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CoworkingBasics
Ask AnnaDo you have a question about coworking?
Anna is Community Manager for Deskwanted. She also assists with market research, helping to understand the international coworking movement, its growth, and the needs of the both collaborative workspaces and coworkers.
Q. I absolutely LOVE my coworking space… BUT… It can be so NOISY at times. Don't get me wrong, I can add to the din. I also don't like to work in a library like setting. Any answers?
A. Despite the fact that some background noise actually increases creativity because it induces a certain amount of discomfort, and, in turn, creates a level of agitation that catalyses more off-beat and outside-the-box thinking, background noise can push the too-loud boundary. This happens in all workspaces, but there are certain methods you can employ to reduce the disquiet (no pun intended). (read more)FAQ What is coworking?
How do I start a coworking space?
How did coworking start?
What does coworking cost?
How many coworking spaces are there?
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The pros and cons of working from home
To say that working from home is completely, utterly horrible isn’t exactly fair… there are great things about working from home that initially make you think you’ve discovered the best thing after potato chip sandwiches. But like the crispy bap, working at home gets old quickly…
Here’s a great little comic we found on The Oatmeal comparing the awesomeness and horribleness of working from home. We think that when you’re associating with the horrible comics, you should probably just bite the bullet and join a coworking space…. just sayin’. (Is it for you, you ask? Yep, probably.) (Already know why coworking’s awesome? Great. Go here to find a space near you.)
Thanks The Oatmeal for the comic! (Warning, some profane language!) Here’s where they’re from.
Seniors in tech: empowering older generations
Advances in technology is changing the way we do everything. From shopping, to staying informed, interacting with friends and family, to deciding what to cook for dinner… for many, it’s hard to do things without the aid of technology… and young and future generations will be the most media- and tech-savvy generations we’ve ever known.
For them, they will have the wealth of the world’s information at their fingertips… well… almost.
There’s one generation that’s being left out of these incredible, fast-paced developments, and, unlike generations to come, are not documenting their lives and sharing their stories on the world wide web. Senior’s stories are therefore going untold, and experience and knowledge is lost forever. (more…)
Coworking: a sustainable approach to working
This is a guest article by Elisa Novelli, a consultant at web agency which co-operates with First Floor coworking space on lake Garda in Italy. Interesting in both coworking and its potential, she tries hard to promote this new reality in the region. She also has a deep interest in communications and social media, and works within these fields daily.
Fashion changes like the wind, but it isn’t the only thing that trends: the way we work also undergoes changes depending on our needs. In this period of crisis and of more flexible working around the world, coworking has also taken its first steps in Italy. (more…)
CoworkingBasics: Does coworking mean increased competition?
CoworkingBasics is a fortnightly column by Anna Cashman, community manager and market research assistant for Deskwanted - the online portal to find and book coworking spaces worldwide. Are you a coworker, coworking space operator, or just want to know more about coworking? Email her your questions.
Dear Anna,
I am a freelance graphic designer. At this point I have got a pretty great client list and regular work, though I still have slow times. I am definitely up for moving to a coworking space.
But…what if the space has other graphic designers, aren’t we going to be competing for future clients?
Sincerely,
Client wars
Atlanta, Georgia
Dear Client Wars,
This is a common apprehension many have when considering joining a coworking space.
Simply put: Not more than any other marketplace. To say there would be no competition would be fallacious – you would ‘win’ jobs based on your skill, style, and expertise, just like in a non-coworking situation. The difference is, you’ll have many more opportunities to expand your client base, so there will be more contracts that are suited to your skill-level that will come your way. The client pool will be much bigger.
A little longer-put: Coworking spaces don’t work like HR firms. Their members aren’t like agencies that put out tenders for common clients. Your clients will remain ‘yours’, and when you make a new contact, it’s not ‘up for grabs’: you’ll have made the contact because you asked the right questions, and made yourself known… (more…)
