Did you know that by the year 2020, nearly 40% of the entire workforce in the United States will be comprised of freelancers and self-employed business owners?
A large part of the ability to maintain success as a freelancer or a business owner has to do with networking. Without it, it becomes pretty much impossible to see any substantial growth. If you want to build or maintain a financially stable life for yourself outside of the 9-5 grind, you need to be networking - point-blank!
Luckily, alongside the hot coffee and other amenities provided at coworking spaces, there are usually great opportunities for networking to be found too.
If you’ve been thinking to yourself, “why use a coworking space,” the opportunities to connect with other independent workers and business owners is reason enough in and of itself.
In this post, we’ll fill you in on how you can make the most out of the networking opportunities that are likely to come your way.
Gaining Valuable Contacts
If you’re involved in a startup or running a small business, coworking spaces are essentially honey pots full of talent that you might need to help fuel your success.
You’ll find everyone from graphic designers, writers, software engineers, and more!
There are likely to be some people there who may potentially end up needing your expertise, too - which means finding potential new clients with minimal effort expended on traditional marketing.
However, there is a right and a wrong way to go about making connections in coworking spaces. After all, people often utilize these spaces to get work done without having to worry about the distractions that would otherwise present themselves at home or places like cafes.
There’s a right time and place to take advantage of the opportunities to connect that these spaces offer.
Mingling the Right Way
This one probably goes without saying: Avoid striking up conversations with people who appear to be engrossed in the task at hand.
If you catch a glimpse of what someone is doing, and it strikes your interest, you should wait for an appropriate time to comment on it. A good time to do this is when you notice that the person appears to be packing up for the day, or if you happen to see them get up for a coffee break.
Trying to talk to someone about their project while they are in the middle of working on it is less likely to go over well than it would if you were to catch the person during their “downtime.”
That is unless it is apparent to you that you’re in an environment where people are clearly collaborating and open to conversing. In some coworking spaces, that’s what it’s all about. Use your judgement!
Take Advantage of the Common Spaces
In a coworking environment, most areas are technically “common areas,” unless you reserve a private office, but the majority of locations have spots that are specifically meant for unwinding, relaxing, and taking breaks.
Instead of rushing home when you’re finished with your work, try taking a few minutes to unwind each day in the lounge areas. When you’re hanging out in these parts of a coworking space, you don’t have to worry about interrupting somebody's flow.
You’ll be able to freely strike up a conversation about your projects, listen to what others have going on, and likely end up making some worthwhile connections!
After all, your membership costs cover the usage of these areas so you may as well take full advantage of them. If you’re in Houston and decide to join our coworking space, have a drink on us while you’re at it.
We supply fresh, local beer to those who utilize our spot!
Attend Networking Events
As people become increasingly aware of the power that networking has on business development, there has been an increase in demand in networking events, and coworking space are listening!
When you attend a networking event, you can rest assured that you aren’t stepping on any toes. All of the people there are attending for the same reason - to gain contacts within the industry.
Here are some tips for making the most out of networking events:
Sit down with yourself prior to attending to get a clear handle on what it is that you are hoping to accomplish by networking. What kind of people are you hoping to connect with, and why?
Step out of your comfort zone! The whole point of these events is to engage with others in attendance. If you’re worried, try thinking up some potential relevant questions ahead of time to ask the people in the field that you’re hoping to speak with.
Be Authentic! The best way to forage lasting connection within the industry is to be genuine with who you are and what you offer from the start. Don’t attempt to “fake it until you make it” - be honest about your strengths and limitations. Otherwise, you risk putting your reputation at risk.
Need a Coworking Space in Houston?
We're pretty proud of the environment that we have cultivated here at Ranch Office. We think that you’ll really enjoy it too!
We offer clean, comfortable working space at an incredibly reasonable rate. We cater to the needs of "solopreneurs" and startups alike and have a little something for everyone.
Interested in learning more about what we have to bring to the table? Check out this page!