How we picture an office today is not how we could have pictured it a year or two ago. A typical work environment was a 9-5 schedule with all employees in their respective offices. Many businesses considered the office as the only place to meet deadlines, be productive and get the work done. This changed after we were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic necessitated remote work and later on, a hybrid work culture.
An office now is any place you can work from and still maintain productivity levels. You can work from any environment; a coffee shop, an internet cafe, or in any environment that best suits you.If you like to juggle between working from a traditional office to a more relaxed and flexible space instead of working from home, a coworking space provides you with this privilege.
Where do coworking spaces fit into a hybrid work culture?
Coworking spaces are workplaces where entrepreneurs, freelancers or remote workers can share a workspace. The space provides amenities like those from a traditional office, except the people sharing the space can be from different workplaces.
In a hybrid work culture, most workers go to their respective offices a couple of days per week to work on tasks they need to collaborate on with other team members. Sometimes, they only visit the office if they want to use office equipment that they can’t access from their homes such as photocopying or printing machines. Also, unstable connectivity and constant power outages could be other reasons that hybrid workers would go to their offices.
The rest of the time, they will work on individual tasks at home. Most times, working from home may be demotivating and can cause a disconnect between team members. The need to connect starts to build up, and this is where coworking spaces come in. What’s even more appealing is that you still get to connect and create professional relationships with other coworkers.
Benefits of Coworking Spaces to a Hybrid work culture
The pandemic helped businesses realise that employees can still be productive while working from home. At the same time, they can save costs on renting big office spaces. For small businesses that were affected by the pandemic, survival meant cutting down costs. With the coming of the vaccine and the easing of some restrictions, people can now go back to work. But, where a business wants to keep their rental costs at a minimum, and not go fully remote; a hybrid workplace makes this achievable.
Here are some of the benefits of a coworking space to hybrid work culture.
Cost-Effective
Traditional office space can be expensive to maintain. You need to provide all necessary office equipment for staff to work efficiently. Added to this are perks such as free coffee. A coworking space can provide you with all these requirements at a rate that fits your budget. However, it is vital to consider what you want in a coworking space before choosing one.
Flexibility
Another advantage of coworking spaces is flexibility. If you are a hybrid worker, you can book a workspace for a few days or weeks with no commitments at all. You can choose not to renew your booking without any consequences. This flexibility gives you the time to try out different spaces until you find which one fits you best. Coworking spaces also have flexible working spots that you can try out. At the Hive Coworking space, we provide a variety of working spots to choose from. You can work from the outside, a bean bag, a standing desk or inside desks.
Networking Opportunities
A coworking environment gives you access to a community of professionals in and outside your field. You can find new business opportunities from freelancers, entrepreneurs and other businesses. If you are looking for new business contacts and connections, a coworking space can make this happen. Aside from business and networking opportunities, you also get the chance to learn or share your knowledge with other professionals. You would be missing out on building such meaningful relationships if you entirely work from home or are confined to an independent office.
In conclusion, Coworking spaces are a solution if you are looking for hybrid work solutions. Given the benefits above, you can see that you can work from both a traditional office and a coworking space without hurting your finances. What’s more, you get a chance to connect with other professionals and fight the isolation that comes with working at home.
At the Hive coworking space, we offer a variety of coworking solutions such as daily work desks, dedicated desks and meeting rooms. Check out our page to view our offering and if you would like to try us out, book your space.