You have made the leap and are now working in a co-working space. Congratulations! It is another step forward in committing to yourself and your business. Now, let us take a little time to discuss how to best maximize this investment.

First, always respect the purpose of the space and other members. A big benefit of co-working is the ability to expand your network and to leverage others’ skills. By their nature, co-working spaces can be more social than working alone at home. However, be respectful of other members’ needs and look for discrete, natural opportunities to get to know them. Keep your phone conversations and video conferences out of the communal work areas. Talk to your hosts about the best options for taking business calls.

It is also important to respect the physical space. Your hosts have worked hard to create a professional environment conducive to helping you build your business. Take care of it so it continues to be a functional and pleasant place to work for everyone. Let your hosts know if something is not working, supplies need to be replenished, something needs to be cleaned or if you have suggestions to make the space more effective.

That said, you are going to get the most of your time at a co-working space by becoming more open to collaboration. Yes, it is important to focus. However, take the time to introduce yourself and explain your business to others using the space (at an appropriate time). Also, ask questions and get to know your fellow members and their skills. At some point, the resource or advice you need may be sitting only a couple of feet away. Be generous with your expertise and skills and it will come back to you.

Take full advantage of the facilities and resources at your co-working space. MCDEVCO is dedicated to supporting local start-ups with free (or reduced cost) educational programs, workshops, seminars, and access to successful business volunteer mentors. Use the events to get to know as many people as you can.

Finally, for those times when you really need to focus and block out the outside world, consider keeping a pair of headphones with you. Noise cancelling headphones work great, but a pair of earbuds can do the job too if you want a little music to keep motivated. Just remember to keep the volume low enough that it does not disturb your neighbors.

Your MCDEVCO hosts want the GEARS Center to work for you. Always feel free to reach out to them if you have questions about the house rules or available resources.