Co-working and its Benefits
The concept of co-working has been around in one form or another since the mid-1990s when coders, developers, and software engineers gathered at “hackerspaces” to share knowledge and collaborate. In 2005, software engineer Brad Neuberg founded what is thought to be the first U.S. co-work space in San Francisco, CA. Now, less than 20 years later, shared working is an established concept. There are co-working venues everywhere and dozens of large companies sell co-working franchises across the globe. But just what is co-working and what are the benefits of co-working?
What is a Co-working Space?
A co-working space is a location where people who do not work in a traditional business office can work together. Who uses co-working spaces? Co-working allows self-employed people (such as freelancers and contractors) or those who work remotely to share office space, equipment, services, and other amenities in a location that is managed by a third party. Sometimes small, startup companies will use co-working space in lieu of renting private offices until their company is established.
Generally, co-working spaces are affordable, large locations such as lofts or warehouses that contain all the amenities that are essential for a day’s work, and sometimes extra perks that offer added benefits and conveniences.
Essentials of an Effective Co-working Space
Beyond the basics of a large, pleasant, inviting venue, all co-working spaces must have certain amenities that are essential for work. These include:
High-Speed Internet & Phone Access – Wired and Wireless
Some businesses prefer wired access for their voice and data transmission for reliability, speed, and security. Others will prefer wireless access, so it’s important to have both options.
Attractive & Comfortable Furniture
This sounds obvious, but the two must go together and they don’t always.
Office Services
Workers may not always have printing, copying, scanning, and faxing capabilities at home so it’s even more important that these services be available at the co-working space.
Private Phone Booth/Room
A quiet place to make a phone call is important to keep ambient noise low and personal calls private.
Fully Equipped Meeting Rooms
A conference room equipped with a video screen, streaming TV device, HDMI cables, and a whiteboard is needed for people who will be making presentations, entertaining clients, conducting interviews, etc.
Kitchen and Lounge Areas
People must eat and drink to be productive and keep up their energy. Besides, chatting at the coffee maker or over a bite of lunch is a great way to get to know your co-working neighbors.
The co-working space at Pecan Square by Hillwood has all of these features and more! Pecan Square residents can use the beautiful space within the Greeting House free of charge.
Benefits of a Co-working Space
So why do people choose to take advantage of a co-working environment? There are many benefits of using a co-work space that you may not have thought of. Let’s explore the benefits of co-working.
Productivity
People who work from home find that a co-working environment helps them be more productive versus when they work at home. You won’t be interrupted by family members or pets. And you’ll probably find you’re less consumed by little distractions such as the mail, the TV, or other things that might capture your attention at home.
Collaboration, Networking & Fellowship
Those who work by themselves, either at home or at a private office, can often feel isolated. A huge benefit of a co-work space is the chance to network, collaborate, and connect with others. When you work at a shared working space, you will likely meet others in your industry or complementary industries. This opens up many opportunities for introductions, referrals, and collaborations, and can be very useful to your business and personal life.
Amenities
When you work in a co-working space rather than at home, you have access to a full suite of top business amenities. All you must bring is yourself and your laptop. Pretty much everything else is provided including furniture, internet connection, copier, etc.
Greater Flexibility
It’s easy to get in a rut working from home every day. Using a co-working space gives you a change of scenery that can inject some new life into your workday routine.
And if you’ve been renting a private office space, switching to a co-working space will most likely give you newfound financial flexibility when you get out from under the long-term costs of rent, equipment, utilities, internet service, etc.
Take a Look at Pecan Square’s Co-working Space
If you’re contemplating a move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, take a virtual tour of Pecan Square and view the community’s fabulous amenities. Every home in the community includes our Canopy technology bundle and residents can enjoy our expansive co-working space as much or as little as they like. Contact us today to learn more!