Why people thrive in co working spaces

There seems to be something special about co working spaces. What makes such spaces -defined as membership-based workspaces where diverse groups of freelancers, remote workers, and other independent professionals work together in a shared, communal setting - so effective? And are there lessons for more traditional offices?

People who use co working spaces see their work as meaningful. First, unlike a traditional office, co working spaces consist of members who work for a range of different companies, ventures, and projects. Because there is little direct competition or internal politics, they don't feel they have to put on a work persona to fit in. Working amidst people doing different kinds of work can also make one’s own work identity stronger.

Second, meaning may also come from working in a culture where it is the norm to help each other out, and there are many opportunities to do so. Lastly, meaning may also be derived from a more concrete source: the social mission inherent in the Co working Manifesto, an online document signed by members of more than 1,700 working spaces. It clearly articulates the values that the co working movement aspires to, including community, collaboration, learning, and sustainability.

So in many cases, it's not simply the case that a person is going to work; they're also part of a social movement. They have more job control. Co working spaces are normally accessible 24/7. People can decide whether to put in a long day when they have a deadline or want to show progress, or can decide to take a long break in the middle of the day to go to the gym. They can choose whether they want to work in a quiet space so they can focus or in a more collaborative space with shared tables where interaction is encouraged.

Coworkers feel part of a community. Connections with others are a big reason why people pay to work in a communal space, as opposed to working from home for free or renting a nondescript office. Each co working space has its own vibe, and the managers of each space go to great lengths to cultivate a unique experience that meets the needs of their respective members. Grind, for example, is a growing network of co working spaces in New York and Chicago. Anthony Marinos, who oversees Grind's marketing, community management, and member services, shared with us, "When it comes to cultivating our community at Grind, we’re all about the human element. We consider ourselves as much a hospitality company as we do a workspace provider. Our staff knows all of our members by name and profession, and we're constantly facilitating introductions between Grindists."

So what are the implications for traditional companies? Even though the co working movement has its origins among freelancers, entrepreneurs^ and the tech industry, it's increasingly relevant for a broader range of people and organizations. In fact, co working can become part of your company's strategy, and it can help your people and your business thrive. An increasing number of companies are incorporating co working into their business strategies in two ways.

First they're being used as an alternative place for people to work. Michael Kenny.

Managing Farmer of San Diego-based Co-Merge, told us. "In the past year and a half, we've seen a dramatic increase in the use of the space by enterprise employees. We have seen teams come in to use various on-demand meeting rooms. We have users from global companies of size ranging from several hundred to several thousand employees who use the space not only to allow their distributed workers to get productive work done, but also to attract employees who demand flexible workplace and work time.’

Grind is also witnessing growth in the number of remote workers who are becoming members. 'We haven't had to reach out to larger organizations, they actually tend to just come to us." Anthony Marinos says. "We've had employees from Visa, journalists from the Chicago Tribune and even people affiliated with large financial institutions all work out of Grind."

Spending time away from the office at a co working space can also spark new ideas. Rebecca Brian Fan, the founder of COVO and former chief operating officer of Next Space, explained how the innovation team of Ricoh, a multinational company, worked out of Next Space Santa Cruz for several months to observe how people work and where they hit pain points. Based on member insight and feedback, and their own observations, the Ricoh team explored several new products that could help members in their daily work and chose the most highly rated product to pursue.

Second, the lessons of co working spaces can be applied to corporate offices. Just as it's important to encourage flexibility and support your mobile workforce, there is an equally important reality of creating the right kind of work environment inside your own walls. But this doesn't just mean creating open plan layouts or adding a coffee bar In reality, people need to be able to craft their work in ways that give them purpose and meaning. They should be given control and flexibility in their work environment. The combination of a well designed work environment and a well-curated work experience are part of the reason people who co work demonstrate higher levels of thriving than their office-based counterparts.