It’s liberating to be able to work remotely, from anywhere in the world, without the constraints of a traditional office. Many remote workers opt for coworking spaces when their home workplace becomes distracting, unprofessional or uninspiring.
Perhaps you are still unsure of what a coworking space is and how it works. In the past, coworking was touted as the best way to achieve work-life balance, but now it turns out it’s far from ideal.
If you’re looking for a new work environment, here are five drawbacks to coworking and how you can overcome them to discover the one that’s right for you.
1. Decreased efficiency
Remote workers who join coworking spaces in an effort to boost their productivity sometimes face the opposite effect. As a result, this spaces tend to be noisy, cramped, and uninspiring places to work. While great for generating ideas and making connections, this spaces are rarely conducive to productive work.
2. Coworking : The pains and challenges of technology
Most likely, you’ll need high-tech hardware and software to conduct your work outside of a corporate headquarters. When it comes to technological advancement, some high-tech coworking spaces are ahead of the curve while others lag behind, to the detriment of members.
The high-speed internet connections advertised by coworking spaces may not be as fast, or you may not be able to access audio/visual equipment or have someone present to answer your technical questions in an emergency if they don’t meet your expectations.
3. Lack of confidentiality
The inability to work in private is yet another drawback of coworking. For example, if you work in a space where your competitors are also working, you may be overheard.
You may also find it difficult to maintain secrecy and confidentiality when having phone conversations with sensitive clients or in public places. This can lead to claims against you, litigation, and other costly scenarios that you didn’t anticipate.
4. Inadequate telecommunications network
Since many coworking spaces are still in their infancy, they may not have the necessary office infrastructure you need to be productive at work.
The lack of an ergonomic workstation and chair, the lack of electrical outlets for your various devices, or the lack of adequate lighting can all be contributing factors to a lack of productivity and focus.
In addition, an untidy coworking space is a source of tension and distraction. Coworking productivity issues are directly related to these infrastructure problems.
5. Expensive and unprofitable
The marketing materials for a new coworking space may talk about the many benefits it offers to its members. However, it’s essential to remember that these spaces are businesses and are there to make a profit.
The cost of joining this space varies greatly depending on where you live and what services are available. There are times when paying for a membership is a waste of money, but this is not always the case.
Instead of coworking, it’s a better choice.
Coworking is a great option for some people, which is why this concept is so popular. Everyone else needs to know that there are alternatives that are better suited to their industry and the way they work.
Consider our coworking alternatives; they may be exactly what you are looking for. Contact us to find out more.