Coworking Peterborough – Challenges & Benefits

Coworking is about more than providing a desk and chair for a temporary occupant. It’s about creating a balanced, shared workplace where anyone can work in whatever capacity their job demands.

In addition to high-speed Internet access and a place to sit, coworking spaces should offer comfort, convenience, atmosphere and accessibility. Workers need to get more out of a coworking space than they would in a home office, coffee shop, or a traditional office.

People like coworking spaces, but coworking can provide a range of unique challenges. Some of the key coworking challenges we hear about include “I am easily distracted”, “I like to spread out when I’m working”, “Will my belongings be safe”.

For those interested in Coworking Peterborough read on and find out how the challenges are overcome and the benefits of coworking.

The top 6 challenges of coworking spaces

• #1 : Noise and Distractions – if you are the type of person who gets distracted as soon as someone new enters the room. If the noise of a pencil being dropped is going to ruin your concentration. If you need a library type silence as your working environment then you might struggle with a larger, fully occupied coworking office. Note by the vey nature coworking spaces will have busy and quiet periods, so even the busiest coworking space might be quiet at certain times of the day
• #2 : Lack of privacy – if you have been working from the confines of your bedroom, kitchen table or even your home office then you will have become use to your own private space. You have probably been able to leave paperwork lying around, laptops plugged in and switched on, and confidential information in open view. In a coworking shared space there will be other people in the area, so you may need to change your way of managing confidential data
• #3 : Limited space – if you have previously been used to your large executive office, or even from your larger kitchen table you have probably been used to spreading out. Paper files, everywhere , flip charts, documentation as well as all the electronic tools (laptop, tablet, mobile, camera). So you end up asking the question within the coworking space will you have enough room to work effectively
• #4 : Insufficient equipment – will there be enough printers, scanners, telephones etc. Will the desks and chairs be comfortable enough for a full days work. Will it be easy to access the shared kitchen facilities, will I end up waiting hours to access critical equipment.
• #5 : Personalisation – Within the office environment, people love to personalise their workstation or office. Whether its simply having some pictures on the desk of your pet dog, your partner or loved ones. Putting your pen holder on the desk containing your favourite pens and stationary. Pictures on the wall and a place to stuff your trainers also mean that the space becomes your own. With Coworking a clean desk is a coworking desk. The fact that you might not be using the desk everyday does mean that you simply have a desk in a space that you can use
• #6 : Safety / Security – Only co-workers will be able to occupy the coworking Peterborough space, so whilst you shouldn’t suffer any theft, damage or security issues, they need to be considered. Reputable coworking spaces will provide key fobs, CCTV and other security protocols

Businesses Shouldn’t Avoid Coworking Peterborough

Whilst nearly all employees face challenges in their coworking environment, over, one-third would prefer to work in a coworking space compared to another type of workspace.

The top challenges of coworking are distractions / noise, lack of privacy, limited space, insufficient equipment, and inability to personalise their workspace.

Over twenty five percent of employees say they face safety and security issues at their coworking workspace as well. Businesses should address these challenges to make employees feel happier, safer, and more productive at work

Coworking Peterborough – Solving the Problems

Problem #1: Constant distractions

Noise pollution is one of the most common challenges of working in a coworking space. The dulcet tones of dozens of laptop keyboards, workers holding conversations on the phone, and the other open office sounds, have the potential to drive the most patient of people crazy and make it difficult to concentrate.

One solution is noise-cancelling headphones another is mentally blocking out noise, some coworking spaces even hand out ear plugs, unfortunately all put the focus on the co-worker. Within the coworking space it’s the coworking space manager’s job to minimise the distractions as much as possible. A good first step is setting and enforcing etiquette rules, such as having designated areas for phone conversations and silencing phones and computers.

The design of the coworking facility can significantly help. Having natural and artificial barriers within the space to split up the workplace without closing it off. Additionally locating desks to reduce peripheral distractions, some people will find it beneficial to be facing a wall. Your coworking manager should implement whatever is required to reduce constant distractions and keep co-workers focused.

Problem #2: Shared-space friction

Put a diverse group of entrepreneurs, start ups and business people in a confined space and it won’t be long until the innovation, creativity and general bustle kick in. Whilst a coworking space may not be like a “traditional” office, coworking professionals still have projects to focus on and deadlines to meet.

At high pressure times when they are interrupted or feel like their space is violated, there is every potential that co-workers will get annoyed and get defensive. The coworking model works well when managers find and implement ways to reduce friction.

• An appropriate desk layout arrangement can prevent friction by allotting each person enough space to spread out.
• Moreover, assigned spaces or delegating specific areas to certain work functions cuts down on conflict and confusion.
• Coworking etiquette goes a long way.
  • Make sure visitors have the space they need to work, but be sure to put limits on sprawl.
  • Different types of workspaces are a great way to overcome the issue
    • individual desks for minimalist workers
    • private, collaborative rooms for groups working on projects.

Problem #3: Lack of privacy

As previously mentioned lack of privacy is one of the biggest coworking space challenges. Nothing can beat the privacy element of working at home. This means that coworking spaces need to and should offer some degree of seclusion.

Desk arrangement and space allocation are keys to creating privacy.

• Space between individual workstations should be maximised and is a simple way to offer isolation
  • This approach can come at the expense of efficient space utilisation. This is one of the reasons its so important to check out coworking spaces as they are not all equal
• Creative layouts can also help. Well-placed plants and acoustic screens can block views into a workstation.
• Having soundproof workspaces that offer privacy for phone calls and face-to-face meetings can significantly reduce the noise in the coworking desk space area

Problem #4: Diverse and different expectations –

Some very niche coworking spaces thrive because they attract unique groups – e.g. all the occupants being entrepreneur scientists working within bio tech applications. Unfortunately general coworking spaces don’t have the luxury of being that specific or niche they will genuinely get a wide variety people and industries.

Meeting diverse expectations requires a multi step approach.

• Every coworking space needs to promote productivity and provide accommodating workspaces.
• Ensure the layout of available workspaces is diverse and inclusive.
• Not every coworking space needs to look the same -good design can create a suitable ambiance and feel.

Problem #5: Managing work flows

Its a strange analogy but a coworking space is like a bit like a gym or fitness centre. Firstly not everyone with a membership will be there every day. Some people will like to do a morning workout so will be at the gym as soon as it opens. Others will want to go in the afternoon after they have completed other activities. Whilst some will go at the same time every day

To maximise revenue the gym model relies on selling more memberships than total available capacity permits. At the gym the secret to keeping members happy is monitoring trends to mitigate overcrowding and friction. We have probably all experienced the gym scenario of having to wait to get on the cross trainer or running machine.

Within the coworking environment a mix of assigned desk spaces and open areas creates balance in coworking spaces. A good coworking space provider will monitor check-in and volume trends to determine when coworking spaces are busy compared to being unoccupied.

Coworking Peterborough Facilities

When looking for coworking spaces these articles may provide some useful information

Contact Michelle Craig at Brightfield Business Hub on 01733 595885 or email Michelle Craig at arrange an appointment to see the wide range of Coworking facilities at BBH. Click here to have all your meeting rooms near me questions answered.

For information on short term self storage facilities that are ideal for businesses click here