Coworking: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a movement?
So how does one go about studying “coworking”? The first issue is that there are proponents of coworking and then there are coworkers themselves, most of whom don’t actually ever use the term “coworking.”
Proponents of coworking sound like this:
“Coworking is redefining the way we do work. The idea is simple: that independent professionals and those with workplace flexibility work better together than they do alone. Coworking answers the question that so many face when working from home: “Why isn’t this as fun as I thought it would be?” Beyond just creating better places to work, coworking spaces are built around the idea of community-building and sustainability. Coworking spaces agree to uphold the values set forth by those who developed the concept in the first place: collaboration, community, sustainability, openness, and accessibility. (“What is Coworking?” from the Coworking Google Group)
Wow, collaboration, community, sustainability, openness, and accessibility! Viva la revolución! As you can see, coworking aims to go beyond the modest innovation of collectively sharing resources. There are “shared values” to uphold and communities to build and sustain. Partly, this gusto is what attracted me to a study of coworking. I was dying to find organized resistance to the traditional (read: soul draining) corporate culture in America.
But who is doing this value upholding? Who is responsible for the commiunity building? Who do we to hold accountable if vows of openness and accountability are broken? In short, how organized is this movement, who is responsible for it, and who are the beneficiaries?
It seems clear that some coworking proponents are trying to build a movement–and I don’t mean to belittle the effort. (Perhaps I just need to figure out exactly who these people are.) But the reality is that anyone can open a “coworking” space. Already, some are run as non-profit ventures, others are decidedly for-profit. Some are more open than others in terms of physical layouts–think one big table and a bunch of chairs–while others include more cube-like arrangements and even private offices in their space. Do private offices violate the tenet of “openness”? What about if they have completely transparent, glass walls (as is the case at “LA Co.”)? In any case, who decides?
Then there are the coworkers themselves. The people I work with–or is it near?–don’t much act like they’re part of a movement. They come to work. Sometimes they stop to chat, sometimes they make a bee line to their desk. They grab some coffee from the (yes, communal) kitchen or tow something in from Starbucks. They sit down and get to work, whatever that work may be. I’ve never heard coworkers themselves talk directly about the need for collaboratoin, community, sustainability, openness, or accessibility, let alone plan on how to go about achieving those “values.”
The coworkers I know, frankly, are most concerned with the sustainability of their own self-employment or start-up company! And who can blame them for that?
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Liz,
I have been pondering the same questions. I look forward to your next article on this topic.
Julie Clark
http://www.SharedBusinessSpace.com
Share space, Save money!
Coworking spaces can be extremely valuable but it doesnt sound like you are a part of one. If people want to show up with blinders on then your “coworking” space simply turns into rented office space. The success is totally dependent on the people involved.
I’m looking at the situation with a critical eye. But I should probably–and will in future blogs–be clear that coworking has been a wonderful experience, precisely because the people are so awesome. They’re engaging and friendly and fascinating. BUT sometimes, yes, people have their blinders on. Maybe they’re having a bad day. Maybe they just really need to get some work done. Does that mean they’re not coworking anymore? Who gets to be the judge? What are the standards?
In response to another comment. See in context »I think its hard to compare coworking spaces as a whole. Yes there is some common foundation but doesn’t it all come down too the person/ppl who run and operate the space as well as the people involved? There is no set formula like a McDonalds so I think its left up to the vision of the operator(s). As far as who gets to judge, isn’t that the current/potential coworkers? I am in the midst of planning to open a work space in Canada.
In response to another comment. See in context »Alex Hillman of IndyHall in Philadelphia is the man behind the movement right now. While there are a few of outspoken voices–and an ever-growing number of “coworking” spaces vying for market share–Alex has presented coworking at SXSW, runs the Coworking Google Group, and organized the community acquisition of coworking.com (to list a few of his coworking accomplishments).
Of course, one man alone can not sustain a movement. So often the coworking community at-large is locked in a “democratic” debate over rights, wrongs, and direction. I believe it’s up to locals to decide what is best for their coworking communities based on a (right now, loose) set of principles.
In response to another comment. See in context »I think you have to be careful not to create a box (organized way of thinking) out of the principles of Coworking. When I began planning my own space, The coIN Loft, that was the number one thing my partner and I battled everyone we shared the idea with. The principles are really more like a world-view that we and our members believe in. In fact, we all believed in them prior to Coworking but when spaces are created people then have the opportunity to walk alongside each other. In a nut shell, the entire movement is built on people doing what they’ve always believed in, which happen to be collaboration, openness, accessibility, community, and sustainability.
[...] configurations of office space for various denominations of time (by the hour, day, month, etc). 2) There is something of a coworking movement that promotes new ways to work for independent workers [...]
[...] : what’s the real story et coworking : it’s a bird ? it’s a plane ? it’s a movement ? , true / slant, 19 et 21 avril [...]
[...] configurations of office space for various denominations of time (by the hour, day, month, etc). 2) There is something of a coworking movement that promotes new ways to work for independent workers [...]