Fostering Community Spirit in Coworking Spaces: Best Practices
Coworking spaces have become increasingly popular over the past decade, as more and more individuals and businesses seek out flexible and collaborative workspaces. While coworking spaces offer numerous benefits, including cost savings and increased productivity, one of their most significant advantages is the sense of community they provide. For coworking space managers, fostering community spirit is essential to creating a thriving and sustainable coworking space. In this post, we’ll share practical tips and strategies for coworking space managers to help them build a sense of community in their spaces.
Create Opportunities for Members to Connect
One of the most important ways to foster community spirit in a coworking space is to create opportunities for members to connect. Coworking space managers can do this by organizing events and activities that bring members together. These could be as simple as coffee mornings, happy hours, or game nights. Or, they could be more structured events, such as workshops, seminars, or networking events.
It’s essential to consider the needs and interests of your members when planning these events. For example, if your coworking space is home to a lot of freelancers and entrepreneurs, you could organize events around topics such as marketing, funding, or productivity. Alternatively, if your space attracts more creative professionals, you could organize events focused on design, photography, or art.
Promote Collaboration
Another key aspect of community building in coworking spaces is promoting collaboration. Coworking space managers can do this by creating spaces and opportunities that encourage members to work together. This could mean setting up shared workstations or providing access to collaborative tools and software.
Coworking space managers could also facilitate collaborations by organizing projects or initiatives that members can work on together. For example, a coworking space could host a hackathon, where members collaborate on a specific project over a weekend. Alternatively, they could organize a community volunteering event, where members come together to give back to the local community.
Create a Culture of Inclusivity and Diversity
Lastly, creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity is critical to fostering community spirit in a coworking space. Coworking space managers should aim to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and included, regardless of their background or identity.
There are many ways to promote inclusivity and diversity in a coworking space. For example, managers could provide training to staff and members on issues such as unconscious bias and microaggressions. They could also set up affinity groups, where members with shared identities or experiences can connect and support each other.
Examples of Successful Coworking Spaces
One excellent example of a successful coworking space that fosters community spirit is tershouse, located in Sarajevo. tershouse is a coworking space that was founded with the goal of creating a vibrant and supportive community of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and creatives. It offers a range of activities that bring members together, including workshops, seminars, and amazing events. They also provide collaborative tools and software to encourage members to work together, and they prioritize creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity.
In conclusion, fostering community spirit is essential to building a successful and sustainable coworking space. Coworking space managers can do this by creating opportunities for members to connect, promoting collaboration, and creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity. By following these best practices, coworking spaces can build a supportive and thriving community that benefits all of their members.
Connect. Collaborate. Create.
