Coworking Myths Buster

Coworking is still a new kid on the block in many places. Although many people are embracing it, few are still shying away from it and some are nervously toying with the idea of giving it a try. As expected with every new phenomenon, certain misconceptions surround coworking. Team Kowrk.com is here to lift the myths shrouding this new age way of working.

Myth no.1 – Coworking is for the tightfisted (i.e. only to save money)

If the image of Uncle Scrooge pops in your head when you think coworking, you are as far from the truth as can be. Coworking is adopted by the smart Alecs of the world, who wish to spend wisely and judiciously, not by the stingy Scrooges. Sharing workspace provides you the flexibility of scaling up and scaling down without caring two pence about huge infrastructure investments. Hire at will and fire at whim (there still is the risk of earning the reputation of the weird boss) without worrying about arranging an extra desk or two. The growth graph shot up exponentially? No worries, block an entire area at your preferred coworking hub. You’ve spent months in selecting and settling in your chosen coworking space, obviously, you don’t want to give up on the comfort and familiarity just because you changed your size of operations. Of course, you ended up saving time, money and effort, because you paid only for space and infrastructure you actually used, but that’s a sign of intelligence, isn’t it? (Read more benefits of coworking here)

Myth no. 2 – Coworking is full of chaotic cacophony (i.e. lot of networking and talking)

You are a solitary reaper. You prefer your quiet Eureka moments. Coworking conjures images of a constantly chattering community and that scares you away. Trust us, your apprehension is totally baseless. A coworking hub facilitates networking, it doesn’t force it down your throat. It is like a gourmet buffet, you take as much as you want, or none if you please and leave the rest. Communicating with fellow coworkers will help you grow, but it is an optional exercise at the end of the day. Network if you want, when you want, with whom you want. That is the beauty and flexibility of a coworking space. Even their networking events are organized keeping in mind the privacy of their users. If you are working on a “do not disturb“ mode, believe us, no one will disturb you.

Myth no. 3 – Coworking is not for seasoned players (i.e. it is only for startups and freelancers)

It is a well-established fact that the modern coworking venues offer economies of scale, excellent work environment, friendly service, state of the art infrastructure, flexible pricing plans, seamless integration in case it is a multi-city setup, networking and exceptional connectivity, at a fraction of the cost of an independent office. Which mature enterprise would not like to operate from such a place? Specialized coworking spaces offer manufacturing paraphernalia for hobbyists, engineers, chefs, crafters and many such industries. Satellite offices of large corporates and established professionals are increasingly embracing coworking hubs to run their business in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Yes, they are a viable option for startups, SMEs, freelancers, mompreneurs and solopreneurs but the coworking clientele is in no way limited to them. In fact, it is rapidly bringing established enterprises into its ambit.

Myth no 4- Coworking is a Big City Fad (i.e. tier 1 cities)

Technology and progress are spreading to small cities and villages around the world, across continents. Places like – Bath (UK), Portland (USA), Varanasi (India), Siem Reap (Cambodia), are a far cry from the definition of a Big City. Yet coworking has a strong footed hold in these places. It offers the residents of these small cities the power of communication, community and collaboration which, as a matter of fact, are characteristics of a small city. Owing to the challenges that living in a small city poses, due to lack of infrastructure, it becomes the birthplace of new ideas, innovations and startups. This makes these cities an ideal destination for setting up future coworking hubs

Myth no 5- Coworking will help arrange funds

Need funding? Head to an incubation center. A coworking space is a shared workspace, nothing more, nothing less. Check out their website / brochure to ascertain if they promise funding opportunities. Even if a VC is behind the shared workspace, your idea will be subject to their scrutiny and evaluation. Opting for a coworking space with the ulterior motive of getting funding will lead to disappointment. Exercise caution and restraint.

Kowrk’s myth busting squad has zealously worked to dust away the cobwebs of delusion surrounding this exciting and novel concept called coworking. Get up, get going towards your favorite coworking space with realistic expectations. For more upto date information on coworking, keep visiting us at http://kowrk.com/blog