What is Virtual Coworking?
Coworking itself is not a new thing. We as people have been doing it in offices, factories, and shops for hundreds of years. It’s simply people working concurrently within the same environment. Traditionally, companies offered work space to their employees along with all the tools necessary to perform their job. You go to work at a set time and leave at a set time. Your comings and goings are noticed and possibly tracked. You spent your time with the same people with the same view every day.
As remote work has become more prevalent--and necessary in recent times--it can be beneficial to have a workspace that can help prompt focus, creativity, and community. Over the past decade, companies like WeWork and Impact Hub have been answering that call. Creatively designed, dynamic coworking spaces are popping up around the world giving entrepreneurs, small businesses, and teams the space to come together and get things done.
While physical coworking provides a sometimes much-needed change of scenery to inspire creativity and productivity, there are advantages to taking this coworking idea into the virtual space.
1. Location
Working from home has obvious benefits: no commute (which saves time and gas) and no dress code (hello, sweatpants!). In this time of COVID-19, going to an indoor environment for hours at a time to be surrounded by people with whom you aren’t familiar may not be a top choice. As long as you have a wifi connection and a comfortable work spot with minimal distractions, you’re good to go.
For more on working from home, check out Top 4 Tips for Work-From-Home Newbies.
2. Structure
Many virtual coworking spaces--like my own Coworking Membership--is designed to provide a container for focus and accountability. In my own coworking sessions, I follow the Pomodoro Technique. That means everyone declares in front of the group what they will be working on, I set a timer, and we all work independently for 25 minutes. We then check in on our progress and take a quick 5 minute break. After that, we’re back to another 25-minute work time. We do three Pomodoro rounds and finish with 30 minutes of mastermind/collaboration time.
Why have the structure? For most people, it’s not enough to want or plan to do something. To actually get work done in a productive manner, you need two things: urgency and accountability. That’s what a structured group like this provides. The urgency of the 25-minute deadline helps you focus and move into flow much easier than you otherwise would. On top of that, the fact that you have declared your intentions in front of a group helps you actually do the thing. Are you really going to come back after 25 minutes and tell everyone that you didn’t do what you said you were going to do? Maybe, but it’s far less likely than if you were left to your own devices.
For more on the Pomodoro Technique, check out The Pomodoro Technique: What It Is & How to Use It.
3. Community
The main point of virtual coworking is the same as the original intention of physical coworking spaces: community. In a virtual coworking space, you’re there to collaborate, bounce ideas off other members, and support each other. So is everyone else. Even at physical coworking locations, not everyone there is looking to connect with others. Some people want to be left alone. So, entering a place where the intention is to engage and connect, you won’t run into awkward conversations or disappointments. Everyone is on the same page.
Solo entrepreneurship can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, with the right community, it can be inspiring, motivating, and full of support.
To learn more about my virtual coworking community, click here.
