About 2.3 million people in Hong Kong have already reported a big change in how they work since the start of the global pandemic, Covid-19. While the global pandemic has caused a lot of challenges, one positivity that came out of it is how employees and companies view work.
Chances are, the changes the global pandemic has already caused in terms of how and where workers work will be permanent. But this isn’t a bad thing.
Outliers, like Eatonclub shared workspaces, coworking office space, or hybrid office models, have now started becoming a norm. And more businesses are starting to open their eyes to the benefits of working in a shared office.
What a Shared Office Is
A shared office is a working environment where different people and companies may come together and do their job. It is one of the best ways to promote shared learning and build business contacts. In a shared space, there is combined access to facilities or amenities, like coffee machines, quick internet connection, printing facilities, and conference rooms.
Plus, shared offices in Hong Kong may provide companies with flexibility, letting them pay for the space amount they need when they want it. That makes it a more cost-effective option for a small business looking for a place to work with other freelancers or startups.
The Concept of Co-working Space
A shared space works on a membership-based subscription, allowing individuals to subscribe to the period they want to use that space. This is totally different from traditional offices where users work under the same business organization. In co-working offices, users come from various companies and backgrounds and work for different business organizations.
Who Can Use a Shared Workspace?
Working at a kitchen table, hostel room, busy café, or couch can be difficult, distracting, uninspiring, and isolating. This is why most digital nomads and freelancers use shared workspaces as their offices. In a shared workspace, they may socialize, work, network, brainstorm with other people, and even enjoy the benefits of an office without the expense of maintaining and building their own.
A lifestyle entrepreneur can also use this workspace. All they need is an internet connection and a laptop to keep their things running. This makes shared workspaces suitable for lifestyle entrepreneurs to have work done. Apart from freelancers/digital nomads and lifestyle entrepreneurs, other users who may benefit from a shared office may include the following:
- Satellite offices
- Large/medium/small enterprises
- Startups
- Distributed teams
- Remote and local teams
- Consultants
- Solopreneurs
Benefits of Shared Workspaces
A shared workspace is helpful in the startup and freelance ecosystems. People are not interested in conventional corporate cultures in their workspace, and they experience a sense of laziness in a familiar environment. This is where a shared office comes in. The following are some of the key benefits of a shared office:
Economy and Adaptability
The adaptability and cost savings of shared workspaces are two compelling benefits. A suitable location in a bustling city might be all yours at a small fee. As a business organization, you may as well avoid the significant obligation of having to maintain an office over the long term by using a shared workspace.
There are numerous benefits of using a shared space. Copying facilities, printing services, well-stroked pantries, receptionists, wireless internet, and working landlines are popular in a shared workspace. Small businesses and entrepreneurs may as well rent a space in a shared office, which is very flexible. With this, they may avoid spending on a working space they don’t use. This, in turn, gives them the capability to expand and grow.
Collaboration
When working in a shared space with other companies, which have the same needs and work in the same industry, you will have many possibilities for collaborating. Your business and those companies may have a lot in common and even get to share machines.
Networking Opportunity
A shared space will always be a suitable environment to socialize and the capability to share ideas and interact with fellow employees to create a healthy connection. In order to begin networking in a shared office, provide support and trade service in a friendly conversation. Keep the conversation as casual and light as possible, and avoid forcing conversations or pushing sales too hard. This may turn connections off.
Plus, employees may have a chance to keep their minds open when meeting their co-working members. Simple problem-solving conversations may quickly change into a great business opportunity, and casual working relationships may become healthy friendships.
Boost Productivity
When working in a shared office, workers have the freedom to work whenever they want. This helps to unlock productivity potential.
Make sure you set standards and clear goals. If your team consists of remote employees, standards and clear goals will help them gravitate to a shared space as a place where they may work and focus.
Defined Boundaries
People who have worked from home before know how challenging it can be. You are always surrounded by diversions. Plus, a cozy atmosphere blurs distractions between your personal life and job.
Using a shared space helps to eliminate this problem. By working in a shared office, you work efficiently and concentrate even more. And when you get home, you rejuvenate and unwind.
Talent Diversity
Among the key benefits which have attracted big corporations to a shared workspace is talent diversity. Because employees from different industries and companies populate these shared spaces, it means individuals working together have a unique set of skills.
This enables a diverse group of employees to take advantage of other people’s strengths. For instance, there can be web designers who don’t like doing accounting but works next to a qualified accountant who wants to own a website.
In addition, it makes a shared office a suitable place for brainstorming and sharing ideas. Not to mention, this can be a great opportunity for some businesses to attract new talent who can join their organization.
The Bottom Line
Using a shared office has become a norm among many businesses globally. It gives you a chance to make cost-efficient decisions for your business while creating a very collaborative working environment, which may foster innovation and creativity.
