3 Bubble-Pop Moments from My First Ever Coworking Space Experience
And then, I never worked from home again
I joined Flexo in 2022. Before that, I was doing freelancing gigs and was desperately looking for a full-time job. When I saw the job post by a coworking space aggregator platform, I was skeptical if it would be the right fit for me. I heard the term “coworking space” for the first time, let alone working with one. Regardless, I applied and was hired.
My employer at Flexo suggested I should visit a coworking space first to get an idea of the whole thing. My colleague arranged a visit to Regus which was just 5km from my home (and I didn’t know!). For the reader’s clarity, I must mention that I was working from home (in Kolkata) and Flexo was based in Mumbai. And Mumbai is certainly well advanced in matters of business.
While Kolkata startups were still struggling to find an office space, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi NCR and Hyderabad were already operating from shared workspaces. Anyway, I was excited to get the opportunity to explore something new. But as I landed in the specific building, I realized that it wasn’t as easy as visiting a restaurant and posting a cute review.
First Bubble-Pop
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Coworking spaces aren’t one-office-at-a-time things. They might manage multiple spaces within a single premise. Do not get confused which one to enter. Communicate with the concerned person before you arrive, because moving from 7th floor to 5th floor, waiting for the elevator, and accidentally reaching the terrace of a random building isn’t fun.
I was supposed to reach Regus by 12, but when I reached (after knocking on different doors, finally!), it was already 12.40. I tried not to look nervous and flaunted a smile at the lady at the reception. She smiled back and pointed towards a lady sitting in a corner. That’s my POC. I walked towards her, when she asked, “From Flexo?”, I nodded. She said had a word with my senior and asked me to join her for a quick tour. She showed me the hot desks which were already occupied, people were literally working with full-blown concentration. I had this idea (Of course, Google misguided me) that coworking spaces are cool places to work from, where work feels like a breeze, and I’d be surrounded by fun teams cracking jokes, sipping coffee. But I was so wrong.
Second Bubble-Pop
Coworking spaces can be as serious as traditional office spaces, workwise. These are not just some fancy pods for people to chitchat and do some light work. No. Several MNCs and well-established brands choose coworking spaces not because they give off good vibes. They choose to work from shared spaces to save on the hassles of maintaining an entire workspace, plus cost savings is a major influencing factor.
Impressed with the office crowd and the arrangements, I walked through the lobby. There were fully furnished meeting rooms, plug-n-play setups, coffee dispenser and a stunning view of the Nalban lake. The aesthetics of the workspace were simple and classy. I couldn’t resist taking some pictures. It was raining outside, but the coworking space had noise cancellation features, I guess, I couldn’t hear a thing. Well, time for yet another myth-busting realization.
Third Bubble-Pop
Coworking spaces or shared office spaces don’t mean chaos. People like me, who never had the experience of working out of one such workspace, might fear that there will be disturbance and they will lose their peace of mind. That’s not true. On the contrary they get an elegant setup that is easy to commute to, provides a serene backdrop for churning out the best ideas, an unlimited supply of coffee, amazing interiors, and breathtaking views. What else could a professional ask for? I have seen solopreneurs building their empire from scratch, I have seen teams working together, and I have seen pin-drop silence prevailing within the space. Everyone doing their own thing. Overall, it’s a wholesome package catering to different professionals. A revolutionary idea that changed my perspective on sharing the workspace with others.
I stepped into Regus with a bunch of myths about shared workspaces while I left with myths debunked, a new POV, and a wishlist of coworking spaces I wanted to visit next. It was quite an extraordinary experience for which I am grateful to Flexo.
