How to deal with love affairs in your coworking space? Follow our first Managers’ guide to manners & coworking.
It’s a fact! Coworking encourages romantic idylls. 28% of co-working centers have witnessed couples emerge within their community. A trend you can take advantage of… although your working center should not become the latest place to find a hot date!
Love affairs: could it be the best way to create a community of coworkers?
Initially, Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook to know whether his fellow students at Harvard were single or not. He then used this information to attract more members to his social network. To develop your community of coworkers and initiate a relaxed and favorable atmosphere, what could be better than a couple of lovebirds in the open space at times?
Weddings within the community
Couples will ease the new recruits’ integration because their attitude towards one another tends to impact on the global atmosphere, making it cozier and homelier. It goes without saying that love at work can pay big and help you build an easy-going and cool reputation in the world of freelance and new technologies.
Encourage interaction
Having couples in your coworking center will stimulate interaction and sharing of information, ideas etc. Do not forget to put in place communication systems to reinforce the bonds of the community (but not only: maybe you can create a ‘Spotted’ page to lighten the atmosphere and encourage budding friendships… or more!)
Your coworking center is not an extension of Tinder
Your strategy needs to avoid one major pitfall: your working center should not become a place where people go to meet potential dates. Your coworkers are here to work (in the first place), to develop their projects and to share ideas with the rest of the community.
For what it’s worth, don’t forget you are the manager of a working center, not a matchmaker or a marriage counsellor! Be ready to defuse the conflicts that could come up along with new love ties within the community rapidly… and tactfully, if you want your coworking space to become successful!
