Flexibility: The new way of working
Flexibility plays a key role in the modern workplace. Paul Migliorini explains the rise of coworking and what it means for your business.
We are seeing a definitive shift in the way we work, it’s no longer somewhere we go, but something we do.
When we think of the modern workplace we no longer picture the traditional nine-to-five working day and workers behind fixed-desks. Instead we are seeing an increase in collaborative spaces, job-sharing and teams of people coming together either physically or virtually to do business.
So how has this picture of the modern workplace evolved so quickly? With more people demanding flexibility than ever before, companies have had to stay in touch with their employees’ needs, such as adaptable hours, working remotely at least part of the time and job-sharing. It’s also from this mindset that ‘coworking’ has evolved.
Coworking forms a community that values being entrepreneurial, collaborative and autonomous. In fact, a recent Regus survey found that collaborative workplaces made the ideal breeding ground for innovation (74 per cent) and entrepreneurial spirit (72 per cent), along with being a valuable way of creating connections with partners (79 per cent), providers and suppliers (81 per cent) and even potential clients (80 per cent).
Even within our own organisation we’ve noticed the change towards coworking. We’ve reacted to this by retrofitting our spaces to include improved business lounges with more breakaway spaces, as well as coworking desks for our customers to work from, due to popular demand. We’ve also ensured that there are still ample meeting rooms and office spaces to suit the varying needs of our clients. We understand it’s important to have locations that are central, easily accessible and all intentionally designed to boost productivity, creativity and work:life balance.
Here are the five reasons why workers should use a coworking space:
1. Networking
One of the most important fundamentals of a growing business is networking, and at a coworking location you don’t even have to try. The environment provides an array of services, networking events, contacts and spaces all created to enhance the ability to interact with others in a professional and productive setting.
2. Work: life balance
From recent Regus research we understand the importance of a change in scenery to keep feeling happy and healthy in the workplace. In fact, 74 per cent of respondents said changing up the location significantly helps improve work:life balance, which is why coworking spaces are taking off.
3. Accessible
Many workers want to reduce their travel time or work from a location closer to their port of call, which means that many employers are now happy to facilitate some degree of remote working. With cloud-based technology, workers can stay in touch with their colleagues, desktops and servers wherever they are.
4. Funky
Picture the offices of Google and Facebook and that’s what you’ll get at a coworking location. The facilities are ergonomic, practical and productive whilst being cutting edge and funky – and who doesn’t want that to get inspired?
5. No guilt
Have you ever set up shop at a café only to get scowled at by the waitress for only ordering a coffee? Coworking is developed especially for flexible workers to drop in and out as they need, without the stress of taking up space.
As the workplace continues to change and evolve to suit the differing needs of workers, it’s clear that coworking is the way of the future. With benefits that include increased productivity, work:life balance, cost effectiveness and healthier, happier employees, it’s something that all growing businesses should be willing to consider!
Paul Migliorini is the CEO of Regus, which currently has 60 flexible workspaces across all major metro and suburban areas in Australia & New Zealand and is expanding rapidly Prior to Regus, Paul worked with BT (British Telecom) for 8 years in a range of management roles in Australia & Hong Kong most recently as Regional Managing Director for BT (British Telecom) South East Asia & ANZ which comprised nine separate country organisations. Paul also spent a number of years in management roles with Motorola in Hong Kong and Melbourne.
Petras Surna
June 29, 2015 at 6:53 am
Interesting theory. It goes
Interesting theory. It goes against what I have read about co-working in the book Peopleware, by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister. The book insists it’s much better to have your own office with a door that can be shut. Apparently it is much more productive because it stops micro interruptions. These come from noise in a shared space. Some of that noise wouldn’t happen if you had to make the effort to walk into the next room so instead you figure things out for yourself and don’t take other people out of their working head space.