7 Ultimate Etiquette Rules for Co-working Spaces

Co-working spaces, with their converted warehouse themes, nap rooms, coffee on the tap, pantries that look like five-star kitchens and tastefully disparate furniture, are the spanking new work places. Regular employees of offices may be afflicted with temporary envy at the décor in these places, but the thought of putting up with strangers next to you, a different person every hour or every day, can sometimes give us pause. 

If you’re a co-working space regular, you will understand that the beautiful interiors sometimes fade when the person sitting next to you has annoying habits. Here are seven etiquette tips for you:

• Notice the Noise: Excessive noise is one of the biggest complaints in co-working spaces simply because everyone is trying to work. With so many people working on different schedules, coming and going to meetings or just popping out for lunch, there will always be commotion throughout the day in a co-working space. It’s important to be able to get on with your work without making a commotion or speaking to people in the middle of their working day.

• Be considerate of others: If you are at a shared table, use just one chair and keep your items contaied to your space. There are also other people to work. The co-working staff is there to help with items like finding an outlet to charge your computer or fixing problems with the printer or coffee machine however, know your boundaries.

• Avoid Smelly Food: Shared office spaces ultimately mean, shared lunch spaces. If you find yourself eating your lunches in your office, ensure that you are aware of smell. Within an enclosed office space, smells can become extremely overpowering and lead to discomfort and distraction to your co-workers.

• Be Friendly: Working in a co-working space is meant to be social, so it goes without being said that having a friendly demeanour is appreciated! Always say hello to your neighbours and do your best to get to know them! You’ll make some great connections that will help you excel in your career.

• Be Productive: We all have a tendency to get sidetracked at work. We check Facebook. We answer a personal call. We try to sneak out a little early. And even though you might not like the lack of privacy, your office behaviour is on full display for your colleagues. They know when you’re not being productive. But doing it consistently and too often shows disrespect for your team and hurts morale of colleagues which will likely be offended if extra work gets dumped on them.

• Stay Flexible: Open workspaces are excellent for networking, but they do offer less privacy. Do stay flexible and retain your sense of humour if any issues do arise. Rather than stressing out if there is a problem, take the opportunity to think outside the box and explore other options. For example, you might be able to head over to another work area for an hour or two if your neighbour is being too noisy. Alternatively, the best option might be to have a chat to them directly and offer a joke to lighten the mood.

• Be Resourceful: Your workspace may not provide exactly all the supplies you need. Especially if you’re someone who relies on niche technology or artistic materials to get work done. While Co-working spaces are improving and can cater to your specific niche based on the community and the nature of the space, as well as the kind of work being conducted, you can gauge what does and doesn’t count as good etiquette within your workspace.

By following these shared workplace etiquette guide, you can surely build and develop friendly, efficient and courteous shared spaces.

This guest post has been written by Gunjan Johar, Real Estate Blogger.