How to Beat Monday Blues

Monday Blues‘ is a sad feeling or slight depression that we feel when we join the work after a weekend or after a break. We all come across different people who feel low on Mondays and wait again for Fridays to come.

Why Do We Hate Mondays?

It’s hard to come down from the weekend, especially if you’ve had a great one that you wish wouldn’t have ended. People put a lot of burden on the beginning of their week, stop doing that and enjoy your Monday. There’s no reason to hate Mondays.

Mondays are exciting! It means a new week of opportunities, growth, and expansion. How many new people will I meet? What type of realizations and growth will happen for me in my own personal practice?

Follow these simple steps to beat Monday blues and greet the new week like it’s a Friday night.

Don’t skip breakfast

For most people, breakfast is nothing more than a morning meal which you either eat or avoid, but it is so much more. Starting your morning with breakfast will boost your metabolism. So EAT!!!

Relax

Pick either Friday or Saturday night to go out, and spend another evening staying home with friends. Find time to relax on weekend.

Hit the Gym – Workout

Working out before work or after not only gives energy but also reduces stress. Exercising gives you the productivity boost you’ve been looking for.

Plan your meal

Nutrition is really important if you want to maintain a high energy level. Plan your meal. Decide what you like the most. Take something delicious on Monday. You can also plan to eat your lunch with coworkers.

Plan ahead Sunday night

Decide your Monday morning outfit. This will eliminate stress and will make  Monday’s more tolerable. Also, remember to reset the alarm in order to wake up on time and avoid being late for work.

Set weekly goals

Setting weekly goals help you to guide your week. On Monday, it’s easy to get stuck on taking care of emails that piled up over the weekend and tying up the loose ends of the past week. That’s why it will be best if you plan your week ahead, so you will be guided well with your work.

Listen to music

When the office is almost too much to stomach, music can deliver much-needed relief on the job. Music can affect your mood in many ways. Start your day with your favorite music.

Take small breaks throughout the day

Always try taking small breaks. Go for a walk and talk with your coworkers. Don’t stay glued all day.

Lastly, Smile!

How do you start your day? Do you start your day with happiness or sadness? With joy or anger? Starting your day with happiness, sets the right mood for the day. Start the week right by having a great Monday. We hope that this article has given you an inspiration. Check our blog on how Coworking can beat work burnouts.








What are the Factors Affecting Workplace Productivity?

Workplace productivity typically describes the amount of work your staff can do within a certain number of hours or amount of labor cost. The desire of every organization is to achieve goals and objectives.

Productivity in the workplace relates to how efficiently your workers accomplish your company’s goals and produce goods or services for customers. A productive workplace not only benefits your workforce but also your members and guests. When your employees manage their time and produce work without defects, you get a greater output for your labor and materials costs.

Below are a few factors that affects workplace productivity:

Peaceful Environment

Peace adds a feeling of tranquility and security to the workplace, which supports your employees’ ability to focus on the job and engage with others. Establishing peace in the workplace manages the pressures of everyday life and find a deeper meaning in your daily work.

A peaceful workplace should be the goal of every organization or business. Not everyone loves a quiet place, there are few who would prefer listening to music because they say it helps them work better. The surprising thing is that they could be right. Background music, in particular, can affect people’s mood which, in turn, can positively affect productivity. Also, coworking spaces have dedicated desks where it allows people an opportunity to mold the area to their need. They are designated on one area, so they’re not interspersed with collaborative or social areas.

When employees come to work excited to see their co-workers and actually enjoy doing their job, it creates a more peaceful and productive work environment for everyone.

Coffee Shop or Cafe

Are you a coffee addict? Heading to the coffee shop also puts some space between work and you. What if you get exhausted and you need a break?

Salary, a healthy environment, and awesome coworkers they all matter and influence your motivation. But what about your work effectiveness? Do you feel happier at work when you stay productive and complete all tasks fast, big, and in a novel way? Productivity is not that easy to maintain. I bet you know that feeling after lunch when you are ready to do everything, except work. Tasks are waiting, but what you can do is sit and stare at the blinking text cursor in the hope it will disappear. It frustrates, right? It makes you sad as you want to succeed at work, be happy, and stay motivated. Do you need a solution? Take your laptop and go to a coffee shop or a cafe, as it’s proven to increase your creativity and productivity!

Employee Satisfaction

Employee satisfaction or job satisfaction is, quite simply, how content or satisfied employees are with their jobs. When employees are not satisfied at work it affects productivity. Workplace struggles or inadequacies often lead to bad attitudes and employees who no longer care. Needless to say, employees who no longer care, but are still employed, aren’t working to their potential.

However, the opposite is true for workers who love their jobs. They feel a high degree of satisfaction and, as a result, often produce high volumes of work.

Workplace Appreciation

Recognizing your employees more often can lead to higher engagement levels and greater productivity. Have you ever wondered why?

People like recognition for their hard work. If you want to retain your staff, you have to show more appreciation. Make sure that your employees don’t feel underappreciated by focusing on what’s broken or not done.

Final Words

A supportive work environment encourages your team to learn from their mistakes rather than fear them. Bear in mind that your employees reflect you and your company. Thus, it is wise to pay attention to their health and make sure that they are active, refreshed and energized.

What are the Technological Needs in Coworking Spaces?

What is a Coworking Space?

It’s a  shared office space which also means a vast network, that enables you to get some network outside your company. You wouldn’t meet the same people, you would meet other people from other companies. If you are an entrepreneur looking for a startup office space for rent, then working in a coworking space is the ideal choice.

Moreover, coworking space offers the facilities you would normally get in a normal office, you don’t need to worry about paying for the internet, coffee machine, cleaning services, and other facilities because the coworking space would handle that. It’s an alternative to working from home where people do not feel isolated and can keep away from distractions.

Why choose Coworking Space?

Coworking spaces develop a source of connection among coworkers, they make you feel part of a community. Most members work out of their homes and they need a coworking space that provides all technological requirements that they’re looking for. Having the most up-to-date technology is most important for any business.

Why do we need Technology?

Technology refers to the use of tools, gadgets, and resources that help us control and adapt to our environment. It refers to the knowledge and utilization of tools, techniques, and systems in order to serve a bigger purpose like solving problems or making life easier and better. Its significance on humans is tremendous because it helps them adapt to the environment. Your space cannot be deemed “tech-friendly” without a good dose of special equipment.

List of Basic Technological Needs of a Coworking Space

Reliable Internet Connection

Internet at a coworking space is a crucial factor which can be a make or break decision for the majority of clients. Fast, reliable internet connections are the glue that holds every coworking space together. That connection needs to consistently perform at peak capacity in terms of bandwidth, speed, and security. In a coworking environment, people need quick access to internet services. If you’ve ever been subjected to slow internet in a coworking space, you know the struggle already.

Uninterrupted Electric Supply

Without electricity, your whole business can come to a standstill with no running computers and other electronic devices. Thus, providing an uninterrupted power supply is probably the biggest prerequisite for coworking members. Coworking spaces need a 24/7 power supply to maintain the continuity of operations.

Smart workstation

A smart workstation provides a healthier, safer and happier place to be. From access control to improved lighting and temperature control, from member authentication and online meeting room bookings. There should also be an advance building access control system for members to stop letting anyone enter the work premises. There should be smart door locks for your coworking space. The latest technology allows members to enter coworking spaces with no keys at all. A smart workstation simply means a better workspace with better technology.

Flat screens and Tablets

Flat Screen is designed to save time. When you need high-tech access, just press the button. Screens should be well positioned, starting with the meeting room. Decide the size of the screen or overhead projector based on your budget. Don’t forget to link everything to your network. You can equip your meeting room with tablets and offer them to your coworkers for their presentations and work meetings. Or, install a tablet at the entrance of your space to play the role of a concierge. Anyone who comes for a meeting can report their arrival by a pre-written, intermediary text message indicating precisely what time they entered.  Also, you could set up a digital screen in your meeting rooms to show the daily schedule, and book rooms via smartphone.

Sound Facility

Can you imagine working in a coworking space without a sound facility? Now that you have visuals in place, don’t neglect sound! A good screen is always made complete with powerful speakers, if your budget is too limited to install the latest home theater design. Some are excellently manufactured at very reasonable prices and plug into all kinds of devices. Another option that provides unparalleled sound quality yet maintains quiet in the office: headphones. Why not provide personal headsets with microphones to your members for their phone calls?

Digital Payment Systems

People nowadays no longer carry cash in their pockets. There are digital payment systems that are appropriate for coworking spaces to handle the bookings, billing payments in the most stress-free manner. Go paperless and take your payment system digital.

Final words

There’s a lot of technologies that you can use in your coworking spaces. Find what makes your coworking space efficient and productive for everyone. What are your thoughts? Share your valuable insights with us.

How to Find the Best Coworking Community

Joining a coworking space can be a great way to have a professional workspace without all of the overhead costs. Choosing a coworking space is no easy task. With thousands of coworking spaces visible around the world, and new spaces opening up all the time, it’d be easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis. How can professionals decide on a workspace that is as unique and fitting as their own personal ambitions? As many says, the environment is everything, and finding the right environment is paramount to creativity, output, and professional fulfillment.

When deciding if a community is a good fit for you, you may want to ask yourself; of what professions are people at this workspace? Are my skills a good fit for this community? Does this space host regular events for members to network with each other? Will this space help drive and hone in my ambitions?

As you join a coworking space, you also join its community. It’s important to understand that being surrounded by other entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and talented independent professionals are one of the biggest benefits of joining a coworking space. Always take extra care when choosing your coworking community. Don’t just choose randomly.

Tips on Finding the Best Coworking Community

Do Research on the Coworking Location

Consider a location that is convenient. Keeping your commute short gives you more time to build your business. Try to stalk on Instagram or other social media platforms and you’ll get a better idea of your preferred coworking space and community. Visit the location and its neighborhood. The coworking space’s location can be a big factor in how much value you get out of your membership. Being located in a prestigious neighborhood can impress potential clients. Also, convenience stores within walking distance is a big plus as well. What kind of location suits you best?

However, if you can’t visit the place physically, most spaces have their own website. These sites have information like pricing, prices, and features. Do basic research and do a comparison of the different coworking spaces by looking online or calling.

Check out the Amenities

Who wants an office with just the basics? A better-equipped workplace means a better performing team. That’s why it’s essential to consider amenities when choosing a shared office space. Apart from a work environment that allows you to focus, it is also important to find a coworking space that gives you everything else you need to maximize your work experience. So check out their amenities and see whether they have cafes for food and coffee? Or do you prefer a coworking space with a kitchen? The kitchen area paves way for members a chance to introduce themselves to people they haven’t met before, catch up with those they have, and connect with the community in a relaxed, homely environment that doesn’t suffer the conversation-stultifying tag of ‘networking’. Or does the coworking space have a communal area to gather?

Here are some suggested amenities that you should keep in mind when you’re searching for your perfect coworking space:

  • Parking Space
  • Mail Service
  • Coffee and Snacks
  • Events
  • Printing
  • Conference rooms
  • Technology ( i.e., projectors, sound system)

Read the Blogs and Reviews

Reading the blogs and reviews on their site gives an idea of how much they care. Remember to cross-check member reviews on Coworkers, Facebook, and local blogs for a wise decision. Oftentimes, you can find a list of best coworking spaces in a specific city through local blogs.

Visit the Coworking Space

Finally, when evaluating a coworking space your best bet is to visit the location in person. Don’t be afraid to drop-in before committing. You can request a day pass or a tour. This allows you to explore the culture of the coworking space and also a great opportunity to you ask probing questions to see if this is the right coworking space for your business or not.

Conclusion

A strong community means that connections happen organically with coworkers. The community that you want to belong will always be your choice. Community is all about belongingness, find the tribe that you can be part of. To know more on finding the right coworking space that fits to your needs, visit our blog here.

How to Improve Workspace Culture

Workspace culture is the environment that you create for your employees. Positive workplace culture attracts talent, drives engagement, impacts happiness and satisfaction. It affects performance which is the mix of your organization’s leadership, values, traditions, beliefs, interactions, behaviors and attitudes that contribute to the emotional and relational environment of your workplace. It plays a powerful role in determining their work satisfaction, relationships and progression.

Workplace culture is an important factor to all workplaces. It determines how pleasant or toxic your work environment is. It has a direct influence on how your employee fits into the organization and your organization’s ability to attract and retain employees, because it shapes the environment that they work in. It is very important to have a good workspace culture, it’s natural to want to work in an environment you enjoy spending time in. This means that if you want the best staff for your team, you’ll have to invest in creating a strong workplace culture. A good workspace culture drives financial performance. It also encourages your employees to voice their opinions and ideas.

You already understand the importance of having a strong company culture, but even with the desire to build one, it’s not always obvious what steps to take.

Here are some important and simple features for you to follow to improve your workspace culture:

Management and leadership

Your management system should be strong as to get better output. Whereas good leadership plays an important role in improving your workspace management. It should use a wide range of tools and techniques to gain insight and clarity about who they are, what they are good at, and what they can strengthen or delegate. A good management and leadership thinks of the employees and coworkers as integral part of the team, and not just as another group of people to work with.

Trust your employees to manage their responsibilities effectively, and let go of the idea that work has to happen a certain way at a certain time. Embrace and inspire employees’ autonomy. Letting them do so, will allow them to make the sometimes difficult but incredibly rewarding leap from being held accountable to their responsibilities to embracing accountability as they take on, and own initiatives.

Digital Workspace Strategy

This can also be one way to improve workspace culture by implementing digital tools in your workspace. Don’t just do it with phones and Google Docs. The key to success depends on the implementation of a digital workplace strategy – requiring one that is capable of driving true change within the organization.

By intelligently combining the technologies that many businesses already use, the digital workplace has broken down the communication barriers and is transformation employee experience to one promoting efficiency, growth, and innovation. Here are a few examples:

  • Chat rooms, private and group messaging
  • Discussion Forums

Chat and Collaboration

  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Apps for Business
  • Video conferencing
  • Zoom
  • Skype
  • Google Hangouts

Project Management Tools

  • Trello
  • Jira
  • Asana


Strong Co-Worker Relationship

It is very important to build strong relationship with each other. Working relationships take time to mature, so focus on being consistent and dependable.

  1. Develop trust with colleagues – Develop trust by guarding each other, encouraging confidence and not gossiping.
  2. Work with your Team – Communicate well by listening and speaking clearly.
  3. Be respectful of others –  If you work in a shared office space, limit personal phone calls and distractions such as radios. Maintain a professional and courteous attitude.                                            
  4. Take responsibility for your mistakes, rather than casting blame on someone or something else. Integrity is central to trust. Be fair and honest in all your dealings. Share resources and information with coworkers.

Creating an Employee-Centric Workspace

An employee-centered workplace is one in which all individuals, programs, processes, and systems are focused on helping employees become fully successful. Assess your employees’ level of satisfaction with their supervisors. Ensure that all employees are in the right jobs –  that their talents are appropriate for the work they must do. Few things are more miserable than doing a job for which one is not a good fit.

Conclusion:

As the business or space owner, ask this question to yourself, do your employees see work as a way to make an impact? Are they passionate about the work they do? The better you understand their aspirations and goals, the better you can help your team to see the purpose in their work. A great culture attracts the best workers, increases overall retention and improves performance.

How to Give the Perfect Tour of Your Coworking Space

Coworking spaces are essentially shared workspaces. They offer affordable office space for those looking to escape the isolation of a home office or coffee shop. Also, a feeling of community is created for those that would otherwise be forced to work alone at home or a coffee shop. The core concept of the project is the creation of a comfortable environment for small companies and start-ups. It is very important to give a perfect tour of your coworking space. Through this, one can easily get an idea about your business, and it will be an opportunity to gain new onboarding members of your space.

Everyone is busy nowadays and things can fall through the cracks; including a tour of your workspace. It’s imperative to use any means possible which is to remind your prospect of the upcoming tour. The last thing you want is a ‘no-show’ – no one has time for that and definitely no one would like that. Schedule a reminder via SMS, email, make a personal phone call, and offer an option to reschedule if the original time is no longer convenient. Everything should be a point to point while promoting your workspace.

Ways on How to Promote your Coworking Space

Whether you’re new to the industry or you already know the ropes, you can use these tips to improve efficiency, define your brand and strengthen your space’s community. Prepare a calendar invite to your prospects and be sure to include your site address and the floor number to avoid confusion.

Prepare a checklist
Prepare a checklist before a tour because readiness is important especially to the prospects. They will know if you have prepared beforehand for the tour or not. In the checklist, you can include:

  • Description of your Space
  • Admin Meetings
  • Introduce your Team
  • Detail about the facilities you are providing


Some prospects will ask questions during the tour, being knowledgeable about the coworking space will be highly useful.
Some questions from potential customers are:

  • How big is this office?
  • Will this space represent my business well?
  • What additional monthly costs, if any, can I expect?
  • Will my budget cover everything I need?

Website
Your website should be your main focus and should generate demand for your site. With the demand of coworking space increasing, workspace operators must respond to the competition. It will be best to include photos of meeting rooms, suites, co-working areas, the kitchen/coffee station, and other facilities to capture and manage leads.

In order to strike a healthy balance on your site, provide the most relevant information a prospect may be looking for without overloading them with information and making them click through an endless maze of pages before getting to what they’re looking for.

Virtual tour
Adding a virtual tour on your business page may look simple at a glance, but it would take a good effort to take some attractive 360-degree images that present your business well.
Here are some ways to add content like:

  • Your website: add your link so people can get there in one click
  • Posts:  social media updates and offers
  • Photos: interior and exterior + team members

So, if your location has beautiful fixtures, great art and amazing wall, a coffee shop, and a cool atmosphere. How do you describe that instantly? With 360-degree photos!

Conclusion

This tour of your business will allow your customers to experience your coworking space. In addition, if you have an email list, you can re-engage with your past clients by sending a link to your new virtual tour. As coworking gets more media attention, make the first impression to your prospects worthwhile and worth sharing to others as well. Are you ready now to give a tour on your coworking space?