Networking secrets everyone should know about!

 

“Your reputation is who knows you, and your connections are the ones who you know.”

Picture a crowded reception room full of anonymous faces, grappling with drinks and canapés while trying to make small talk? People frantically ‘‘working the room’’ and exchanging business cards?

Is this the image that instantly springs up in your mind? Surprisingly, this common assumption is not an accurate representation of what networking is.

Instead, what networking truly stands for is –

To build reciprocal relationships with people you like, admire and trust. 

If you are someone who finds themselves breaking out into a sweat every time you think of networking, then you are in good luck! Renting a private office in a coworking space can provide the perfect opportunity to integrate with other people and develop meaningful relationships without having to take out separate time out from your hectic calendar.

Coworking spaces were initially and accidentally discovered by drifting entrepreneurs, exploring an alternative to the buzzing coffee shops (or distractions) or the isolation from working at home. As more people moved towards working out of coworking spaces, over time, these spaces witnessed a culmination of diverse talents and business people from all walks of life.

These were the people inspired by the quest for a creative atmosphere — the community’s camaraderie and the comfy ambience of these spaces.

People working in coworking spaces have often networked at rather unconventional places, for example, the corridors or even the stairs. These small conversations that may have begun over a small appeal for help might even get converted into an exchange of pleasantries and leading to much more than that after that. Natural networking can only occur in a relaxed atmosphere where you don’t have to be conscious about networking.

Here are a few ways why coworking is conducive to networking and how you can use the eclectic atmosphere of coworking spaces to your advantage!

1. It Puts You In The Right Mindset –

Working from home alone means you’re probably going to lack the motivation to socialize over time. If you become so used to your own company, you might not be attempting to network as much as you should. Using a coworking space, you will be well-positioned in the thick of it to speak to everyone around you.

At the same time, you don’t need to worry about having to pull yourself away from important work just to “network”. A casual chat over shared interests near a breakout zone should be enough to get the conversation going, and you can take it up from there!

2. Networking Requires More Than Just The Basics.

Many people assume that networking is as easy as shaking hands, small talk, and exchanging business cards. But that’s not all. Start by analyzing your prospective and current connections. How does their experience fit in with your short-term and long-term goals? How do you visualize the extent of their participation?

Is there a plan on how you would want to approach your prospects while still making time for your existing relationships? Answering these questions beforehand and practicing them in conversations will bring you closer to your networking goals.

3. Diversity!

The open and harmonious nature of coworking spaces and the internally connected work area fosters a better synergy for like-minded individuals. Cafeterias, breakout area and other common areas in shared office spaces can often double up as the perfect ground for networking, sharing knowledge and insights with coworkers.

This brings forth an opportunity to interact with people from differing professional backgrounds, possibly turning into valuable connections. These connections will be more likely to get converted into leads and other partnership opportunities in the future.

A coworking space embodies so much than just another place to get work done! The potential to network within a coworking space is one of the significant advantages. When done correctly, this networking ....read more

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.

Why Coworking Spaces Are Naturally Conducive To Employee Engagement

 

Today’s workforce comprises mainly of millennials who call themselves the “creative class”. They refuse to tread the traditional path – be it the choice to work independently as freelancers or shift to a cooler workspace in place of conventional offices; their approach to work and their workspace are very different from the mainstream. So, it’s no surprise that keeping this class of employees engaged can often seem like a challenge – but one that delivers “loyalty” in ten folds if done correctly!

This is what makes businesses of all size turn towards the future of workspaces – corporate coworking. While the observed link between employee engagement and shared coworking areas is quite apparent, often it is disregarded.

Coworking spaces are inherently great at employee engagement because they capitalize on the three main Ps: Productivity, Potential & Performance.

Workspace Innovation And Design

When employees work in formal workspaces with confined cubicles, productivity tends to take a hit. Soon enough, this declining efficiency negatively affects their engagement. But allowing employees a free, unrestricted space to work delivers quite the polar results. It engages them entirely and unreservedly!

How does coworking help in this case? Employees get to choose when and where they want to work, given the flexibility of options between open and private office spaces. Secondly, they are infrastructurally and ambience-wise designed to impel engagement. The openness, flexibility, and collaborative spirit found in coworking spaces are just the right fit for these new-age employees!

The Flexibility Of The Coworking Space

Today’s workers crave flexibility. They enjoy accomplishing tasks according to their schedules instead of arriving at the office and leaving work at the same time every single day. While some may require a rigid 9-5 structure to perform to their 100% competence, others may work better through the night. Alternatively, suppose an employee knows that they have access to their choice of a workspace (open or private office space). In that case, they are also more likely to dive into a project enthusiastically. Unlike coworking areas, traditional offices do not offer this choice,

This is also favourable if you work with a remote team. Employees often lose interest due to the dearth of human contact. When employees are placed in a high-energy, collaborative environment to communicate, share ideas or brainstorm concepts, output increases. This collaboration is what drives productivity. Coworking spaces brim with this collaborative spirit, making them inherently superior for employee engagement.

A Stimulating Environment

Simply put, every employee benefits from working in a different working atmosphere. While some thrive in stimulating offices where they can socialize with their colleagues, others may be more comfortable in quiet private office space areas where they can zone in on their tasks. Luckily, coworking spaces offer both areas for people to work distraction-free while also incorporating dynamic spaces to interact and collaborate.

Coworking spaces enable employees to pursue their work meaningfully and provides opportunities to expand their network simultaneously. Furthermore, shared workspaces are melting pots of diverse talents and skills that exist in the same space. The heterogeneous nature of these workspaces promotes further collaboration, often resulting in a mind-blowing innovation.  This loops back to meaningful work, and consequentially they become more engaged.

Engagement: Socializing And Otherwise!

A dull office that’s always quiet, and doesn’t encourage collaboration, stifles creativity and productivity. Employees can only become more engaged when their office encourages more social interaction opportunities with their colleagues. Coworking spaces promote community, collaboration ......read more

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.

Plug And Play Offices – Here’s All You Need To Know About Them!

 

Let us begin with an analogy. At one point in India, not so very long ago, the metropolitan crowd was brought face-to-face with a new concept – shared cabs. This initially faced a lot of resistance because travelling with strangers was, of course, not a very welcome experience in India.

This meant stepping out of one’s comfort zone! Soon some early adopters or people who were tired of their daily hassle to commute took the feared leap outside of their comfort zone.

They were first to catch a glimpse of life in shared cabs, and through word of mouth, this concept started selling like crazy. And where we stand today, hiring individual cabs is often seen as a luxury most people are willing to forego.

Similarly, coming back to the concept of plug and play offices. Why would it make sense to rent a complete office if you have a team of only five or smaller and just starting up? Moreover, what if you are a freelancer? Why think of renting an office or work at home when you can share an incredible office space while only paying for your workstation? Makes sense, right?

Coworking. Shared Office Space. Plug-and-play offices. This is what you’re looking for. This relatively new but growing concept of dynamic shared office spaces, similar to shared cabs, lets you come into work without worrying about any other infrastructural requirements.

All these offices are fully furnished and full of amenities that you may require across your business day. This includes well-furnished cabinets with executive cabins, receptions, workstations, spacious lobby, 24/7 electricity and generator backup, high-speed internet, fully air-conditioned office, and so much more!

Who Would need a Plug & Play Office?

Almost every brand looks out for office space at some point in time. Consider if your company is going through a growth period or downsizing, or you’re just beginning and aspire to establish your credibility with clients, a plug and play office is an excellent place to start. Entrepreneurs and small business owners generally use these ready-to-go office spaces because of the affordability and flexible lease options that come along.

Whether it’s making the shift from working out of your home to an upscale furnished office space, it’s essential to find the right one that suits your style. Let’s look at some benefits that you would get opting for a plug and play office:

EASY OFFICE SETUP

With Plug and Play offices, you can begin working the moment you find a space that appeals to you. Unlike regular offices, you don’t need to worry about furnishing the space, getting it painted, setting up infrastructure, etc. All you need to do is give your team the new address and plug your systems in.

STAY FLEXIBLE

Unlike other rent offices that demand many months’ rent in advance and other restrictive terms and conditions, you only pay for the cabins and workspaces you require based on how long you need them, i.e., flexible terms.

There are no additional brokerage fee either. The absence of long-winded contracts means that you can even flexibly upgrade or change your package whenever unexpected business situations crop up like hiring new team members.

SIMPLIFY YOUR EXPENSES

With a Plug and Play office, infrastructural support like electricity, high-speed internet, office maintenance, etc. is not something you need to think about. You also don’t need to worry about paying for coffee machines, printers, telephones, air conditioners etc. These are benefits that come inclusive of such coworking spaces and are free to use whenever you need.

GROW YOUR NETWORK

In a traditional office set up, while many companies share spaces in the same building, you might hardly get the chance to interact with others. Plug and Play offices ....read more

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.

Are You A Freelancer? This Is Why You Need A Coworking Space Over Home And Coffee Shops!

The Freelance Economy, otherwise popularly known as the Gig Economy, is a far more specified sector than we would like to believe, as per a Boston Consulting Group study. As a freelancer, gig work represents a path to more meaningful work, greater flexibility and added autonomy.

For many, it’s a brilliant thought not to have an office to work in. It directly translates to dealing with less traffic, planning, and distractions! You get freedom, work on what you want, when you want and even where you want!

However, there is danger in substituting your home – the place where you relax with your loved ones – as the place you work out of. Many don’t even have dedicated office spaces or realistically cannot afford to. A home is where you fall asleep on the couch without a second thought in the middle of your latest series craze, the place where you switch off your brain and regroup. Is it a good idea to make it your office space too?

As enticing as working in pyjamas sound, here are 6 reasons why a constructive and efficient working space in collaborative environments rocks!

A change for the future, enter Coworking spaces.

1. It’s All About The Money

Monthly rates to rent a seat in coworking spaces tend to start at pretty cheap rates. Although they can range up to more expensive packages, they’re still significantly less expensive than renting your own office space, hauling in all your equipment, and paying the bills.

2. Engage In A Community Of Digital Nomads

The community dynamics of the coworking experience is often hailed as its most significant advantage. For most freelancers, working from home can prove to be a lonely experience, and the lack of human connection, unlike working in traditional offices leaves a considerable gap to fill.

Not only do bustling coworking spaces help bring like-minded people together, but it also presents a great place to network. Imagine you specialize in finance. You share a coworking space with someone who works in legal services; this could lead to exciting new insights into the industry and perhaps even new clients.

3. Take Advantage of Those Coworking Amenities

Most offices are equipped with plenty of amenities and services that you, as a freelancer, may not have the budget or space to provide for yourself. These facilities range from the business-grade internet, printers, and projectors, to meeting rooms, presentation spaces, and of course, the unlimited snacks.

Coworking spaces also engage their community in frequent events such as art classes, professional talks by industry experts, or yoga sessions; not something you get in your home office.

4. Working Among Others is Both Motivating and Challenging

Procrastination is a real struggle many freelancers battle with every day. But watching other people around you working diligently in a shared office space can be motivating, especially if you get distracted easily and end up tending to different things at home. But watch out for the temptation to spend too much time making new friends!

People working from coworking spaces claim that sharing ideas and skills with others is one of the most significant working advantages. You might get tips as varied as creative design recommendations to keyboard shortcuts.

5. Commuting: Best or Worst Part of The Day?

Many of us worry that our job has us sitting down for the majority time throughout the day. Commuting to a coworking office is a rather welcome opportunity to get some fresh air and exercise and even help clear your head.

Many freelancers also confess that working from home ....read more

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.

What Collaboration Should Look Like In A Shared Office Space

A general belief hold that the internet has made the world a whole lot smaller and more connected- A global village if you may. Yes, we can say without a hint of a doubt that the average digital user has spread across the web with multiple digital footprints.

However, the more skilled we become in shaping online interactions, the world of offline interaction lessens incredibly in terms of scope.

This lack of physical interaction sets us back not only when it concerns our well-being but also takes a huge hit on our productivity. Several reputed Coworking surveys and international reports have gone on to confirm that a significant share of people’s happiness comes from socializing with other people around us.

It’s not just coworking. The source of contentment is usually indicated by

1. Strong personal bonds and
2. Strong social connections.

In simple terms, a community is what brings us happiness and eventually contentment.

This brings us to the topic we are dealing with today – how does the modern commercial office space – promote collaboration?

The coworking industry has seen a lot of rapid evolution across the past few years. They are now moulding themselves to flexibly accommodate the needs of solopreneurs and larger enterprises on the lookout for commercial spaces for rent.

From an affordable payment structure to flexible plans, vibrantly designed workspaces, even introducing wellness rooms, shared workspaces offer many services to a professional.

However, the essence of a thriving coworking space doesn’t lie with these perks but rather in the communities, which it fosters and that later thrives and sets the whole space apart. After all, if it’s just Wi-Fi and a comfy chair that you prefer, its already available at your home or even a coffee shop. But that’s not all a business person needs. Collaboration is crucial to one’s professional growth.

A Coworking space or a flexible office should inherently and must be an excellent platform for creating an atmosphere where people have a wonderful time and work efficiently. Any coworking member will agree that a space that nurtures community develops a feeling of partnership and belonging within the member.

It is common knowledge that people come to a shared office space not because there is a fixed chair and a desk for them (though this is also true). It’s more so because they want to join a close-knit tribe of similar-minded people.

To chat during the coffee-breaks, discuss new things and learn as an outcome. Experience is what makes people okay to pay pricier amounts and also keep coming back for more. A coworking space should offer just that- A community that embraces you warmly and encourages collaboration.

Healthy communities represent the primary source of support for professional and personal development. Eventually nurturing collaboration and projects.

If we breakdown strong communities, we find several components emerging:

• Common values and shared purpose.
• Rituals and shared culture
• Storytelling that reinforces the culture of the space
• Feeling of connectedness inside groups
• Trust, communication, and sharing

Why Is This Community Essential?

Because working in an atmosphere with people who think like you, helps you form better relationships. Of course, this doesn’t immediately mean that you start exchanging personal information but rather that you get to know the specificities of each other’s profession and are welcome to help each other whenever required.

Additionally, knowing a person’s casual interests or what they enjoy outside work builds a sense of connection. This growing feeling of camaraderie makes work more pleasant. Your desk and chair stops being simply “the place where you work” and instead a space, that helps you connect with a community.

The Magic of Collaboration

When people work together to solve a problem, it generates a feeling of camaraderie. The open environment focuses on making it easy for a member to possibly even lean across his desk and ask for another member’s opinion.

From ideating on a new assignment to brainstorming ....read more

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.

Will A Plug And Play Office Space Suit The Introverted Business Personality?

Shared office spaces are home to a myriad of personality types, though probably not in the same distribution as our general society.

When someone mentions a shared space, the first thought that comes to mind is a group of people who work and have fun in their workspace together. While there are quite a few myths surrounding these open spaces, the one that probably sticks to people’s mind the most is that perhaps coworking spaces aren’t right for introverts.

On the contrary, plug and play spaces can act as the oysters that create pearls out of introverts. To explain how this happens, we need to unravel what we first mean by personality. Modern pop culture divides the introverts and extroverts into separate circles- and that’s wrong because-

First, these personality types are spread across on a scale, not as extremes. What that suggests is just because a person is classified as an introvert; they don’t automatically shun socializing. There are times when introverts enjoy collaborating with others or desire to engage in casual conversation.

Second, introversion and extroversion are far more than a personality type. It’s about where an individual derives their energy from. For example, to work optimally, extroverts need to participate in conversations, while introverts are more likely to observe. Fortunately, modern plug and play spaces have something for both!

Now that we’ve established that introversion is a relative concept and that coworking spaces can suit all kinds of personas let’s look at how coworking spaces stand to benefit the introverts.

1. Believe It Or Not- Social Time!

For majority of introverts, the brain conjures up an endless series of anxiety-racking questions like “should I talk to the co-worker next to me,” “Am I being anti-social” and even “am I disturbing the person with too much conversation” are part and parcel of everyday work life.

Believe it or not, coworking spaces help erase this issue. How so? When an introvert understands that talking to a co-worker sitting in the lounge area is part of the coworking space’s collaborative culture, they don’t feel worried about small things like these. Likewise, they can focus on their task without the pressure of conversing with people during their “work-time”.

Alternatively, a gentle nudge from the coworking community manager to attend the upcoming social event helps them slowly eliminate their hesitation. This is a welcome chance to open up to people and opportunities, something they don’t get elsewhere.

2. Options To Work Flexibly

Whether its “working independently, together” or “working together, alone;” the outcome doesn’t change. Shared workplaces build a feeling of community togetherness, so much so that even while you’re working alone, you are never entirely alone.

For introverts, this represents one of the biggest positives of coworking and why they want to move away from work-from-home. Working in seclusion creates a feeling of loneliness that adversely impacts work in the long-run.

Contemporary serviced office spaces give introverts a choice in terms of flexibility. You can either work with other entrepreneurs when you wish to or hustle away in solitude. They never intend to present an environment that goes against the essence of your personality.

3. The Confidence To Be Bold

Interacting with different people is what inevitably happens in a shared workspace; and even introverts cannot outpace it. There are bound to be frequent social encounters when you have to converse across varied subject matters. While this may seem like a pretty regular occurrence for most, for introverts, this is a big load, indeed.

Coworking spaces are like a training ground preparing introverts to get over the hesitation of talking to someone new effectively. They help reserved people shed this reluctance and be bold enough to speak to a crowd, and because coworking areas are intrinsically built to support the community members, they do so with infinite gentleness.

4. Find Their Tribe In Shared Spaces

Walking into a coworking area is humorously described as walking into the first year of college. The anxiety to fit in is high. However, even while challenged ....read more

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.

Ergonomically Designed Serviced Office Spaces Help Employees Thrive – Here’s Why!

 

Ergonomics implies: “designed for humans”. Well, in design terms, its “the study of people’s performance efficiency in their working environment”, but let’s not make it all complicated. It’s all about making working environments becoming for human occupancy.

While this all might seem like common sense, it’s surprising how often ‘people’ aren’t considered in the workplace design and construction.

The truth is that many businesses don’t think about it when they’re considering a workspace: A few workstations, some appliances, amenities– that’ll probably do. But just like a good laptop that helps ease your work you wouldn’t want to put perfectly good employees in a work environment that drains them from the moment they step through the door, would you?

Cluttered workstations are among the chief reason organizations battle with high-absenteeism and low-morale at the workplace. Workplace design should instead design to fit the human need rather than forcing people to fit into the design. Even the arrangement of furniture in an office should create an ambience that is friendly to your workers. This allows them to deliver the best results while at the peak of good health.

This is where workplace ergonomics come to the forefront. When you keep your workers first, you’ll reap the rewards, so a proper ergonomically informed setup is the key to any successful business.

Good office ergonomics necessitates adopting designs that suit your workstation, job requirement and your position. It concentrates on the placement of the chair, desk, keyboard, monitor and any other essential applications you may use. Modern-day customized office space designs consider good ergonomics as critical and are conceptualized with the motto of “for people and around people”.

An ideal example might look like a shared office space that avoids having closed spaces like cubicles, instead, encouraging a more open and dynamic work area.

Our goal is to provide sophisticated, high energy, fully furnished office spaces as a premium workspace provider. Here are just some elements that we at Workafella Western Aqua Hitech City have worked in, specifically tuned to your human’s needs:

1. Well-designed furniture to reduce fatigue

We choose nothing but the best when it comes to furniture. Be rest assured that our workstations can quickly adapt to any nature of work. Whether you are on a presentation, a team meeting, or even video conferencing, our designs ease into any of your business needs conveniently. Simple is the way forward!

2. Lux standard LED lighting

Our adherence to quality lighting ensures that your team can perform even tasks that require precision and fine-detail work without the hassles of shadows cast on what they’re doing or excessive eye strain.

You would have well-placed, right amount of lighting where and when you need to learn more https://www.workafella.com/ergonomically-designed-serviced-office-spaces-help-employees-thrive-heres-why/

Coworking, Private Offices, Custom Built, Dedicated Desk, Hot Desk, Virtual Offices & Meeting Rooms

We are a growing community of inspired professionals who work in creative & innovative spaces. Our vibrant business ecosystem offers flexible office plans, seamless connectivity and security. We are a contemporary workspace, A playground for minds, a powerhouse for brands.

We are Workafella.