New to Coworking Town Part 1: Joining and Networking

So you’ve joined a coworking space. Now what? Besides showing up and working, how do you make the most of the new community at your fingertips?

By joining that community.

In the last decade or so, we’ve been living in a “Loneliness Epidemic” created by a culture celebrating individualism combined with a climbing number of remote workers. So instead of working from home with only the cat and a pile of dishes for company, many freelancers and small business owners chose to join coworking spaces to stave off loneliness and re-discover the community of an office job.

Based on a survey of coworking members, the Harvard Business Review found that:

• 87% of respondents report that they meet other members for social reasons

• 79% said coworking has expanded their social networks

• 83% report that they are less lonely since joining a coworking space

• 89% report that they are happier since joining a coworking space

To summarize, coworking is better for your working life because it’s better for your life, connecting with more people and exercising your instinct to be a social animal. But how do you actually go about reaping the rewards of your coworking community, expanding your network, and feeling happier?

Start by introducing yourself your fellow coworkers around the office or by the coffee machine. One good rule of thumb is to always have a business card on hand. They may be outdated for a lot of people, but what if someone prefers having a physical means to contact you?

Another basic piece of advice—that so many often forget—is to remember people’s names. This goes a long way towards establishing credibility. Also, if you remember someone else’s name, if will oftentimes impress them (because they can’t remember yours) and inspire them to remember yours and get to know you better.

Additionally, take advantage of the events offered by your coworking space.

Renée C. Fetty, Community Operations & Communications Manager at Chicago coworking space, Free Range Office, says that, “Free Range always encourages members to spend time together.” For instance, through the community Slack channel, members can find announcements and events put on by Free Range as well as other channels to encourage members to proactively spend time together, such as "Virtual Watercooler," and "Lunch-Coffee-Drinks".

So check out these slack channels to see what’s going on at Free Range. You can also look at the Twitter page or the Facebook page to find out more details about upcoming events, roundtables, and coffee hours.

Renée added that “the most popular interaction members have is going to lunch together.” Lunch is an especially good way to get to know your fellow coworkers and network while not encroaching on work time. So don’t be afraid to ask another coworker or two if they want to go to lunch; in a coworking space, interaction is an unspoken expectation and many will gladly accept the invitation. For ideas on where to go around Free Range, check out this blog post on Wicker Park.

That leads us to some of the problems that could arise at a coworking space: what if someone doesn’t want to interact with you and how can you tell? For issues and communication advice, return to our blog later in the week for part 2 of “New To Coworking Town”.