Drawing The Fine Balance Between Coworking And Productivity

There are always two sides to every coin. Coworking encourages networking and collaboration but some people feel that being accessible to others hampers their productivity.  

Similarly, some people thrive with the independence they get from a coworking space while others feel the need to have managers and team leaders guide and oversee them through their tasks. 

However, no one can contradict the fact that neighbourhood coworking is more comfortable than having to commute across town to the office every day. So, how can you be your most productive self in a coworking atmosphere? Here are a few tips. 

6 Ways to Boost Productivity in Coworking Space

1. Choose The Right Coworking Space
2. Use The Flexibility To Your Advantage
3. Have Daily And Weekly Targets
4. Have Meaningful Interactions
5. Use Headphones
6. Bring Your Own Supplies

1. Choose The Right Coworking Space

The first step to being productive in a coworking space is to choose the right coworking unit and the right membership plan. The coworking space must be easy to reach, safe to work in and have the infrastructure you would require. 

Visit the coworking space to see who you will be working beside. Try and get an idea of how people work in the space and the overall work culture. Ensure that the coworking space has designated meeting spaces (in case you need to collaborate with coworkers and vendors etc). 

2. Use The Flexibility To Your Advantage

Irrespective of your specialty, you’ll have noticed that there are certain tasks you get done quickly when there’s no one around and certain things that you need to work in tandem with others. 

Coworking gives you the flexibility to work as you like, when you like and where you like. When you need to focus on a task and don’t want to be disturbed, pick a seat in the corner of the hall / room. When you think you would benefit from having people around, take your laptop and sit at a community desk. Everyone has a different idea of the ideal working spot.

Source: Slideshare

If your organisation permits, you can go a step further and set office hours to suit your productivity. If you feel more productive in the morning, start your day early. If you feel more productive in the second half, work your schedule accordingly.

3. Have Daily And Weekly Targets

Whether your company takes up an independent office space for rent or chooses a coworking space, staying motivated can be a challenge. In a coworking space, there are always people around and it’s easy to get distracted. To fight this, give yourself a plan with daily and weekly goals. Also, plan a reward for reaching these targets.

Break large tasks down into smaller steps so that you can cross them off your to-do list at each stage. This will give you a sense of achievement and push you to do more. When you’re planning your targets and your schedule, don’t forget to add a few breaks in between the day. You need to switch off from time to time to be able to concentrate on your work. 

4. Have Meaningful Interactions

Networking and collaboration are two key benefits that draw people to coworking spaces. You must interact with the people around you but these interactions should be purposeful. Swapping gossip or reviews of the latest tv series doesn’t count as networking. 

Now, let’s say you find someone you want to collaborate with. Rather than ping them every few minutes with an idea or a query, make a note of things you want to discuss and set aside time in both your schedules to discuss this. If people approach you when you’re in the middle of a task, be polite but firm and tell them when you’re taking your next break and will have time to talk to them. 

5. Use Headphones

A pair of headphones can be a very useful tool to make coworking and productivity go hand in hand. Irrespective of whether you’re actually listening to music on it or not, it’s a natural visual barrier that will keep people from disturbing you unnecessarily. If you find the overall hum of the coworking space distracting, get yourself a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. This will eliminate the distraction and let you focus on the task at hand. 

6. Bring Your Own Supplies

When it comes to productivity in office space, not having the things you need can be a big deterrent. Sure, you could ask the people around and borrow a pen or a pencil but this could lead to a longer conversation that costs you too much time. 

So, firstly, when you look at coworking options, pick one where you have access to a locker. Find out what facilities are available and how to avail of them. Secondly, list out all the basics you may need during the day and make sure they are available to you. If you don’t want to carry them up and down every day, store them in your locker. Some of the basics you should always have include a notebook, pens and pencils, your chargers and a bottle of water.

In Conclusion

Coworking offers many benefits to individuals as well as the companies they work for. All you need is some self-discipline and the above tips to help you find the answer to how coworking increases productivity. As mentioned earlier, finding the right coworking space is critical to making all your plans work. 

The Office Pass (TOP) has multiple coworking spaces in South Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or working with a growing company, you’ll find a space and membership plan that’s right for you. To know more, reach out to us at 08999 828282.

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