For sure, many people heard, at least once, about this term – “coworking”. Anyway, whether you know what it means or you’re not really familiar with the term, I think some facts about it are interesting and they worth being mentioned.

The word “coworking” (without hyphen) appeared in 2005, defined by Brad Neuberg, a programmer who opened the first space of this sort, in San Francisco. By today, there are thousands of coworking spaces or hubs around the world, and even if they differ sometimes, in terms of organization, design, community or size, their main characteristic is that they are a logical reaction to the classic, formal offices, where strict rules, routine and monotonous atmosphere can restrain productivity, creativity and the flow of ideas.

Therefore, coworking spaces are an alternative, as shared environments, where people can work independently, establish networks easier, share ideas, knowledge, contacts. The range of people who choose to work within those spaces is wide, from freelancers and entrepreneurs to corporate workers. Also, some coworking spaces gather people from various fields, while others are destined for people coming from the same field.

A coworking space usually has large, shared offices, where people can interact with each other, have round tables and collaborate, but also individual offices, for those who prefer privacy, as well as conference rooms, shared kitchens or the so-called “coffices”. However, some coworking spaces want to be more than that, so they became hubs or social startups, building an entire community around them, thus stimulating their members by constantly organizing events, conferences or leisure activities.

The facilities offered by coworking spaces are usually similar to normal offices or companies, with the mention that you will find plenty of coffee in a coworking space since they created a whole cult about how important coffee is for having energy and good results. And indeed it is, in my opinion.

The prices are reasonable and attractive if we think about the facilities and about the fact that a coworking space can suit the same needs, more or less, that an entire office building can. For young entrepreneurs and startups, a coworking space can even be a sort of headquarters, at least in the incipient phases of their business.

Once again, these are just a few facts about a rising trend, for a better understanding. It’s up to you if you would prefer a coworking space or a standard office, or if you like to work from home. As a tip, if you want to “cowork”, choose a place which is not only a coworking space, but also a community that will help you improve yourself every day and will keep you constantly motivated, and a space that will make you relax as well, at least once in a while.

Author: Alexandru-Eduard Nica