The way in which we work and do business has changed enormously over the years. Today, we have a lot more flexibility and freedom to do telecommuting, start a home-based business or work from a convenient location like a coworking space.
While the benefits of coworking have been blasted over the media, there are several advantages that don’t get spoken about so often. These include the specific perks that coworking spaces give women. If you’re a professional lady and you’re wondering whether to join a coworking space, here are a few reasons why such an idea may be a splendid one.
1. Overcoming Isolation
It’s been established that many female entrepreneurs and freelancers have a sole proprietorship. These companies don’t employ other workers and they feature a single woman responsible for business operations.
While such business endeavors can be highly liberating, they can also lead to serious social isolation.
Kate Houston, co-founder of TopAussieWriters, explains: “The lack of coworkers is a problem that many freelancers and entrepreneurs are struggling with. Unfortunately, this aspect of doing business in a contemporary world could eventually deprive women of essential business skills”.
A coworking space gives such female entrepreneurs social contacts and a chance to communicate with similar-minded individuals. Whether it comes to practicing a pitch or learning the latest industry news, being a part of the collective can be incredibly beneficial.
2. More Colleagues, No Hierarchy
Coworking spaces lack the traditional structure that’s typical for a corporate entity. Thus, women can enjoy social contacts with other professionals without feeling burdened or limited by the business hierarchy that’s typical for the office.
A shared office brings together many “free spirits,” freelancers and young entrepreneurs. Such an environment is conductive of productivity and creativity.
According to some entrepreneurs, a business hierarchy is essential to ensure order and productivity. Depending on the organization, however, women could become the victims of discrimination in such a rigid, archaic structure.
A shared office brings together many “free spirits,” freelancers and young entrepreneurs. Such an environment is conductive of productivity and creativity. Young professionals that have chosen telecommuting, freelancing or starting their own business view others as equal. Thus, the pleasure of communication with such professionals comes without a risk of discrimination or traditional hierarchical stereotypes.
3. Finding a Mentor is Easy
Women in a coworking space can easily learn from the experience of others or find a mentor who will inspire them to unleash their full professional potential.
Mentoring is incredibly important for entrepreneurs, regardless of their experience level or the sphere that they’d like to grow in. In fact, small businesses that have a well-established relationship with a mentor are two times more likely to survive and grow than businesses that don’t benefit from the involvement of a mentor.
Coworking spaces feature rather informal work environments. As such, they make it much easier for people to open up, share their ideas and the challenges that they’re facing. Through such an exchange of information in informal settings, female entrepreneurs can learn from the experience of others and find guidance from professionals who know the industry and its specifics well.
…small businesses that have a well-established relationship with a mentor are two times more likely to survive and grow than businesses that don’t benefit from the involvement of a mentor.
In one study, 48 percent of women entrepreneurs quoted the lack of mentorship as the one thing that was holding them back. A coworking space provides possibilities for overcoming the problem.
4. Additional Perks
While getting to meet experienced professionals and run ideas by them is definitely great, there are additional perks linked to coworking. Such professional spaces provide a number of lifestyle advantages that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Coworking spaces often feature lectures on an array of topics that female entrepreneurs could find quite beneficial. Apart from professional topics, such lectures may focus on work-life balance, personal development and health.
In addition, many coworking spaces have healthy living and fitness initiatives. Sole proprietors and freelancers are notorious when it comes to working out and eating healthy food. Coworking spaces may have a healthy cafeteria, a farm to table program, fitness subscriptions and even a workout space at the office itself. Such little perks make it a lot easier to maintain a good work-life balance and take excellent care of oneself.
5. The Need for a Physical Location
The final perk of joining a coworking space is purely practical.
Today, it has become easier than ever to work from home. Good internet connectivity and a reliable computer are all that it takes for many small businesses to take off. While such a business setup makes it easy for many women to make this step and launch their own company, there are several limitations.
For a start, a home-based business isn’t conductive of corporate meetings.
Meetings with clients and potential business partners will sooner or later start playing a role in the development of an entrepreneurial idea. A female business owner can’t really invite such partners at home for a meeting and expect to be taken seriously.
Coworking spaces have all of the facilities needed for a successful business meeting. Conference room, multimedia and high-quality hardware are all available. In addition, some of the coworking spaces provide refreshments.
Coworking spaces often feature lectures on an array of topics that female entrepreneurs could find quite beneficial.
A coworking space has a young, hip and cool ambience. Needless to say, the presentation of a business idea in such a trendy space could provide some added benefits for a female entrepreneur.
While all of these benefits are incredibly important, they aren’t the only ones. Specialized coworking spaces for women have become available in different parts of the world, encouraging such entrepreneurs to share their successes and push forward together. In addition, coworking is cost-efficient, flexible in terms of hours being worked and it offers effortless scalability for business growth.