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Co-working spaces seem to be the future of offices. There seems to be something special about them that regular offices missed out on! Employees seem happier and more motivated to perform well at work, and there must be a reason why big corporations such as Google and Apple are all about co-working spaces!
In fact, research studying how employees thrive found that employees who work in co-working spaces thrive on a notable average of 6 on a 7-point scale. This is one point higher than the average of 5 for those who work in regular offices!
So how exactly do co-working spaces inspire innovation and collaboration? Read on to find out!
1. Employees feel like part of a community
Co-working spaces break down barriers between employees. At a co-working space, employees have more opportunities to interact with each other. However, importantly, socialising with co-workers is not forced. In a co-working space, employees can choose when they would like to engage in a conversation with their co-workers, whether it is in between breaks at their desks, or while they are grabbing a coffee in the pantry. With increased interaction with others in the same company, employees cultivate a certain shared identity and feel a sense of belonging.
2. Flexibility
Co-working spaces increase flexibility in the office. Employees can choose where they wish to sit and are able to move around freely. This is especially useful if they need to work with different people throughout the day! Instead of being stuck in meeting rooms with different colleagues, employees can easily move around to get to the people they need to work with. Therefore, co-working spaces inspire collaboration as you’re able to work with many people in one day, while drawing different ideas from them! If you wish to take it up a notch, you can even opt for movable desks which can be joined together with others to form a group, or taken apart when you wish to work individually!
3. Freedom
Co-working spaces are usually separated into several different sections. This gives employees more freedom to choose what they wish to do at certain times of the day. They can choose to work in a quiet space with individual desks where it is easier to focus, or in a space with shared tables so they can collaborate with others. Employees can even take a break in the middle of the day to rest at lounge areas or hit the gym! Freedom to make your own choices during work rather than sitting in an isolated cubicle allows employees to gain the ability to think out of the box and get inspiration from different environments!
4. Accessibility to different expertise
Co-working spaces gather all the best minds and experts in their own fields in one place! Such offices enable members to share their expertise with anyone who needs it, increasing collaboration amongst employees. Whether you need help with design or fixing a bug on your computer, co-working spaces allow you to get the help you need easily. Most of the time, the help you need is just a few tables away!
5. They make employees happier
A research shows that 84 percent of respondents reported that they were more engaged and motivated when co-working, while 89 percent said they were happier compared to remote employees who worked from home or another isolated location!
Out of these employees, millennials tend to prefer co-working spaces more as such an environment allows for better and faster problem solving. When employees are happy in their working environment, they are more likely to enjoy their job. Thus, co-working spaces are a great way to retain talents in the company!
For more inspiration or better collaboration between team members, check out some team building activities such as bubble soccer, laser tag, saber tag or poolball at The Fun Empire!