Traditionally, corporate workers have reported to private office areas, often working in isolation and without much interaction from professionals in other businesses or industries. However, the early 2000s marked a significant shift in the way we work.
Enter co-working spaces. Originating in Berlin, these spaces have become popular hubs for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and resource exchange. They offer a flexible range of workspaces, from private offices to dedicated desks, allowing individuals to choose the environment that best suits their needs.
Let’s explore each option’s advantages and determine the right fit for you.
What are private offices?
Private offices within co-working spaces offer a blend of traditional and modern work styles. While providing the privacy and focus of a conventional office, they also allow individuals to break free and interact with others in the shared common areas.
Pros of private offices
Dedicated space for your company: Private offers are equipped with desks and chairs for team members. Everyone will be in one shared space, separate from the co-working environment. This allows your company to work together in a collaborative space without getting distracted by other people from different businesses. As your company grows, upgrading to a larger space within the co-working environment is often easier, thanks to typically shorter lease terms.
Pay only for what you need: Whether it’s meeting rooms once a week or desks for contractors, you can rent additional co-working facilities as required, keeping costs low. Private office spaces offer all-inclusive rent, covering furnishings, utilities, and maintenance in one simple payment, and that’s all there for you as soon as you arrive. In traditional offices, these expenses would be separate, require set-up, and add up quickly.
Cons of private offices
Being surrounded by other businesses: While the diversity of flexible co-working spaces can be appealing, those accustomed to a traditional office environment might find it challenging to share facilities with larger tenants. Bigger businesses can occupy common areas and amenities, potentially leading to a crowded atmosphere, longer wait times for shared resources like meeting rooms, and noise distractions. Adjusting to a dynamic environment where multiple companies coexist may require flexibility and patience.
Limited control over the environment: In private offices within co-working spaces, your company may have less control over certain aspects of the environment, such as overall design choices and building policies. For example, flexible co-working spaces often have predetermined layouts and shared amenities, limiting opportunities to fully customise the office space according to your brand’s needs or employee preferences. This lack of autonomy can be challenging for businesses wanting a distinct atmosphere or specialised facilities.
What are co-working desks?
Co-working desks come in three options: dedicated, flex, and casual. With these desks, entrepreneurs and innovators can choose where to sit in a co-working environment, depending on their preferences.
With a dedicated desk, workers always return to the same spot, and their items will remain there overnight. The advantage of this desk situation is that workers can consistently rely on the same spot dedicated to them.
In comparison, with a flexible desk, workers reserve desks 2-3 in advance and pick depending on their preference. The advantage of this desk situation is that they can continuously move around to be near different people. Want a day of peace and quiet? Choose a corner desk. Desire time to work in teams? Pick a desk near colleagues.
With a casual desk, employees can drop in or reserve a desk for a day to take advantage of the benefits without being there every day. This is great for those who want to have a work environment to come to once in a while.
These co-working desk spaces offer workers much more flexibility and convenience. Let’s explore the benefits and disadvantages of this working environment.
Pros of co-working desks
Meet a variety of people: In co-working spaces, you’ll be surrounded by people who work for different companies and in various industries. This adds a healthy level of diversity to who you surround yourself with and what you can learn. You’ll also have the chance to work with a variety of your company’s employees and get to know them better in a community environment. You may take fitness classes offered by the co-working spaces or eat lunch with them in the common areas.
More flexibility: With co-working spaces open 24 hours, depending on your company’s policy, it’s easier to work a more flexible schedule that suits your lifestyle. For example, you can work earlier in the morning, so you can then leave sooner to pick up your kids. Flexible desks in co-working spaces offer off-work hours that can increase productivity and align with your preferences. They also allow you to work independently, around your teammates, or hire out meeting rooms. With flexible desks and a supportive community, you’ll find the perfect environment to thrive on your terms.
Cons of co-working desks
Distractions: If you’re easily distracted by people walking around, on phone calls, or talking to you, it may be hard to focus in co-working open desk spaces as there can be a lot of noise and movement. To alleviate this, co-working spaces often have personal phone rooms and quiet corners that workers can book in advance or use as needed if they need some focus or “me” time.
Higher $ than a coffee shop: If you’re a small business owner looking for a consistent spot to work, a co-working space will be more expensive monthly than setting up shop for the day at a cafe or home. It comes down to what your goals and budgets are for your business. But keep in mind that when you’re paying for an office co-working desk, you’ll also reap the benefits that the space offers to all its members, including community spaces, meeting rooms, and fitness areas.
Find your ideal spot
Whether you need your office or collaborative desk space, co-working places offer working arrangements for all entrepreneurs and innovators. Here at Haven Workspaces, we have a range of premium workspace options to suit your business requirements.
Join our community of forward thinkers and learn more about our flexible working community here.
