Problems With Coworking And Their Solutions
We’ll be honest, there are problems with coworking, and it’s not for everyone. This can be because of the way you work, the nature of your work, or it’s just not the environment you feel most productive in. Alternatives have existed long before coworking, libraries can offer a more private and traditional approach to working that may suit you and of course, a home office can be made into a hive of activity – it all depends on you.
Coworking, hot desking, flexible workspaces are generally open spaces where businesses, individuals, and other organisations come together to share space, equipment, and facilities. Most spaces offer flexible monthly memberships and a huge range of people you can network with and get to know.
It can sound perfect, but there are problems, here are the main ones we come across.
Distractions
A key pillar of coworking is the collaboration of the members using the space, but when does networking become a distraction? Coworking spaces are primarily workspaces and places to build your business, arriving at work and spending overtime in the kitchen making a brew and chin-wagging can be a time vampire. Not to mention being trapped in a conversation with other members when all you want to do is spend crucial minutes working on your business! This can and does happen and it can be a social dilemma avoiding or exiting these situations. You of course wouldn’t typically find this specific situation in a home office or your own private office.
If you intend to crack on with work, avoid these distractions. We advise making a large pot of tea or coffee to reduce those visits to the kitchen. Fewer visits, less chance of lengthy conversations. Use headphones to gently signal you’re in-focus mode and of course, failing that, a gentle verbal hint to let other members know you are cracking on.
We make these suggestions only when it’s time to work and use those highly productive hours wisely. For the hours where you are not as productive or you have time to engage and work with others, you can forget all about the above and network!
Security
Problems with coworking is the openness of the space means you don’t have your own space which can raise concerns about your personal items when using the space. After all, coworking spaces will bring lots of people together, and in any space that has many people the risk increases. There will always be a risk having high-value items on display and no coworking space will be free from prying eyes, you must always be vigilant be aware of those around you.
That said there are solutions! You can keep small items on you such as your phone and tablets, even when just jumping up from your desk, take them with you, don’t risk it. Lockers are commonly provided within a coworking space, somewhere you can store items for a few hours or overnight, and are perfect for larger items like your laptop and bag.
Nomadic
Flexibility is a huge pro for coworking, but it’s not for everyone. Many coworking spaces run hot desks which means no desk belongs to a member. You can work from that desk during your visit, but the odds are, on your next visit the desk may be occupied by someone else.
Arriving at a coworking space and finding your previous seat occupied isn’t everyone’s lifestyle and it can be a real deal-breaker not having your own set space or not knowing what to expect when you arrive. Even more so if your desk forms parts of your ideal habitat and if you are used to having a specific layout at home, this can be a big turn off for using a coworking space vs a home office.
The solution here is to find a coworking space that can offer you’re a fixed desk. Unlike hot desks this desk is yours. It’s still in an open space which keeps the costs similar to a hot desk, but it is a step up from a hot desk so expect a price increase. A fixed desk allows you to set up your ideal work habitat right there in the open space benefitting from the workspace users but the regularity of your own desk.
Neighbours
You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. It’s like this in coworking, you can choose where to sit and work, but you can’t choose who occupies the space around you and this can be a real problem with coworking. Imagine this-you have your coffee, the laptop is open, powering through work and then you are surrounded by a team of loud graphic designers. Conversations and noise make a space feel alive but when does this become like an episode of neighbours from hell?
You might not be able to choose your coworking neighbours, but you can choose your coworking spaces. Some shared spaces cater for specific industries which means spaces built for creatives may not attract or host freelance recruiters, therefore find a coworking space that suits your industry and your personality to help reduce the risk of bad neighbours.
Location
A big competitor of shared working space is the home office. A commute from the bed to the spare room office can be the shortest possible, this could be a no brainer when compared to getting to your local coworking space. Coworking spaces, although a growing industry, will not be on every street in your local town so it means there will be a commute to get to your local space. That means getting somewhat presentable to leave the house which takes time away from your critical sleep. It means packing your bag, thinking about food planning your journey, facing the weather, and let’s face it some days are harder than others.
One solution here is focusing on what a silent home office can not offer. A home office can not offer you an on-tap network of businesses that you can collaborate with, trade with, and overall increase your business revenue through. Most times this offer of collaboration and business success is the real drive to get you up and going in the morning.
Matthew Kendall
Founder of Newtons of Bury. Rethinking property management with Newtons Estates. Helping pollinators with Bury Bee Co. Aiding those in need with apresShower Dryer.