What is a Collaborative Workspace?
Collaborative workspaces, also known as collaborative working spaces, are similar to traditional office spaces but allow people from different companies to work side by side with each other. These modern workspaces provide a social and productive working environment, complete with kitchens, meeting rooms, and lounge areas, without the high cost and enclosed space of a traditional office. This is particularly beneficial for freelancers and work-at-home professionals. Collaborative workspaces combine the comfort and flexibility that home offices provide, but without all of the distractions.
The Benefits of Collaborative Offices
Open spaces for multiple firms. Unlike most offices, collaborative offices have enough space for a team and others to work in the same general area. Whether it’s at a private desk or on a couch for the TV area, people have the freedom to sit and work where they want. Collaborative offices benefit workers who prefer a little privacy, or those who want to talk or network with others.
Built for freelancers and SMBs. Collaborative offices were made for smaller, more focused businesses, such as a tech startup or an entrepreneur. Not only are they more affordable than the average city office, they’re also more flexible too, offering access to multiple collaborative workspace locations.
Amenities and technology included. It’s not just a space that people pay for. Collaborative workspaces include meeting rooms, storage space, event space, bathrooms, and a kitchen with a bar. Collaborative offices also provide all the basic technology that every office should come equipped with, such as a printer and scanner, high-speed Internet Wi-Fi, and of course, a coffee machine for the early birds.
A community built on creativity and solidarity. The biggest draw to a collaborative office is the “collaborative” part: people work better when they are working with others. For example, a mobile app development company can meet with a photography agency and collaborate on a project. Or a law firm may consult the services of an accounting agency. Collaborative offices create an environment that encourages dialogue and teamwork. If freelancers want privacy, they can find a quiet corner and plug their earphones in. It’s a space for everyone.
The sense of teamwork is vital in a coworking space. Here are a few quotes on collaboration and success from various famous figures.
Tips to Create Collaborative Workspace
Just because an office houses a numerous amount of people, doesn’t mean it leads to healthy interface—throwing people into a shared room isn’t enough. It’s essential to create a workspace that encourages a strong flow of ideas, which begins with a collaborative environment. This sort of setting allows for friendly interaction, an innovative mindset, and a smoother stream of inspiration. Businesses have learned that networks deliver greater than hierarchies can. While it could never replace actual execution, proper collaboration is a major cause of success. There are basic steps to be taken to accomplish such a goal.
Ditch the cubicles. Not only are cubicles depressing, they truly inhibit collaboration. Ugly walls that block out the rest of the world stimulate no one. It’s a mystery why cubicles have been around for so long as they do more harm than good. Coworker communication is hindered; while it may seem that a private space could help with concentration, it does the opposite. Workers are often interrupted when they are most busy, derailing their train of thought. An open space allows for an individual’s cues to be picked up easily—stay away if they look busy or approach if they look open. Cubicles also construct the illusion of privacy; in reality, they simply build isolation. Teamwork is vital in the workspace.
Craft brainstorming spaces throughout the office that evoke motivation. These areas offer an incubating atmosphere where workers can easily bounce thoughts off of each other; any one word can spark the next best strategy. Stepping out of the usual space that workers are surrounded by opens up an entirely new course of ideation, and simultaneously promotes collaboration.This space offers the possibility for the development of ideas that workers wouldn’t have arrived at while thinking on their own.
Design a vibrant environment to work in. Better work is achieved when it’s completed in a comfortable and likable ambience. There is a correlation between workspace and productivity—the cooler the space the higher the productivity! If workers are going to spend the majority of their time confined by walls, the walls should at least look good. Rather than wanting to pull their hair out of boredom, employees should love their surroundings in order to generate great output. Bad energy is contagious, and it can be detrimental to any organization. A workspace should foster hard work and creativity, and that starts with the way it’s fashioned in the first place.
Additional Resources
Collaborative offices have become increasingly popular. There are far more opportunities to work with others at more affordable rates than ever before. But making a collaborative space isn’t something accomplished overnight. Novel Coworking has been researching and developing multiple coworking sites around the country for the past few years. We know how to tailor your workspace to your business’s needs.