When we think of coworking, the image of colleagues gathering in a central location often comes to mind. However, the time, money, and sustainability costs associated with physical coworking raise questions about its true value.
Does gathering in person truly enhance productivity, or is it merely a means of visibility for managers?
In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of coworking, debunks the myth of remote productivity, and highlight the advantages of remote collaboration.
Debunking the remote productivity myth
Since the shift to remote work, numerous statistics challenge the notion that physical coworking is inherently more productive.
Studies show that 42% of remote workers multitask during meetings, the number of meetings per week has increased by 153% globally and overlapping meetings have risen by 46% per person in the past year. Surprisingly, however, 85% of leaders still find having confidence in employee productivity challenging within a hybrid work environment.
The motivation behind coworking
While the data suggests that physical coworking may not significantly enhance productivity, it reveals that the desire for social connections and team bonds is a primary motivation for working in person.
A striking 84% of employees report that they would be motivated by the opportunity to socialise with co-workers, and 85% would be motivated by rebuilding team bonds. Moreover, 73% of employees would go to the office more frequently if their direct team members were present, and 74% would do the same if their work friends were there.
These findings highlight the importance of social connections and team cohesion that coworking provides.
The rise of remote coworking
Remote coworking is an attractive alternative due to the obvious appetite for social connection and team bonding.
Remote coworking can help establish social connections, promote healthy communication, and protect productivity. Additionally, it allows businesses to reduce costs, save employees’ travel time, and minimise their carbon footprint.
Shifting to remote coworking does not require a drastic change in mindset, as many of us are already unknowingly engaging in it.
Various tools and platforms, such as VR horizon worlds/workrooms, Microsoft teams, Mural, Zoom, Noda, and Immersed, can facilitate virtual coworking for meetings, collaboration, ideation, brainstorming, and project work.
Embracing the benefits of remote collaboration
Effective communication is universally acknowledged as a critical skill by both business decision-makers and employees. Therefore, prioritising communication and connection through coworking is crucial.
However, it’s time to reframe our thinking when it comes to creating connections between co-workers and embrace remote coworking as a sustainable and productive solution.
By investing in building a digital employee experience, providing our teams with modern communication tools, and fostering a digital community, organisations can enable employees to stay connected to each other, company leadership, and company culture, regardless of their physical location.
Final thoughts
It’s vital for businesses to recognise the evolving landscape of coworking and adapt our approach accordingly. While physical coworking has its benefits, the shift to remote collaboration offers new opportunities for establishing social connections, promoting team bonds, and driving productivity.
By embracing remote coworking and leveraging digital tools, we can create a sustainable and effective coworking environment that meets the needs of today’s dynamic workforce.
So, let’s prioritise communication, connection, and collaboration while embracing the benefits of remote coworking in the future of work.
