Anyone who has stepped foot in a coworking space knows that the word “community” has become one of the most overused words in the space. Almost every brand’s website promises it, but if you’ve spent time inside enough coworking environments, you quickly realize something: many of them don’t really have one. Since opening back in 2017, we have been homing in on the different key practices that help cultivate communities of people doing their life’s work across our locations.
The Right Mix of People
First things first, coworking communities begin with the right mix of members.
It is easy for spaces to fall into the trap of trying to fill every seat with anyone willing to pay for it by any means. The result is often a room full of people with nothing in common beyond needing Wi-Fi (and maybe liking the coffee if you’re lucky).
The strongest communities are more intentional. The Shop works each day to bring together founders, creatives, small teams, independent professionals, and people who are building something. When those groups intersect, interesting things start to happen naturally.
You overhear someone solving the exact problem you’re working on. A casual conversation turns into a client relationship. Someone recommends a vendor that ends up becoming essential to your business. All while grabbing your first cup of coffee (or a fresh baked cookie from Cookie Club).
A Sense of Place
Another secret ingredient that often gets overlooked in community building is place. The Talking Heads (and our Utah founders) had it right when they declared, ‘This must be the place’.
The most compelling coworking spaces feel rooted in their neighborhoods and give a distinct one of one feel. They reflect the energy of the people and culture around them rather than trying to create a generic “startup vibe” that is easily replicated.
When a workspace is connected to its neighborhood, through art, partnerships, events, and local businesses, it tends to attract people who care about the same things. That shared context makes it easier for relationships to form.
Hospitality Over Programming
Many coworking brands try to manufacture community through an endless calendar of events. Those programming efforts mean very little if the onsite team doesn’t understand the room. Our Community Teams are trained (and rewarded) when they introduce two members who should meet.
Those same teams notice when someone new arrives and help them settle in and create small moments of interaction that feel natural rather than forced. Combined, those subtle interactions can matter more than the biggest event on the calendar.
Ready to take your office to the next level? Tour The Shop Workspace today.