- Ask friends and colleagues if they have heard of a coworking space. They might surprise you!
- Use a search engine and search for your city/town and the word "coworking" or "cowork." Some places describe themselves as "flexible office space", "flexible workspace", or "on demand" office space, so be willing to try different words/phrases then sort through the results.
Keep track of those that you find, so you can then check them out (online or in-person).
Coworking spaces will have different work spaces available, so understand what you need. Do you need an enclosed office (or suite for your team), dedicated workspace, or flexible workspace where you sit down at whatever space is available? What do they have in terms of conference space or "telephone booths" for private phone calls, video meetings, or in-person events? And what amenities do they have (e.g., secure entry system, high-speed Internet, endless coffee, copier, fax machine, shredder, snacks, happy hour) and what do you need (e.g., portable computer monitors)? Make sure you know what is included in your membership fee and when you may need to pay for a specific amenity (e.g., more conference room time).
I suspect every coworking space has some sort of trial period (perhaps a day pass or a free day program), so consider trying several if you are unsure which one will fit your needs.
What was important to me? Good work space, space for meetings (in-person or virtual), proximity to home, free parking, a good supply of coffee, and a kitchen/kitchenette. My coworking space is amazingly close to downtown, which is a plus. In addition, the neighborhood has more eateries than I realized and is a wonderful place for lunchtime walks; both are definite pluses.
How to be a Good Coworker
- See coworking as an investment in yourself and in the work you are doing. If your employer will pay for the coworking space, great! If it something you need as an entrepreneur, small business, or consultant (i.e., the benefit is worth the cost), make the investment. Know in advance how to determine if the cost-benefit has changed and what that means to you.
- Go often. You have paid for a membership, so use it. If you go several times per week, you will get into the habit of using the coworking space. In addition, since not everyone uses the space at the same time, you'll meet more people. And as important, you'll learn how you want to use the coworking space (e.g., time of day, types of work, etc.).
One of the things I decided was that there would be certain video meetings that I would do from home, because of the time of day they were scheduled (early morning or evening). I know that I focus better in the coworking space, so I really do try to use it every day. - Introduce yourself to others (and do it more than once). You are sharing the space with them, so you should know their (first) names and eventually something about what they do. Perhaps they could be a future collaborator or client?
- Be aware of how loud you are in conversations, on phone calls, or in video meetings. Check with your coworkers on whether you are too loud and making it difficult for them to do work. Be willing to move your conversation to a phone booth, meeting room, or someplace else if best.
- Ask questions. Yes, you received an overview of the space and its community guidelines when you joined, but likely there are other things you might want to know. Ask. And likely you might be curious about your coworkers and what they do, so ask. In other words, being curious is good.
- Create a routine (or rhythm). This goes along with Tip #2. My use of my coworking space varies from day to day, depending on in-person meetings and other things. Still my day has a rhythm to it in terms of when I get to the office, what I take with me (see Tip #7), where I sit (I have a couple of favorite spots), etc.
- Create an everyday carry (EDC) bag. If you have commuted to work, traveled extensively, or have a lifestyle where you need to have specific things with you all the time, then you have an EDC. Your EDC should contain the things that help you have a productive day. My EDC is my backpack, which contains my laptop, laptop and phone charging cords, bullet journal, a pouch with the things I want to have handy on my workspace (like lotion, microfiber cloth, and other small items), personal care items, money, and several other things. The EDC become part of the routine of going to the coworking space.
There are many, many videos on YouTube about everyday carry (EDC) bags and pouches, with many of them created by survivalists or people who want to carry lots of things "just in case." Some - for me, those are the non-survivalists - can be useful to watch, if you have never thought about this. There is a Flickr group called "What's in Your Bag?" which might also be helpful. Your EDC does not need to be hyper efficient or contain everything you'll need to survive the apocalypse. It does need to contain those things that make sense to you and that are useful to you. - Learn how to make coffee (or tea). I know this seems trivial, however, this is a useful skill, if you drink coffee and the community manager (or whomever makes the coffee) is not around. It is also a great way of making friends - or interacting with others - in the coworking space.
By the way, while this type is focused on coffee, you might find something else you want to learn how to do for yourself rather than relying on the coworking space community manager.
If you are a coworker and have tips to share, please share the in a comment on this post.
Final Thoughts
A question that is posed often is, "What is the future of work?" I don't know the answer to that. What I do believe is that the type of workspace people will need will become even more varied. I think coworking spaces will become more normal. I also think it will be normal for people to move between different types of spaces as their work changes. The coffee shop may work for now, but then maybe the work requires more privacy (an enclosed office). Maybe home is great until your sharing that workspace with another family member who is working from home (and maybe there are also children and pets in the home), and now a coworking space makes sense. Maybe you really need to be with other startup businesses for now and hope to move to another space later.
All of those above are good scenarios and none of them is better than the rest. Do what works for you.
Resources
- Varun Bodhi. (2023) How to Choose a Coworking Space: 9 Tips to Consider in 2023.
- Kaleigh Moore. (2022) 5 essentials to look for in a coworking space.
- Reka Vagasi . (2023) Top 7 etiquette rules to follow in a coworking space.
- Yardi Kube. (2021) Etiquette Rules & Best Practices for Safe Coworking Spaces.
- Alley Watch. (n.d.) 31 Rules of Behavior When Working in a Coworking Space.
- Geekdom. (n.d.) 7 Things To Consider When Choosing a Coworking Space.