As well as being a place to focus on your goals for the day, coworking spaces are some of the best environments to grow your professional network.
Whereas traditional networking events involve wearing name tags and being subjected to awkward introductions, the coworking environment allows for like-minded, ambitious people to work alongside each other, creating daily, casual moments that naturally create networking opportunities.
As much as it’s good to have a strong professional network for business reasons, there are also the obvious mental well-being benefits to being around peers who have their own goals, especially for founders and freelancers.
Here, we’re going to detail nine behaviours you can try this week to make real connections in your coworking space with freelancers and business owners.
Why coworking is a cheat code for connections
It’s rare to have so much diverse talent sitting in one building, but that is the case with coworking spaces.
People from across industries and disciplines all work alongside one another, which helps to create those serendipitous moments of connection that would otherwise have taken months to cultivate through a more formal approach (I.e. LinkedIn message or email to introduce yourself, followed by an invite to connect in real life).
There are regular informal touchpoints in this sort of working environment, too. There is no need to work a room like there is at a networking event. Queuing for coffee or having lunch at a breakout table can help to facilitate a simple conversation that can turn into something beneficial for both parties.
Coworking spaces worth your time are more than places that just provide you a desk to work from. Whether it’s a lunch-and-learn or an afternoon work social, there are always regular events going on, which removes the friction of planning or the anxiety that can come with big events.
Connecting with like-minded people can also benefit your mental health. Working on your own for too long can drain your energy, whereas a friendly interaction while making a coffee can help to set your day off to a good start.
9 simple ways to network (without being awkward)
1. Show up to a community event
Coworking events are a great place to meet people that you are already familiar with, having seen them around during the day. So, pick an event from the coworking space’s calendar, be it a workshop, breakfast, or evening social, and commit to introducing yourself ‘formally’ to three people. Something like “Hi, I’m Jenny, and I’m a copywriter. What brings you here?” is a gentle opener that can start a conversation.
2. Use shared areas with intention
Coworking spaces are more than just desks and meeting rooms. There are plenty of places to unplug and take a break, too. These places can be used for sparking up conversations with people about what they do.
So the next time you’re in a shared space, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself by making them a cup of tea or having your lunch with them. These neutral spaces help you and the other party to introduce yourselves and share information quickly.
3. Be findable
There’s nothing wrong with locking in and doing deep work, but setting a goal of appearing more approachable for a few minutes each day can help more natural introductions take place.
It’s as simple as taking out headphones and working in shared areas. A slightly more proactive version of being ‘findable’ is asking someone if a seat near them is available and working alongside them.
4. Make a virtual introduction
Many coworking spaces are active on community forums like Slack, providing a platform for virtual communication. It’s an ideal opportunity to introduce yourself to co-workers through a message.
In this message, introduce yourself, explain what you do, and if you have any questions, ask them! Building rapport online can help ease the discomfort often associated with in-person chats and introductions.
5. Offer help and value
If you’ve made something that you think would be of value to the people working around you, share it! A template for improving site speed, a content calendar, or a blog you’ve written/seen, are all things that can act as a gateway to introducing yourself. It’s memorable, too. People are more likely to remember the person who helped them the next time they need someone who offers the services you do.
6. Collaborate on projects
People in coworking spaces are often busy, so this one may require a bit of thought before jumping into it, but collaborating on small projects, swapping skills, or sharing in the delivery of a project can help to build rapport and trust in just 30 minutes.
These collaborations don’t have to be too formal, either. They can take place in areas suited to cooperative working without the need to book a meeting room, ensuring things can happen naturally.
7. Attend learning sessions and ask a question
Go to a talk or training session and while listening to it, think of a high-value question that’s not just useful to you but to others in attendance.
As well as getting interesting answers, asking a question in a public setting can make it easier for people to follow up with you to discuss the session more.
8. Be considerate at all times
Whether you’re introducing yourself or not, always be a considerate member of the coworking space. After all, it is a professional working environment.
Use the spaces that are there for their intended purpose. Hot desks are naturally more sociable, fine, but respect quiet zones for what they are (a place to get work done without distraction), and use phone booths or meeting rooms for calls.
Being considerate not only creates safety, but people also gravitate towards members who make spaces feel better.
9. Lightly follow up within a couple of days
Send a short LinkedIn note or direct message with a follow-up and helpful link or document you’ve found a few days after introducing yourself in person.
A timely follow-up turn can solidify that initial connection into relationships that are focused on nurturing mutual networks, not a hard sell.
Looking for somewhere to connect and get stuff done? Check our our range of coworking spaces.
Etiquette that makes it enjoyable
With everything mentioned above comes the need for emotional intelligence and a basic ability to read people’s body language.
Always respect the signals that indicate someone is locked in. Generally, treat ‘headphones in’ as a message that someone is busy and isn’t receptive to an introduction, no matter how well you’ve planned it. Save them for the kitchen or lounge.
Put conversations into a time frame to help more introverted people feel comfortable about talking and, more generally, keep everyone’s schedules on track. “If you’ve got two minutes, can I get your LinkedIn so I can connect with you?” puts people at ease, knowing they’re not going to be talking for hours.
Basic etiquette also includes tidying as you go. It’s obvious, but still a surprising number of people fail to meet basic standards of leaving places the way they’ve found them. These small actions help to shape the culture of the coworking space (and it’s also just a polite thing to do).
Finally, share the spotlight and introduce people whom you think should meet. Being that conduit only helps to increase your own opportunities, with people remembering the person who introduced their new connection just as much as the connection itself.
A three-step mini follow-up play (so connections stick)
- Connect online and send a quick DM: Writing a brief note referencing your chat anchors your meeting to memory, making it more than just another ‘Hello’.
- Share something helpful: Share a blog, whitepaper, or just an intriguing post to the person who relates to their challenge. It demonstrates you listened and helps to create further value.
- Suggest a meet-up: If there’s a clear reason to meet, for instance, you might have a mutual interest in something that relates to your respective projects, then suggest a coffee catch-up.
Following up like this is not about volume. It’s about making yourself memorable to those you meet. A meaningful conversation holds far more weight than a dozen forgotten intros. This three-step follow-up helps to achieve that.
Three Questions to Consider Before Networking
- Is coworking good for networking if I’m shy?
Yes, coworking creates networking opportunities in coworking that are low-stakes and suited to people who are outgoing as well as those who are shy. There is also the option to introduce yourself online (as explained earlier) before going into in-person conversations. - Do I have to go to every event?
Of course not. Go to the events that are going to bring you value first. Then, just commit yourself to one event a month, be it a monthly breakfast or an after-work workshop. If you find events you want to go to, you’re automatically going to feel more relaxed and open to chatting. - How do I know it’s working?
While it’s good to track the progress of your professional development, keep it light. After all, the value of coworking spaces is two things. One, to get work done, and two, to naturally grow connections in an environment where like-minded people work alongside each other.
Ready to Connect?
The key to networking is just being your helpful, human self. Coworking spaces such as The Causeway provide the setting, and the nine techniques outlined in this blog can help you grow your network.
If you’re looking for a space that makes meeting the right people easy, then contact us to book a tour. During it, we’ll show you our community and shared areas that can help you build connections that move your career forward.
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