Workplace culture has revolved around the same physical office space for as long as corporations have existed. Walking into a corporate office, you can sense a business’s values, beliefs, and practices. You feel it, see it, and act accordingly.
But with the rise of co-working spaces, where multiple companies share the same environment, how does each business maintain its unique culture? How does this collaborative setting affect a positive workplace culture?
The impact of coworking for corporate team culture
Ranked 7th globally, Australia has more than 590 co-working spaces, and it’s becoming the new normal for heaps of SMEs. In a coworking environment, you’re not just coming to work. You’re embracing a healthy work-life balance filled with productivity but also flexible desk options and a supportive group of people around you. With flexibility as a top priority and a growing desire for human connection, coworking spaces have become known for fostering creativity, collaboration, and job satisfaction — ultimately driving company success.
How coworking spaces and workplace culture go hand in hand
As a business owner, think of what your company values. Is it teamwork? Innovation? Accountability? A company’s workplace culture can thrive and resonate within a coworking space — if the environment aligns with its values.
For example, if your company values diversity and inclusion in people and community, a coworking space that brings together individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and industries will naturally support and enhance those values.
If collaboration, networking, or community are part of your company practices, a coworking facility would easily match this because they provide a variety of events, educational workshops, and social community opportunities for employees to attend. This not only strengthens internal team bonds and teamwork skills but also fosters cross-cultural connections as employees from different businesses network and get to know one another.
Post-pandemic, flexibility has become a core practice for many companies. If your business values this type of working and is open to letting employees work remotely, hybrid, or mix up their office days, a coworking place aligns well, offering a variety of flexible options like flex and casual desks. It gives employees the option to work in person and maintain a professional environment, which can be challenging to achieve when working from home and it also cuts costs for employers because they can plan their desks out more efficiently if they know certain employees will be remote for a while.
With mental health being a critical factor for success, companies that prioritise wellbeing would thrive in a coworking environment that supports and promotes a healthy work-life balance. Coworking spaces offer a variety of room sizes and opportunities to work alone or in collaboration with others. According to a study, 89% of coworking users claim to be happier and 83% feel less lonely in coworking spaces, because having the constant ability to connect with others and feel their presence really makes a difference in the work environment.
Although you’ll be sharing the coworking space with other businesses, each company can still uphold its unique practices and values in their dedicated office spaces or desks. By choosing a coworking environment that aligns with your company’s values, practices, and beliefs, you’ll naturally be surrounded by others who prioritise the same principles as you and your team.
How to create a positive workplace in 3 steps
Once you have found a coworking place that aligns with your values, there are a variety of steps you should take to make sure you maintain a positive workplace culture for your employees.
Step 1: Define your goals: Clearly outline where your business is headed and what success looks like. Map out the steps to achieve these goals. A clear plan will help you track your progress and see how each employee’s daily actions contribute to your business success.
Step 2: Be transparent: Clearly communicate your values and guide employees on how to uphold them. Keep the dialogue open so employees don’t feel disconnected from the company culture.
Step 3: Encourage involvement: Invite employees to participate in co-working community events so they can feel a part of the wider coworking culture, but also implement internal team events to give employees the time to connect to your unique company culture.
Taking the steps to find the right coworking space that aligns with your company culture, and then showing employees how to connect to both it and yours, isn’t always easy to achieve. However, combining both will lead to higher employee satisfaction, connection, and success, ultimately creating a positive team culture. Who wouldn’t want that?
Find the coworking space that resonates with you
At Haven Workspaces, our supportive community values efficiency in a convenient location. We offer a variety of coworking services to solve any business needs. Whether you are looking for a private office for your big team or a casual desk once a week, we have curated the ideal working community in the heart of Canberra where location, service, and security come together. Learn more about our memberships here.