Ask any employee what lies at the heart of any workplace, and they’ll tell you it’s coffee! But when it comes to coworking spaces, coffee takes second place – it’s the community that makes them tick. More than a benefit, the community is the very crux of a shared workspace. 

And how does one build this community spirit? By bringing everyone together. Coworking spaces host several events and social gatherings that add value to the members. According to research, 69% of millennials say that attending an event makes them feel more connected to their community.

Here are some events that can be held in coworking spaces… 

Types Of Events That Can Be Conducted In Coworking Spaces

The ‘openness’ and vibrant environment of coworking spaces make them effective venues for all kinds of events. From festive celebrations to Zumba hours, anything fits. And since these spaces are open 24/7, events can be conducted on weekdays and weekends!

Events That Can Be Hosted On Weekdays

1. Employee Wellness Activities

Be it yoga or a run, nothing gets the brain going like a little activity in the morning. Conducting a session once a week helps the community be active, healthy and productive.

2. Gaming Events

Host games in the lounge or shared areas. A foosball table or board games are fabulous, fun ice-breakers that encourage coworkers to interact.

3. ‘Pitch A Product’ Events

The coworking community is largely comprised of start-ups or small companies. An event where they can pitch their service or product to others is exactly what the accountant ordered. Besides the boost to business, the event also works on the presentation skills and confidence of the members.

4. Launch Parties

A spin-off of pitch events are parties where a member can launch their product. Besides the obvious market exposure, the party also celebrates the success of the coworker.

5. Lunch And Learns

That’s the most common moniker of the event. Call it a weekly coffee meetup or breakfast sesh, this type of activity is all about expanding the community’s knowledge. Invite either an outside expert or a coworker to host the event. The only condition is that it should be applicable and advantageous to the members.

6. Skill-Share Hours

A coworking space is an interesting mix of differently-abled individuals. Use them to strengthen the skills of other members. Got a social media marketing expert in the community? Get them to teach the basics of online marketing to everyone else. In this dog-eat-dog world, every little extra ability counts.

7. FUBAR Evenings

Rising businesses are built on a pile of failures. Ask an entrepreneur or founder, they will agree. Instead of celebrating success, host a gathering where members share lessons on how to overcome let downs, fiascos and FUBARs. Listening to the epic blunders of another business or individual gives better insight to workers.

8. Free Pass Events

Events need not be limited to the gain of present members. Hand out a free pass for a day (or a few hours) to potential coworkers to give them a feel of how well-knit a shared workplace community is. Allow them to shadow a current member for the duration.

9. Events With Purpose

Networking is one of the seeds that planted the growth of coworking. Ensure that each coworker gets value out of it by hosting a gathering that is purposefully aimed at crafting relationships. 

Don’t assume that every event automatically allows people to network. To achieve the goal, curate the audience of the event. Discover people, mentors, or industry specialists who will connect with and support the community members.

10. Crash Courses

Gig economy workers are always willing to learn more. Hold training or a crash course to teach the community something new. The nature of the learning event hosted depends upon the necessity of the members. For instance, a coworking space full of techies would be better off with a programming language course or a coding camp.

These events can also be used to invite potential members to give them a feel of the coworking place.

Events That Can Be Hosted On Weekends

1. Happy Hours

A lunch or breakfast where members learn something new is an excellent start, but it is alcohol that makes for a true social lubricant. Host a happy hour. A pint of beer does the work of 10 cups of coffee when it comes to mingling.

2. Movie Nights

The popularity of shared workplaces soared because they are more fun to work at as opposed to traditional offices. Make them extra enjoyable by hosting a movie night or a matinee every month on a Saturday. Non-stop entertainment for 2 to 3 hours is the perfect antidote to a hard week.

3. Game Days

Over the weekend, hold a tournament with members divided into teams and playing to win a prize. From cricket to tennis, from video games to Dungeons and Dragons, the kind of game chosen depends upon the community, but the event (and the joy) remains the same.

4. Music Nights

One of the appeals of coworking place is the aesthetics, but a change of scenery never bothered anyone. On a Sunday, transform the place into a concert-like arena and host a musical event. Call in a professional singer or jam to the sounds of a local band or better yet, choose Karaoke.

5. Creative Events

If collaboration is one side of the coworking coin, creativity is another. It makes shared workplaces the quintessential space to hold events that tap in imagination and artistry. From spoken word to wine and paint, to book clubs, pick whatever takes the fancy.

6. Charity Drives

Shared workplaces and the community have a symbiotic relationship. Give back by hosting a charity event such as a blood donation or food drive out of the shared workplace. Besides being altruistic, the event will instil a sense of pride in the coworkers and create positive publicity for the coworking space.

Entrepreneurs, developers, lawyers, writers, artists, business owners; a coworking space is an unprecedented amalgamation of people. The potential they hold is enormous, but until you convert them into a cohesive community that potential remains untapped.

To build cohesiveness, hosting the right type of event is vital. Be it social gatherings or learning sessions, the more events organised, the tighter the foundation of the community.

If you are looking for a coworking space in Mumbai, get in touch with us at WorkWise!