After the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world, people are slowly freeing themselves from limbo. On the career front, shared workspaces have sprung up all over America. They are cheaper for business owners, who can avoid the cost of investing in an entire property. Employees have the opportunity to be more flexible, which ties in with hybrid working schedules.
A big part of the joy of shared workspaces is the ability to collaborate and communicate with others. However, this is possible only when local workspaces introduce measures to foster interconnectedness.
Innovation is the driver here. Businesses can consider these measures to improve productivity, engagement, and job satisfaction.
Many companies explore coworking spaces for meetings. They provide a flexible arrangement to consultants. In such circumstances, it is imperative to offer visitors hospitality and convenience. But what if a conventional reception is unavailable or inadequate?
A reliable approach for businesses is a visitor management solution that lets guests sign in and feel welcome. You will receive a notification of their arrival. Subsequently, you can take the necessary action. For example, you can venture out to meet them or escalate the need for grievance redressal.
An automated visitor solution is reassuring for local companies aspiring to build their brand. Feeling welcomed and acknowledged makes a great first impression. But even more than that, such technology helps a business ensure internal compliance. It can ask visitors to answer screening questions and print ID cards or badges.
Many American workspaces see long queues of people waiting for their meetings - a common sight during interviews or events. Greetly notes that a cloud-based technological intervention can reduce waiting times and help businesses make data-driven decisions. Moreover, convenient compatibility with Microsoft, G Suite, and other tools promotes hassle-free integration.
A distinct advantage many of us seek in a shared workspace is a sense of community. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace survey observed loneliness in 20% of employees. It is highest among remote employees. Guess among whom it is lowest? Yes, those working on site.
Although much of America has returned to offices, many still work from home and shared workspaces. The latter has immense scope for promoting a sense of community among the employees. It can improve their mental wellness and work performance.
Business owners can do this by encouraging participation in community-based events. For example, consider helping a local charity or joining an ecological drive.
Sea Isle has already seen considerable success in community ventures. Earlier this year, the city’s Department of Community Services conducted a “Tree Raffle”. It encouraged people to sign up for a prize of having a tree planted on their property. They could pick from several options. For example, they could select the pink Crepe Myrtle or the evergreen Little Gem Magnolia. What a beautiful way to have people unite for a pressing need!
Besides green initiatives, employers can explore other ways to intrigue employees, like surfing or sailing as a team. Team-building activities are an HR staple for a reason.
Working with people from many departments/sectors is a golden opportunity for knowledge-sharing. It would be a pity not to leverage this chance for those working in a shared workspace.
A coworking space may have employees from many departments, from IT to marketing. You will see professionals from other firms. Industry leaders may visit for meetings and networking events. As an entrepreneur, why not arrange inter-departmental training sessions? They will allow your staff to learn from each other.
The need for training might seem intuitive, but many employers don’t seem to be focusing on it. PwC’s 2022 workforce survey found that only 40% of employees see upskilling in their firms.
Many employees feel the need for specialist training in their roles. They realize it makes them empowered. Interestingly, the survey also observed something else. Empowered workers are likely to recommend their company.
Conducting an employee survey can help you assess the skills employees wish to learn. Depending on your industry, these may be machine learning or AI-led predictive analytics. Maybe they want to get better at communication. Based on the insights, you can plan training sessions. Gather professionals, contractors, and freelancers for these sessions.
On that note, businesses can also find such training beneficial for onboarding new employees. It is a good way to introduce them to the company’s culture and have them off to a good start.
Collaboration reaps dividends. There’s no doubt about it in today’s hyper-connected world. Working together has made people more creative and innovative, charting new strategies to revive local eateries and other businesses.
Technological assistance and a human drive to improve can elevate a shared workspace. Beyond collaboration, it can help professionals feel a desire to belong, learn new things, and work on self-improvement.
