Want to Build a Successful Work Environment of the Future?
Here’s three things I’ve learned from creating a coworking space in Hamburg (Shhared) by Alex Ahom
“Love what you do and trust the process.”
I’ve always wanted to make a positive difference by tearing up the rule book. Who says you can’t actually have it all? For most of my life, people have been more than happy to tell me what couldn’t be done. Yet staying true to your own path tends to create doors that simply didn’t exist before. That is my formula.
A brilliant life means sharing incredible experiences with like-minded people while constantly challenging what is possible. Born and raised in London, sport has always anchored my story, though life eventually brought me over to Germany as a family man, entrepreneur, consultant, and creator. At a certain point, I simply stopped being willing to choose between work and sport, or between career and family. There has to be a better way. It is ambitious, but it is the lifestyle our culture actually deserves.
That philosophy wasn’t just a bio on an old platform. It was my daily reality back when I was scaling a business I built entirely on my own, in a foreign country, without a single outside investor. Things were moving fast, and life was about to pivot in ways I didn’t expect. I will unpack the whole story of Shhared — the what, why, when, and how — another day.
For now, here is a look back at what I thought at the time and what I learned from building my own coworking space, designed from the ground up to be the workplace of the future. Enjoy…
The traditional office no longer works for most people and has become the obstacle to productivity, creativity and a happy workforce. I’m focused on creating a work environment where people can be fulfilled and remain in love with what they do whilst becoming better at it. That’s the workplace of tomorrow.
Over the past five years I’ve been active in the future of work and work-life balance discussions all over the world as the founder of Shhared, my coworking space.
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Here are three things I’ve learned on my journey to living and delivering my entrepreneurial passion:
1. Let your working environment challenge you
Being active mentally and physically makes a difference. I’ve been in love with sport for as long as I can remember but it wasn’t until recently I realised the workplace can learn a great deal from the sporting world. Both are competitive environments where performance is everything.
I’ve noticed the business athletes who pass through my coworking doors regularly challenge their peers.
“There is something special about being surrounded by people who encourage you to grow both personally and professionally.”
An increase in social interaction leads to more group engagement. People in Hamburg often take public transport or walk to work but now we’re seeing a growing number of coworkers taking their bikes and cycling in together. This athletic inspiration has helped me adjust my work mindset and transform the office from just a place of work to an environment for much more.
2. Build a community
Coworking is not just about providing four walls and great wi-fi. Think of it as a chance to be part of something greater than just yourself alone. It’s a community of creators, entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-ups, consultants and remote workers who develop networks of like-minded people to reach out to when needed.
Relationships naturally develop over time but being part of the office football team or running club can boost these connections.
3. Allow creativity to flourish
A progressive work environment doesn’t need clock-in cards. Having more of an emphasis on providing the freedom to be innovative will see people starting at 10am and finishing at a non-conventional time. Some people work best after a yoga class or have that great idea on a walk in the park with their pet. Unleashing the constraints that most of the modern-day workforce have can improve productivity, reduces stress and allows creative energy to flow.
The future workplace is less about the physical layout and more about how people feel at work. I’d encourage individuals and teams out there to define the right place and environment for their work; create it and change the game.
