11 Secret Tips for Effective Remote Coworking
for Development Teams
See also: Effective Team Working
With the rise of remote development positions and freelancing opportunities, a need for unique working spaces has emerged. One of the most popular of these is coworking spaces.
These spaces are specifically designed for diverse groups of remote programmers, freelance designers and other independent professionals to work together in a communal environment.
The reason for the popularity of coworking spaces can be attributed to the numerous benefits they offer workers.
One significant advantage is the affordability factor. Renting a space is typically much cheaper than hiring a long-term office. Together with the software development team leasing expenses involved, it's a cost-effective option that can save businesses valuable capital.
Making use of coworking spaces is not only affordable for development teams, it also allows workers more network opportunities. Often, these spaces host a variety of professionals, hence making it easy for them to connect with like-minded individuals. This is especially valuable to teams who work on large complex projects and may often require innovative ideas and inspiration. These environments are also great for boosting productivity and creativity among development teams and can lead to thriving collaborations.
However, not all coworking space situations are equally successful. Several obstacles can lead to poor work performance and inadequate project outcomes. Let's explore some of the mistakes development teams should try to avoid in coworking spaces:
Five Mistakes Development Teams Make in Remote Coworking Spaces
Alienating yourself
Coworking spaces are typically open plan and this means you and your team will be in contact with other workers. Workers who are part of a team should not alienate themselves from others. Putting in the effort to communicate one-on-one can improve the overall working environment and create a positive space.
Not using the resources
Many coworking spaces have plenty of resources available to use, for example meeting rooms, extra monitors and audio-visual equipment. Not using these resources can slow down project processes.
Not adhering to the guidelines
Whether you're working as part of a team or on your own, you have to stick to the rules and regulations of the coworking space. This means that if there is a no-noise policy, you have to adhere to it. Not doing so can lead to a chaotic space that feels cluttered and disorganized.
Not collaborating
As mentioned, working in a coworking space means you have contact with many other professionals. When you or your team do not collaborate, it can lead to many missed opportunities.
Not communicating
As with any working environment, communication is incredibly important. Not speaking up about issues and challenges arising in the environment can lead to bigger problems in the future.
While the atmosphere in a coworking space is often relaxed and casual, there are still certain mistakes that need to be avoided at all costs to ensure productivity and successful project outcomes.
But while it may be easy to avoid these mistakes, there are also some ways you can improve the environment and your experience in coworking spaces. Let's take a look at some tips to follow to ensure coworking success:
11 Secret Tips for Coworking Success
Some development teams are successful when working from coworking spaces. But some are not. So, what are the secrets to a positive working environment, a happy culture and thriving project results?
1. Get involved
It is important to create a unique culture of togetherness in the coworking space. Therefore, it's wise to get involved in any projects open to all workers. This will allow you to get to know your team better, as well as other professionals outside of the team structure. It will also enable you to feel part of a bigger group of like-minded individuals.
2. Ask questions
One of the best ways to get familiar with the environment is by asking plenty of questions. Not only should you communicate often with your team to ensure you are on the right track with your own projects, but you can also ask questions about other teams, their work or the resources available. Increasing your knowledge and skill will allow you to communicate better.
3. Collaborate
Coworking spaces are the ideal environments to find other like-minded individuals who can work with you on certain tasks and projects. Start small to see which collaborations work for your unique situation, but also work towards bigger partnerships that can be beneficial to you in the future.
4. Stay organized
At first, working with other teams or individuals can feel overwhelming. However, when you stay organized, there shouldn't be any reason to feel stressed. Also, remember that you are sharing the space with other workers, so you have to respect the space and promote a neat and orderly environment.
5. Utilize knowledge management
When you retain knowledge in the workplace and ensure that it is shared among teams, everyone benefits. Utilizing knowledge management enables you to form more secure processes and collaborations while improving team culture. In a coworking space, it can ensure your team stays focused and works better together.
6. Make use of the resources available
One of the biggest benefits of using a coworking space is the numerous extra resources available. For development teams, using these additional tools can increase productivity and lead to more innovative and advanced project outcomes.
7. Maintain your productivity
When working in a coworking space, it can be easy to lose focus. However, it is important to limit distractions, stick to an organized project roadmap and use the available resources to consistently maintain and optimize productivity.
8. Use the support offered
Working on development projects, it is essential to have a strong support network to ensure you meet project needs and reach deadlines. Make use of the support options offered and ask for extra help when needed.
9. Monitor progress
In a coworking space, it can be easy to lose track. However, by regularly monitoring progress and re-evaluating goals, you and your team can track your growth and plan better for the future.
10. Stick to the rules
Chaotic working spaces are often the result of workers not adhering to the guidelines set out by different teams and the coworking establishment. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with any rules and to adhere to them at all times.
11. Keep yourself accountable
Working on a development project may involve plenty of deadlines. But working in a relaxed working space can easily lead to slower productivity levels. However, if you map out your goals and daily tasks, you can easily keep yourself accountable for any work that needs to be completed.
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Enjoy the Benefits of a Coworking Space
The coworking space phenomenon has become incredibly popular in the business industry. It is both an innovative and creative concept that can lead to many successful projects and can save businesses a lot of valuable capital.
Instead of spending money on long-term office spaces and paying teams a hefty software developer salary on top of that, a coworking space is a great option to save money. Businesses can simply budget for the software development team cost and rent coworking spaces for the duration of specific projects.
These spaces are made available for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and remote development teams providing a favourable environment for collaborating on projects, sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas.
When used correctly, such places can be a great space where creativity, innovation and support thrive. However, certain guidelines should be followed to ensure a successful outcome. Use the 11 secret tips in this article to ensure a positive environment and a prosperous outcome for your development projects.
About the Author
Anastasia Stefanuk is a passionate writer and Information Technology enthusiast. She works as a Content Manager at Mobilunity, a provider of dedicated development teams around the globe. Anastasia keeps abreast of the latest news in all areas of technology, agile project management, and software product growth hacking, at the same time sharing her experience online to help tech startups and companies keep up-to-date.