Coworking spaces can be an effective solution for large companies looking for ways to become more innovative and provide more flexible work options to their employees. When used the right way, coworking spaces can quickly and easily become hubs of creativity and collaboration.
Here are five ways in which large companies can benefit from the boon in shared office spaces:
1. Creative collaborative space
Large companies often look to small teams of employees to take on innovative projects. But what is the typical next step? Those teams still work in their same cubicles with the same coworkers and the same corporate structure. Not exactly a recipe for innovation.
Instead, large companies should look to coworking spaces as a place for offsite team meetings and longer creative projects — all within an environment that fosters new ideas and innovation. Companies which have plans to get started on a new special project in the near future would be wise to consider allowing their team to work at a coworking space and assess the results.
2. Product development and testing
Coworking spaces bring together companies and people from diverse industries and backgrounds. The collaborative nature of coworking spaces can provide fertile ground for market testing, often at the price of a few pizzas in exchange for participants’ time during lunch. Rather than spend money on an expensive focus group, companies that are frugal with spending may find a solution in using a coworking space to demonstrate their product.
3. Place for remote workers
Some companies are nervous about allowing employees to work remotely. Managers are concerned about a loss in productivity and having access to their employees during normal work hours. Yet, employees who are raising families or want to live in a different city are demanding more remote options from their employers. A coworking space provides an effective option where an employee can have the freedom to work remotely, yet still at a place that provides all the amenities of an office.
4. Pipeline for future talent and freelancers
Imagine getting to know a future employee by working side-by-side with her for six months before hiring. How much easier would it be to hire someone whose work ethic and work product you know well? When you have personnel working out of a coworking space, you will run into developers, graphic designers and writers.
You will not only get a chance to know them as individuals, but you can try them out before hiring. Coworking spaces can often be untapped centers for new hires.
5. Fewer building management headaches
Coworking spaces have increasingly become complete office options for companies looking to downsize or ones that just do not want to deal with the headaches of property management. Coworking spaces provide a blend of private and open office space, which appeal to all types of workers.
Allowing the coworking space to run the building allows each individual company within the space to focus more time and energy on their business rather than building management. ●
Todd Goldstein is co-founder and CEO at LaunchHouse
