15 Coworking Events to Build Community in Your Shared Workspace

One of the primary benefits of coworking spaces is building a community of like-minded coworkers. In fact, the Global Workspace Association says time and time again people “come for space but stay for the people.” And the Global Coworking Unconference has focused it’s conferences on the power of community.

Coworking events are the key to community building. They can help build relationships amongst current members through increased shared workplace satisfaction, recruits prospective members and even benefit the local community. Below is a list of coworking events you should use to strategically strengthen the sense of community for your digital office.

Coworking Events For Members

• Happy Hour: A tried and true favorite, you should welcome members to end their work day with a beer or glass of wine. Schedule happy hour on regular days and begin around 4 pm so members are more likely to be aware and to find the time to attend.
• Lunch-and-Learns: Over lunch, host a book club, brainstorming session or social potluck meal. Another approach is to bring in outside experts to offer advice to members on topics, whether it be programming, accounting or achieving work/life balance. Let the membership guide luncheon topics to ensure appeal.
• Purposeful Networking: The most effective networking event ideas put the organizer in charge of making connections. Instead of having a roomful of people hoping to find someone that can help them grow personally or professionally, curate the audience to help insure everyone meets someone interesting to them.
• Accountability Cohorts: For interested members utilize resources such as cotivation for short-term accountability groups.
• Purposeful Breaks: Modern office design is full of breakout areas and fun zone. Provide classic board games in communal spaces to encourage member interaction. If space allows, ping pong or foosball tournaments always draw a crowd.
• Day Trips: A change of scenery may be just what your members need. Utilize group rates for team building and shared experiences.
• Family events: Employees are happier when their families are involved. So move the occassional networking event to a park-like setting. It will be conducive to casual conversation — and nothing breaks down barriers like children.
• Member Wall: OK, not technically an event. Regardless, invite members to post photos of their family, work successes or whatever matters most to them on a communal wall. This creates a warm atmosphere and helpers community members find common interest they might not identify in hallway conversations.

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Coworking Events For Prospective Members

Now that you’ve engaged your members to do their best, some are graduating to dedicated offices. So you always need a backlog of prospects. Don’t just give potential coworkers a tour and a free day pass — every coworking space has copiers and a kegerator. Instead wow them by making them feel a part of your coworking community.

• Shadowing: Invite potential members to shadow a current member during the workday. Encourage the current member to make introductions to potential partners for the prospect. Spending time in the space allows non-members to experience the benefits of membership.
• Happy Hour (again!): When prospective members arrive, make sure to greet them by name. Make personal introductions to current community members.
• Training: Utilize your coworking space for free training courses open to the public. Since you know the makeup of your members, offer classes on topics that would be relevant to them. For example, if you are full of tech companies, offer training on the hot new programming language or growth hacking. Non-members who attend will come to recognize your workspace as a fit for them. And they might even run into someone from their network.

Coworking Events For the Community

Giving back to the community offers many benefits to your shared workspace. It will give members a sense of pride about where they work. Consider these events that open your coworking environment to your neighbors.

• Blood Drive: Organize a blood drive for members. Blood banks often have mobile units willing to travel to your location.
• Gift Drive: Sponsor a holiday gift drive partnering with philanthropic organizations like Toys for Tots.
• Network with Other Spaces: Organize an event in partnership with another coworking space in your city. Don’t think of them as the competition, consider it a networking event that brings a broader awareness to the community and highlighting the benefits of coworking.
• Serve Days: Allow members to propose ideas for serve days. Choose the most popular ideas and plan a day of service. Working for the betterment of your community not only gives back but strengthens the bonds between members.

Summary

It is vital to know and constantly work to improve the coworking metrics that determine success. Executing the right mix of networking event ideas will lay the foundation for a meaningful coworking community.

Another aspect of success is making sure you know which members and prospects attend event so you can communicate with the according to their interests. Greetly is the best event management software for quick registration and printing visitor badges so attendees can recognize each other. Ask us how we can partner with you for coworking event success.

Originally published by Greetly coworking space management software at https://www.greetly.com/blog/coworking-events-build-community-in-your-shared-workspace. Republished with permission.