Co-working spaces in South Africa: The importance of community

Can working in a co-working space filled with strangers be seen as an advantage both socially and professionally? What are the benefits to building community in a co-working space?

Community in co-working spaces

The traditional workplace has long been somewhere that workers can spend time not only working, but socialising and creating a sense of community. In times gone by, colleagues have functioned as family members, which is not surprising, considering workers spent eight hours a day in their company offices. 

But what about working in today’s world, where conference rooms have been replaced by coffee shops and boardrooms by dining rooms? How does one maintain a sense of community when there isn’t a community to connect to?  

How important is community? 

Socially, a community is vital to anyone wanting to feel a sense of belonging. In a work environment, feeling part of a community is not only beneficial to your well-being, but to your business. 

Charl Ochler, the manager of a bustling Workshop17 branch in Sandton explains the importance of establishing yourself in a working community, particularly in the age of co-working spaces. 

“In our co-working spaces, people start talking and connecting, and before long, they have begun networking. Business deals are made, ideas are shared, and all because of an informal conversation that took place at Workshop17.”

Ochler admits that for busy workers in the bustling centre of Sandton, chatting doesn’t always come naturally. Still, once people recognise the benefits of socialising and what it can do for their businesses, they are more willing to engage. 

Yolande Matthews from Workshop17 in Paarl has a different experience. She says that workers in the Tabakhuis branch are eager to socialise and engage with people sharing their workspace. 

“At Tabakhuis, people want to liaise and collaborate, so it happens organically. People are genuinely interested in getting involved in a work community.”

Building community brings with it a safety and a confidence that allows members to take risks and feel supported.  

How to develop community in co-working spaces

Some interaction happens organically, however, unlike the past when business deals were often made on the golf course, some intervention is required in a co-working space. 

At Workshop17 branches, Friday evenings are for braais and after-work drinks. Members are encouraged to stop work in the afternoon and join other workers in a more social setting. It’s at these functions that people can find out the dreams and visions of members’ businesses. 

Ochler says, “Getting together socially helps members to align themselves with potential business partners or collaborators who they may not have otherwise met.”

Staying connected 

Workshop17 is in the process of developing an app to keep members informed of upcoming events. The app will also allow members to message each other with relevant information or networking opportunities. The app will play a vital role in assisting members in feeling connected to other workers and will launch in the first half of 2020. 

Each co-working space at the seven Workshop17 sites countrywide is uniquely designed to suit different work needs. Social events at each branch will vary. To find out more, contact the Workshop17 office closest to you.