a simple email list or facebook group. Being active in these tools provide a good way to enter and participate in the community workspace.
You can introduce yourself and answer questions or share an interesting connection without leaving your workplace. It helps you start communicating with others immediately. This may not be as good as face to face, but to join group conversations is a great way to do it.
- It connects with the managers of the Community
Do you know who are the people who gave you a tour of space, formalized your discharge, showed you where the bathrooms are and introduce you to some people? In a real coworking space, they are the ones who make sure that the community works, they are connectors, of people, they build communities and make the network of contacts grow day by day both internally and externally.
They know all the members and know whatever you need from other coworkers to help you connect with them. They are willing to learn, collaborate and make anything easier for you. Make sure you know who they are and what they do. If these people don’t exist in your space, you’re certainly not in a real coworking space.
- Take something to snack on from time to time.
You know what people like? Snacking, and what makes them really fall in love? Free snacks. Do not be afraid to bring some chocolate, fruit, cookies, candy or occasionally … It is a clear sign that you are kind, attentive and excited to be part of the community.
You do not need luxury or a lot of money. What matters is the detail and this small gesture of friendship and community.
- Follow your coworking space and your fellow members of the social networking space.
Discover or ask the social network accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) of your coworking space and other members and colleagues. You can quickly introduce to through social networks when you follow and the actions of other messages, it is very likely that they also correspond by sharing relevant links, images, etc.
Additional bonus points: share photos, videos and publications of your workspace and coworking space of your label them. This is a great way to share your experience and enthusiasm and allow your space to show he’s human and community provided with a retweet or publishing them. Something very powerful positive reviews on Google My Business. Help your space and your colleagues with positive messages (if they really are) and it will be reciprocated.
- Tell everyone who you are and what you do
Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself to the people around you. If you’re a designer and you’re looking for new clients, it’s best if your colleagues know what you can do. If you are available to collaborate for example in the development of applications, spread the word. A coworking space is no place to be shy about your work. People will usually be happy to connect you with someone who may need your services. If they don’t know what you’re doing, you may be missing out on great alliances and business opportunities.
One way to do this is to introduce yourself in the forums we talked about earlier, occasional chats, that improvised beer on Fridays, an informal and casual chat… In The Venture Studios, we have on the web our panel of “dreamers” where you can include your profile and access to your main social networks. It’s not about spamming, of course, but don’t be afraid to tell others what services you can help them with.
- Know your coworking space very well
You know what makes you feel weirder or rookie? Not knowing very well a place or the space where you are. Do you know what makes you feel like one more of the family? When you know where everything is.
Yes, you should certainly know where the bathroom, coffee pot, and conference or meeting rooms are, but take the time to locate where the plasters, spare towels, additional power or network cables, toilet paper or mop ? are and check the member panel on the web or space to get to know them better.
These are the little details that will give you a true sense of belonging rather than being a visitor in an unfamiliar space.
- Try different areas of work
Don’t sit stuck like a stone to the table where you usually work. If, for example, you have a flexible position, you will usually sit in the same place. You may feel great next to that window, with the usual companions and your usual chair, but it may be that one day that place or table is occupied and you have to work in the sofa area or kitchen (In The Venture Studios is also possible)
Turns out, it might be the best thing you can do in a coworking space. You may work that day at a high table, and your neck and back will thank you from time to time. If you’re not too focused, you may encounter more people than usual and you’ll gain in social relationships. Surely, working differently will generate fresh ideas, or maybe you’ll find another place you like better and decide to change from time to time (sitting in one of our puffs with your laptop to watch a tutorial on youtube can be a pleasant experience).
- Work in your space regularly
The trial days or daily passes you can hire are great. They give you an idea about coworking and how your coworking space works without any kind of commitment. That said, just like in a family, the best experiences in a coworking community come through working there hour after hour, day after day, year after year together (rubbing makes the affection, you know). You see people in all their splendour and at their worst and others can also know about you the best and the worst.
If coworking is what you were looking for, and you really want to exploit its full potential you should spend most of your working day there. As pioneers of the coworking movement in Bangalore and from our experience of almost 2 years creating communities, the more you give to coworking the more you get from it. And as a reward, you’ll be amazed at how productive you can be.
- Don’t be “that guy”
In coworking spaces, sometimes we can find “that guy”. You know, the one who speaks aloud on the phone for hours and makes skype conferences at the worst time and always in the space where he can annoy others. He never makes coffee, he doesn’t change the roll of toilet paper, he leaves the dishes in the sink so that someone else can wash them… you know, “that guy”. Don’t be “that guy” and you’ll make a big impression on the other members of your coworking space. Also… probably, if the space manager is good at his job you won’t last long…
Contributed by https://www.theventurestudios.in/
