The concept of coworking spaces is a modern-day solution to modern-day problems. Changing times have raised new challenges in traditional working systems. With the overall happiness quotient decreasing, stress levels increasing, pandemics taking up a central stage for a significant period, changing economies, concrete jungles occupying more and land share of our cities, changing family structures, changing meanings of the wealth and its freedom, technology taking over human’s jobs, work and life imbalance, increasing need to connect with talent and expertise across the geographies, all together come to weave a scene that is very different from the one, just two decades ago.
These things take a toll on the company culture and employee engagement in a traditional working environment. Though not new, the popularity of managed office has picked up traction only in recent years. And the concept has been revolutionary in terms of meeting new challenges and providing a healthy work environment to people across the nation while solving most of the problems of the traditional model.
While we only focus on the impact that coworking has on the company culture and employee engagement in this article, there are a lot more benefits of coworking spaces for the employer, society, and the environment at large also.
Let’s look at some of the ways that an office on rent impacts the company culture and employee engagement.
1. Networking and Socialization Leading to Collaboration
Enough has been said and done about the importance of collaborations to meet modern-day challenges. But how and where do people find individuals and professionals with the required talents, expertise, and interests, with an enthusiasm that matches their own? This is one of the biggest problems coworking solves besides the economic one. Coworking provides an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds, industries, and skill sets to network and socialize with those who would have otherwise not met.
Coworking spaces are designed to promote socialization by providing spaces like common kitchens, game rooms, fitness centers, informal working areas like lounge rooms, semi-open spaces, and courtyards. A lot of places also organize events like parties, open mics, stand-up comedy nights, and game nights that help people to meet and greet in relaxed environments.
By socializing and networking with each other, employees can gain new insights and ideas that can lead to cross-functional collaboration and innovation. It exposes people to new knowledge and perspectives, again leading to new ideas and collaboration opportunities for projects, events, or initiatives that align with these shared interests. This can also help in the skill development of the professionals which helps in the personal growth of the individual while they also become a higher value asset for the company.
2. Flexibility of Working
Gone are the days when people dreamed of having high-paying jobs that they’d perform while holed up in a cubicle all their life. Today the meaning of wealth has changed for millennials. People have been aiming for a job that they could perform while sitting in any corner of the world, at their convenient time.
Coworking spaces can be found across globes now. Also, these spaces are equipped with all sorts of facilities like fitness centers, daycare centers, and sometimes even spas. Employees could ditch their desks for a while to work in lounges or courtyards. These can have a much bigger impact than what seems on the surface. While this means that the employees can enjoy these facilities, it also means that the company cares about the mental well-being of their employees, and is mindful of the facilities that help and support the employees to perform better.
By not forcibly binding the employees to their desks, they also demonstrate faith in their employees. This certainly is a major positive aspect of the company culture which results in excellent employee engagement, work performance, and employee retention. Work flexibility proves to boost employee engagement significantly.
High-paying jobs can be found everywhere. But people are now mindfully looking for companies that have healthy and wholesome work cultures. Coworking makes it possible for any scale of companies to offer this to their employees.
3. Sense of Community
On a lot of occasions, it can get overwhelming or lonely for professionals working remotely. Coworking spaces, especially for remote or independent employees who may otherwise feel isolated, develop a sense of connection and belonging which boosts employee morale. Employees feel more linked to the firm and its principles if they have a sense of belonging.
The activities held at the coworking spaces play a significant role in nurturing this sense of community that gives way to strengthening professional friendships and blooming personal friendships, where people are more sensitive towards each other in every way. This certainly leads to a better work environment, better work performance, better company culture, and better employee engagement.
4. Better creativity and Innovation
As discussed in the previous points, opportunities to socialize and network lead to collaborations that spark ideas that would have otherwise been possible. Coworking, by bringing a diverse set of professionals on a common ground, provides a dynamic and stimulating work environment that encourages innovation and opens paths for new ways of thinking and questioning.
Having a brainstorming session or an informal debate over a cup of coffee under the tree or amidst the greens in the courtyard may prove to be far more impactful than the ones done under the constraints of a rigid, formal setup. The rigid setups make the work feel unpleasant and forced.
Collaborations open paths for the interdisciplinary nature of work, more creativity, and more innovations that may be beneficial on a larger scale. Diverse work environments significantly add to employee engagement as the coworking spaces are designed to accommodate every need.
5. Increased Employee retention
All the points discussed above, help the individuals to grow personally and professionally by taking care of the personal needs of the employees, being sensitive towards mental health, making space for work – life balance, and bringing in flexibility. Networking at a coworking space can lead to new opportunities for professional growth, such as job offers, project collaborations, or mentorship relationships.
Coworking can potentially mean better work-life balance, lesser burnout, better physical and mental health, increased work efficiency, and greater excitement for work. This results in employees feeling empowered and can take ownership of their work and personal lives, leading to a greater sense of autonomy and engagement in the workplace.
Companies may create better and more trusted connections with their workers by meeting their personal and family demands, resulting in a more pleasant and collaborative corporate culture. It can assist to recruit and retain talent by providing a more modern and progressive work experience, particularly among younger people who appreciate workplace flexibility and a feeling of community.
Conclusion
Coworking can have many practical solutions to modern-day challenges and have benefits that may not be possible for smaller scaled companies to provide to their employees. It can certainly help build an amazing work culture and boost employee engagement.
