People have begun sharing. The economy has slowly shifted from the mindset of permanently earning goods or services to the now temporary access of said goods and services. This is the “sharing economy,” a peer-to-peer based activity of buying, selling, and giving access to both goods and services. All of these are coordinated on a community-based service.
Renting rooms (Airbnb), sharing a ride (Grab), instant shopping (Instacart), and on-demand labour (Taskrabbit) are all part of the sharing economy. Even at work, a shared workspace, the concept of coworking, has slowly become a thing.
What Are Shared Workspaces?
Shared workspaces are usually rented by freelancers, remote employees, start-ups, and anyone who may not have access to a central office.
It can be virtual or physical. Physical shared workspaces may include the usual amenities like printers, lounges, and computer equipment. Virtual shared workspaces are more about online tools that mimic their traditional counterparts. An example is Slack and Microsoft Teams, which can be considered as virtual conference rooms.
Physical ones operate like a timeshare service where you get a dedicated desk or room for a certain block of time. Once your time is up, that desk/room is then available for use by another person. Shared workspaces can also refer to two or more companies renting a space and sharing communal areas. And when you no longer need the room, you can just cancel your timeshare membership. The best way to cancel a timeshare is through a trusted timeshare cancellation company.
The core idea behind this is to bring together people from different working backgrounds and build a community. Individuals with different skill sets have a chance to brainstorm together and build connections.
Work is done in a more communal setting than a corporate one, which may have something to do with increased work effectiveness and employee happiness.
Why Go For It?
Convenience
Commuting is a hassle, especially when you work at a traditional office where you’re expected to arrive at a certain time. Working at home, though, can mean constant distractions like chores, kids, and noise. A shared workspace gives you the best of both worlds. You still have to travel, but you arrive at your own time, at a place free of unnecessary distractions.
Creativity
Your environment can affect your productivity. Shared workspaces are made to get your creative juices flowing, while traditional offices can often be flat and monochrome. These places’ aesthetic is more on the “fun and relaxing” side and feels more like a place to hang-out rather than work.
Connections
Today, you could be sharing spaces with a lawyer, tomorrow a marketer. Professionals with different backgrounds use these workspaces. Shared workspaces can provide a great opportunity to meet interesting and talented people and grow your network.
Cost-Effective
A shared workspace operates on usage-based payment or dedicated membership. The only thing you need to worry about is paying for the service. Electricity, water, cleaning and other bills are the sole burden of the business. This is especially advantageous to those who don’t work on a 9-5 basis. You only pay for how long you use it or avail yourself of the convenience of a membership program.
Shared workspaces are considered the way of the future. Soon, the majority of businesses might opt for this kind of arrangement, especially since most businesses are adapting to the digital age where centralised physical offices are slowly becoming unnecessary.
If you’re a person looking for a change of work environment, whatever your background may be, a shared workspace could be the perfect thing for you.
