Check out our Austin Coworking Map and find the perfect cowork location for you in Austin, TX. Click here to download.
More American employees are working remotely, and they are doing so for longer periods, according to a 2017 Gallup survey. In 2016, 43 percent of employed Americans said they spent at least some time working remotely, according to the survey of more than 15,000 adults. Today’s workforce isn’t centralized, and more people are working for themselves than ever before.
Coworking is a Growing Global Trend
If you’re part of the remote workforce, whether you run your own business or work for a global company, you’ve probably experienced some of the challenges that working from home brings: isolation, distractions, isolation, lack of work-life balance, and well, isolation. You’ve also probably wondered about coworking or shared office spaces. They’re popping up all over the country and number in the tens of thousands. There are likely more than one in driving distance from you.
Coworking is growing rapidly, and it’s not just for freelancers. Emergent Research conducted its 1st Global Coworking Survey in 2016. One of the most interesting findings from the survey is that, contrary to popular belief, freelancers are the minority of the U.S. coworking population responding to the survey. Just 44% are freelancers, while roughly 55% of respondents own or work for a company with employees.
What Are the Perks and Benefits of a Coworking Space?
The benefits of coworking spaces are myriad. In the survey, respondents said they are more motivated (85%) and have better interaction with other people (88%) since they moved into a coworking space. Almost half now work in teams more often (57%). More than half organize their working day better so they can relax more at home (both 60%). At least 42% also report earning a higher income since joining a coworking space.
A 2015 Harvard Business Review study, “Why People Thrive in Coworking Spaces,” surveyed several hundred workers from dozens of coworking spaces in the U.S. and found that people who use coworking spaces (as opposed to working solo in a home office) see their work as meaningful. The survey respondents reported finding “meaning in the fact that they could bring their whole selves to work.”
Unlike a traditional office, coworking spaces consist of members who work for a range of different companies, ventures, and projects. It’s also meaningful to work in a culture where it is the norm to help each other out, and there are many opportunities to do so; the variety of workers in the space means that coworkers have unique skill sets that they can provide to other community members. Co-mentoring in coworking spaces has spawned many brilliant ideas and partnerships.
Meaning may also be derived from a more concrete source: The social mission inherent in the Coworking Manifesto, an online document signed by members of more than 1,700 working spaces. It clearly articulates the values that the coworking movement aspires to, including community, collaboration, learning, and sustainability. In many cases, it’s not simply the case that a person is going to work; they’re also part of a social movement.
Top Coworking Perks and Benefits
Coworking spaces have lots of perks and benefits beyond socialization and collaborative opportunities. If you’re considering joining a coworking office, be sure to tour the space before signing up. You should also check out: parking, internet speed and expense, meeting rooms for phone calls, conference space for work presentations, visitor policies, hours of operation, and typical population.
Being able to work outside of your home office, but in a professional atmosphere that isn’t crowded or chaotic like a coffee shop, might be a game changer. Typically, members of coworking spaces are focused on growing their business so they tend to be less distracting, yet a good coworking space also offers a supportive community that allows you to grow personally and professionally.
Interested? You could just Google “coworking near me” but we did the legwork for you by downloading our Austin Coworking Map.
A great coworking space is important to your productivity and success as an entrepreneur, freelancer or remote worker. That’s why our motto is “never work alone.” To help you find the space that’s right for you, Duo Works created a map that shows every coworking option in Austin.
Check out our Austin Coworking Map and find the perfect cowork location for you in Austin, TX. Click here to download.
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