Many of my colleagues in Coworking spaces are currently making cuts when it comes to community building. It’s easy to implement tools that allow for seamless onboarding without the need for a community manager, thereby reducing staff costs—an essential move for many spaces looking to improve their financial statements.
But how do you put a price on the human touch that defines the coworking experience? It’s the sum of the entire customer journey—from being warmly welcomed at the door to having someone take the time to greet you, understand your needs, show you around, and help you find the best spot to work. It’s about creating a vibe and spirit within the space: choosing the right music, offering a smile in the hallway, and maintaining a tidy and clean environment. It’s about introducing you to the right people or sending you a helpful contact after learning about a challenge you’re facing. For many of our coworkers, it’s simply about being that person who asks how your weekend was or when your holiday starts, especially if you’re not in daily spontaneous exchange with colleagues from the same company.
In a Coworking space, the community becomes your colleagues, your daily friends—the people who look out for you and recognise when you’re having ups and downs. Your heart aches when they leave for new assignments or jobs elsewhere. It’s like losing a close friend every time.
A few weeks ago, I received a call from an HR assistant who wanted to confirm that their employee would be starting as a member in our Coworking space next month. The company’s headquarters are elsewhere in Germany, but they hired this person—who is the best fit for the job—in our city. As part of his employment package, a membership at Tink Tank is included. The HR assistant asked, “Will you make sure that he feels good when he starts and that he has someone to have lunch with?” I loved her for this question. It said everything about all of us being part of a joint support network around this one employee. I assured her that it would be our utmost pleasure to make sure her employee feels welcomed and comfortable—not despite being separated from his company colleagues, but because of it. For this employee, this meant being able to stay in the city where his family lives while still being fully integrated into the company, thanks to the support network we provide at our coworking space.
This is what Coworking is about. This is community building, and it’s why my team will never be subject to cost-cutting.
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