The Amazing Personalities at Coworking Spaces
We know many work circumstances attract people to coworking spaces. These people may be freelancers, entrepreneurs, students, travelers and—more and more—remote workers as traditional work models keep shifting. In addition, coworking spaces are attracting people who need to collaborate with their team.
But what are these people like? Can their personalities be typified?
Social scientists are just beginning to study the personalities who frequent coworking spaces. A review of recent articles suggests that some personality types can be categorized. Any one person at a coworking site may be a combination of these “types” or may not be like any of them. Here are the top five being discussed:
1. The Extrovert
This is a person who is outgoing and can’t take another day of isolation working from home. He or she loves to connect and has natural high energy. For The Extrovert, coworking is productive because it has a social element and, above all, feels less isolating. Extroverts want to find spaces that naturally create community and be at the center of it.
2. The Mentor
Some people are born helpers. They want to put themselves in a work environment where someone may need help. They love to help someone with a technical question (“I just lost my document! How can I find it?”), someone wanting a sounding board for an idea, or someone needing a third eye for proofing. The Mentor believes meaningful work always includes an occasion to be helpful to others.
3. The Networker
You’ll likely find The Networker in one of three locations at a coworking site: the restroom, the breakroom or standing just outside the main door. When you engage with a Networker, they dive into whether you have something in common, and this leads to how you might help each other find more work or collaborate. If you are a freelancer or contract worker, The Networker can be of immense help.
4. The Entrepreneur
The Entrepreneur may appear to an outsider as a thoughtful person gazing into space, but he or she is really checking out who might be a good fit for joining his/her company or new venture. The Entrepreneur genuinely wants to understand what you are working on and what skills you bring to the table. If there is a fit, he/she will tell you their business idea and measure your interest.
5. The Introvert
Even though coworking spaces seem like social settings, they often have cozy, semi-private places for The Introvert. This a person who may be shy or may just prefer their own company. Ironically, introverts like social space because they know that meeting and talking to someone is optional, which puts them in control. Introverts watch and wait until they spot the kind of person who might help them practice their tentative social skills.
These personality types are broad exaggerations, but they illustrate the variety of personalities drawn to coworking spaces. This broad attraction across social types may explain why coworking spaces are growing. More than 5.1 million people will have a coworking membership by the end of this year. The number of coworking spaces, 18,000 in 2019, is expected to double to 36,000 by 2025.
It seems that more than ever, coworking spaces are here to stay!