Building business contacts can sometimes be one of the biggest challenges of working life and, as everyone knows, is nonetheless essential. In recent years, numerous self-employed people, freelancers and other office workers who wanted to expand their social or professional networks have come to realise this. And the difficulties then extend to maintaining the contacts that have been established. Anyone who is truly committed to ‘their’ business usually does not have a nine-to-five job, so where is one supposed to find the strength and energy to network in the evening? It is not uncommon for family and friends to fall by the wayside when seriously cultivating business relationships as part of one’s day-to-day work.
Anyone who wants to get ahead professionally now realises that business contacts can be extremely valuable. Every contact has the potential to become a customer for your own business. And who wouldn’t benefit from the expertise of others? Very few can afford to do without it. That is why they are looking for alternatives to integrate these important benefits into their everyday office life. Coworking can be a starting point here, combining all these possibilities in one place.
An alternative for building business contacts
Coworking represents a relatively new concept for building and maintaining business contacts. The trend towards working together – or the so-called ‘shared office’ – is by no means new here, but is becoming increasingly established in many German cities. These innovative offices are no longer confined to major cities; they are now valued by businesspeople and private individuals alike. Established firms can look back on their history through co-working, and quite a few start-ups have developed their ideas whilst working in shared offices. Of course, working in shared offices need not be limited to the start-up phase; it can become an intuitive part of everyday working life, which is so much more pleasant than conventional working with its usual rigid structures.
A shared office is not simply a bland office space where you meet one person today and another tomorrow. Attractive shared offices are innovative and resemble creative spaces, often featuring plenty of greenery, computer workstations, but also areas without computers, complete with benches, cosy seating areas and cafés. The atmosphere is one of the most important factors in a good shared office, as a wide variety of people come together and engage in creative and inspiring exchanges. A key aspect of shared offices is moving away from rigid structures and hierarchies towards collaborative working amongst co-workers.
Time saved on meetings
In the past, shared offices were often the subject of scrutiny. Is it even possible to work properly there, and do such offices have negative effects? That was the most common question. However, these concerns were quickly dispelled, for where else do you have more options to choose meeting rooms of varying sizes and layouts, or to have a truly prestigious business address if desired? Whether it’s an event, a workshop or simply a chat over coffee in the open-plan individual offices, everything is possible here and can be easily integrated into the daily work routine.
Business encounters happen quite naturally in a coworking environment. The time saved is a key advantage of this way of working. After all, at the end of the working day, there’s no need to go to great lengths to make and maintain contacts; this happens quite naturally whilst you’re working. Another advantage is that coworking can lead to business contacts of all sorts, including people you’d never have met in the course of a normal working day. The enrichment this brings is priceless and benefits employees both professionally and socially.
More than just offices for young start-ups
Many people appreciate the open and welcoming atmosphere of a shared office. And this isn’t just an experimental way of working for young start-up founders; established businesspeople also value the benefits of shared offices. They benefit from being able to work undisturbed and without distractions, unlike when working from home. The clear separation of work and private life that this enables is a strong argument in favour of working in a shared office. Nevertheless, office users enjoy the freedoms of co-working and the inspiring atmosphere, which facilitates effective work in a unique way. Naturally, concentration and focused work are also possible here. Clear boundaries are a given, and no one is obliged to communicate at all times.
In open-plan spaces, people can meet and communicate with one another quite naturally, without the need for any great fanfare or preparation. The best ideas still tend to emerge incidentally, when they are least planned or focused on. Not every day in a shared office needs to result in innovative ideas, but every day has the potential to do so without requiring much effort.
Small talk as an icebreaker
Many people find it difficult to approach new and unfamiliar people. Striking up a conversation – let alone taking a connection to an inspiring level – can be challenging. Whether it’s small talk or a business lunch, every encounter in everyday working life has to be planned, co-ordinated and prepared. These initial hurdles are eliminated in a coworking space. Chats in the corridor, a coffee together or simply sitting in the lounge and exchanging ideas. These opportunities for interaction are encouraged here and are everywhere. Whether it’s small talk or business discussions, anything is possible here – the ice is quickly broken.
Coworking as a springboard for building business contacts
In the past, particularly innovative ideas have often originated amongst co-workers. This is because work here isn’t carried out solely for the sake of getting the job done. The boundaries are fluid: from small talk and building new relationships to brainstorming and implementing new, innovative concepts. A sense of community and efficiency ensure a disruption-free working environment. Yet, when needed, it can also be creatively and conceptually stimulating. Everyone is welcome in the shared office: visitors, workers and those who contribute ideas.
Anyone wishing to work as a co-worker at the COLLECTION Business Centre Community, for example, benefits from new business contacts – and might even strike up a friendship or two.
Cover image: © Shutterstock/r.classen
