Co-workers aren’t just the colleagues with whom you share the same boss or employer. They’re literally the people with whom you work. “Coworking” is a style of work that involves a shared working environment to perform independent activity. These environments are usually not employed by the same organization so they attract at-home professionals, independent contractors, freelancers, or individuals who travel frequently. As more individuals begin taking on work which bring them into isolation from other individuals, the traditional office has become less important and coworking has become a very popular alternative. You get all of the benefits of an office life—a community, a work environment, and meeting spaces.

 

Coworking of course is not for everyone. If you are a company with 10 or more employees, it would be harder to integrate into the rest of the community because these people will be too busy communicating with one another. Coworking is also not for individuals who need a great deal of privacy to successfully complete their work. If you deal with mass amounts of confidential information or don’t want to be constantly overheard on the phone, you may want to try another alternative. Lastly, if you don’t like people you might want to stick to staying at home. It’s hard to avoid a minimal amount of socializing at these spaces so if it’s not your thing, try a library or other quiet spaces for professionals with the inability to interact with others.

On the flip side, coworking is perfect for many professionals. Some signs that coworking might be perfect for you:

  • If you are looking to get out of your house and be around people, while being a part of something, this is perfect for you. Working from home drives many people crazy and when entering an atmosphere such as these spaces, workers become more prone to successfully completing work and getting back into an ‘office groove’
  • If networking events aren’t for you but you need to network, coworking may be your calling. Working next to creative professionals can aid in developing meaningful connections without having to trade business cards over cocktails. You can see what the other person is working on and be able to target their expertise
  • If you aren’t an expert at everything, coworking may provide a door to learning or meeting people who can help you successfully achieve your goals. There are all types of professionals at these facilities; everything from lawyers, accountants, to web designers, artists, and other creative professions. That is essentially everything you need to run a start-up! It’s a great way  to make contacts in your field, as well as staying connected with other industries to find resources when you need them
  • If you meet with clients in your kitchen or other “homely” atmospheres, coworking may be the thing your company needs. Working from home is not out of the ordinary in today’s job market but when you bring a meeting into your kitchen, it may make you look less professional than you would like. Meeting at these coworking spaces shows your client that you’re truly serious about your work.

Every major city has at least one popular space for professionals to take part in their workload and most spaces have options that allow you to test out the space a few times before you commit to a monthly or yearly membership. Below are a few venues that are in the New York City area: 

  • Coworking Brooklyn @ The Change You Want to See Gallery Home to cultural producers, programmers, writers, theorists, activists, professionals, and adventure seekers
  • The Metropolitan Exchange – Coworking space for architects, urban planners and designers
  • Green Spaces NY – Collective workspace for sustainability-oriented small businesses
  • Jelly – Free coworking in various locations around NYC, including Bryant Park, Williamsburg, and Tribeca
  • 3rd Ward Bushwick area in Brooklyn conveniently located near 3 L train stops: Grand, Montrose and Morgan
  • SparkSpace “Coworking for startups” located in Madison Square Park at E 23rd St and Madison Ave
  • New Work City – Manhattan’s community coworking space; Full-time, part-time, and drop-in memberships, as well as workshops and events
  • The Hive at 55 - Shared workspace for 30+ people, three private workrooms, as well as flexible space for conferences and workshops

 

Research: Mashable’s Coworking Resources Series


  Dustin Willoughby
  Interactive Resources