Co-working facilities are centres where people can go to work without having an office and share with others. Still, everyone must follow certain principles to be productive. This means that as more people embrace coworking, especially as professionals, more focus will be on personal behaviour and monitoring the impacts of the behaviours.
This guide will definitely offer the necessary etiquette to create a civil and friendly coworking culture. When it comes to noise control and whatnot, we will take our readers through every standard practice that makes for the ultimate coworking pleasure and productivity. Jump in and discover how you can be a proper coworker.
What is Coworking Space Etiquette?
Members who share facilities follow coworking space etiquette as a standard of behaviour, addressing issues politely and effectively even though it has not been formally established. Key features include:
- Avoid using loud music or other loud noises, and communicate over the headset.
- Maintaining one’s and the common areas of the house is important, as well as keeping them clean, tidy, and free from unnecessary items.
- Do not disturb other people, and focus on your own business, especially if they wear headphones.
- Leaving printers and coffee machines for everyone to benefit from and replacing the ink and coffee as needed.
- Accept the people you meet, but at the same time, be cordial to them because they may also have the same urge to have attention.
By observing the attested workplace etiquette norms, coworking members contribute to strengthening the community and organisational culture and derive the utmost benefit from the selected work environment.
Coworking Do’s and Don’ts for Workplace Etiquette
Co-working has become among the most famous substitutes for conventional working environments for freelancers, start-ups, and small, medium, and large companies. Since these places promote interaction and acquaintances, they also require a set of policies, which we will discuss next.
The coworking do’s and don’ts for proper office etiquette are mentioned below:
Do’s of Coworking Spaces
The following are the do’s of professional behaviour in coworking:
Maintain Cleanliness
- Keep Your Workspace Tidy: Hygiene or cleaning is one of the most important principles of coworking manners.
It is imperative that wherever you eat or engage in whatever activity, you clean up your mess, wipe the table, dispose of the garbage, wash the plates, and always ensure that any place you leave behind is as clean as when you got there.
- Sanitise Shared Equipment: Cleanliness is very important in any environment that many people commonly use. If you use items such as printers, kitchen utensils, or meeting rooms, you should clean them after use.
Besides following the office etiquette for using spaces where people gather, this prevents the spread of infections in the open space for all.
Be Mindful of Your Sounds
- Use Headphones: Another workplace etiquette when working in a coworking space is to use headphones, particularly when listening to music or a video. This action effectively keeps the environment free of distractions and ensures that your activities do not interrupt the work of others.
- Limit Phone Conversations: Advisers recommend answering calls in certain parts or a phone booth. This is among the key features of working through coworking manners as it reduces interferences to the coworker and keeps away destructive standards from the preconditions of work.
- Speak Softly: If you need to share something with a coworker, do it softly. In addition to respecting the etiquette in coworking spaces whereby one should not be having loud discussions or taking personal calls around other people, working in hush tones or using the available soundproof meeting rooms is productive for all the parties involved.
Engage Respectfully with Others
- Introduce Yourself: Coworking space etiquette strictly includes overcoming shyness and arranging meetings with other coworkers. This exposes one to direct, valuable contacts and partnerships, hence promoting one’s experience within the shared office setting.
Communication is another shared office etiquette that requires you not to shy away from introducing yourself to people in the coworking spaces.
- Participate in Community Events: Participating in a community-related activity is a perfect way of revamping the relationship aspect and, in turn, boosting your office etiquette. Go for cocktails, dinner, lunch meetings, and any other social functions organised by the respective coworking facility to expand your network of business associates.
In this regard, this participation relieves the speaker of sticking to common harmony regarding interaction within the office space and seeking communal benefits among the team members.
Follow Space Rules
- Follow Policies: Learn good shared workspace rules to help new members avoid struggling when they make their first visit to the coworking space. Knowledge of the rules concerning food, people, and equipment utilisation prevents a disturbing atmosphere.
It remains obligatory to adhere to these policies as a primary part of the coworking manners employed in coworking spaces to utilize the shared office amenities without interruption.
- Respect Shared Resources: It is always wise to avoid spreading germs, especially when using items that many other people in the space also use. Ensure you do not take all the resources from the stock, as this is another custom of workplace sharing.
Respecting the public nature of these tools allows all individuals in the group to enjoy the amenities in place, thus promoting shared office etiquette.
Don’ts of Coworking Spaces
The don’ts of coworking manners are as follows:
Avoid Distractions
- Don’t Be Loud: Writing and speaking are other behavioural standards in coworking spaces where people should not talk loudly. Please do not engage in activities that will interrupt other people and make them lose focus on their work. Workers practice coworking manners to create a more effective environment for everyone.
- Don’t Take Personal Calls in Common Areas: If one needs to make a call, always adhere to the codes of conduct in the coworking space by taking the call in another room. This also ensures that everyone values the etiquette in the office and does not interfere with the working environment.
Respect Personal Space
- Don’t Overstay in Common Areas: Always bear in mind that common areas are for all. Cultivate use of them during break times; however, do not monopolise them, particularly when many people need them.
Sticking to the contexts and office etiquette of the coworking spaces makes it possible for all the members to make use of the amenities without congestion.
- Don’t Intrude on Others’ Work: This can include not leaning over a person when they are typing or not bothering them when they are typing something on the computer.
This consideration is part of workplace etiquette regarding coworking spaces and is helpful in maintaining harmonious relations with other coworking space users.
Be Considerate of Amenities
- Don’t Hog Resources: For optimal cooperation among coworking space users, people must abide by the rules of the space. Consider being specific about working spaces that are jointly used, such as printers and meeting rooms. It’s best to book them in advance and honour your time slot so as not to infringe on others who are equally longing.
- Don’t Misuse Internet Bandwidth: This way, do not stream a video or download any file when the bandwidth usage is high to retain a positive flow of work. This office culture honours allowing everyone access to the internet without interference.
Maintain Professionalism
- Avoid Giving Unsolicited Sales Pitches: While socialising in the co-working spaces, be mindful not to network aggressively in the communal areas. Better concentrate on interacting with the customers rather than selling the services they offer.
- Don’t Ignore Cleanliness: When working in shared spaces, the general public should prioritise cleanliness as one of the most important duties in workplace etiquette. The habit of eating at the workplace results in a messy environment and untoward odours that make those around you uncomfortable.
It is necessary to use special tables for eating and remember to clean up after so that everybody can feel comfortable.
Why to Learn Coworking Space Etiquettes?
Being mindful of office etiquette is of great significance for career progression and a friendly working environment. It shows regard to coworkers, supports good communication, and contributes to a positive corporate atmosphere.
Adhering to the principles of politeness allows individuals in the workplace to concentrate on their jobs properly without any disturbing factors or arguments. One can promote trust when one knows how to work out things well with others at the place of work and, therefore, enhance cooperation between colleagues towards achieving goals.
At Innov8 Coworking, we foster an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive. Practising good coworking etiquette is key to maintaining your shared office space. Ensure you keep your workspace tidy, respect communal areas, and engage professionally. Your positive contribution helps create a vibrant community where ideas and businesses flourish.
Conclusion
Therefore, it is crucial to realise the importance of coworking space etiquette, which defines appropriate behaviour in coworking space environments. Adhering to the coworking space rules described in this guide can improve the state of the community, enrich oneself and others’ professional experience, and establish useful contacts.
So, it is vital to contemplate how much office space should focus on empowering the employment and social rights of workers in a shared environment.
