An active coworker community is one the keys to the success of your coworking center. Coworking is not simply a system to rent an office; it is more thanks to the existing community that makes it lively! You will find below a couple of tips to make your community active.
Creating a community calls for a selection of coworkers
If you want to create interaction and have an active community in your coworking center, then you will have to select your candidates. This does not mean you need to choose people of the same age or pursuing the same objectives, rather the contrary! Variety and diversity are real assets to build a lively and interesting atmosphere. Mixing start-uppers, teleworkers, short term coworkers, young and older is the best guarantee to have a warm and delightful ambience.
Your choice must be taken to favor interaction. Choose candidates ready to share their experience, discuss their projects, passionate about their work and who will enjoy brainstorming with their colleagues. During the selection process, ask the right questions and insist on the particularity of your center. You are the initiator; your coworkers will follow the path you put before them.
Once your choice is done, introduce the coworkers at a lunch or maybe at coffee break. An intern directory and dedicated Facebook groups are good ways to facilitate interaction between coworkers.
The Kitchen must be awesome!
Your coworking center needs a cool kitchen. It is the place where people meet and share great moments of conviviality. The kitchen must be big, it is the place where coworkers will come to relax, sing along, make lunch and of course bond with the rest of the community. Making it the center of your efforts will pay off. It is the promise of a lively community.
Provide the kitchen with a coffee machine, a kettle and mugs. Make it a cozy space.
Another way to encourage cohesion within the community is to negotiate discounts in the neighborhood for lunch breaks or leisure time (and it will anchor your coworking center in the area).
Get your coworkers involved
There is no better way to create bonds between people than to make them participate in the management of the common space: watering the plants, decorating, hosting afterwork parties are essential to the group’s social cohesion.
There are multiple ways to create a team spirit (and thus to enliven the community). You can encourage the coworkers to debate on ideas and projects that flourish in your center. This type of reunion is really federating for your coworkers.
Also, do not hesitate to ask the coworkers what they think about the coworking space! Ask them what is there to be improved, what kind of events they wish to assist to, etc.
You can maybe create a mentoring system so that ‘old’ (or rather accustomed) coworkers can guide new coworkers and help them feel at home. It will considerably impact the overall mood with positive vibes!
