If you have been keeping up with our blog, you might’ve come across our post about “Advantages & disadvantages of freelancing”. Some of the benefits include flexibility, independence, the potential for growth, and being your own boss. However, it’s not all coffee and working in pajamas. There certainly are cons, one of the largest being isolation. Lacking the coworker interaction that comes with the traditional office environment can be quite the drawback. In this blog post, we decided to dive a bit deeper into how sociability impacts productivity, specifically for freelancers.
The struggle of solitude
As humans, we are social creatures and require a certain amount of social interaction in order to live a happy and fulfilling life. If this interaction is lacking, it can even damage one’s professional life, as isolation often leads to a lack of drive. The onset of a global pandemic definitely doesn’t help this situation as it forced many freelancers to work primarily from home. But what does that mean for their productivity? While working from home can be liberating, since the space can be as comfortable as one wants it to be, it can also be isolating. But how does isolation impact the productivity of freelancers? According to a Cigna study, lonely workers are less productive, less engaged, and 5 times more likely to miss work or deadlines. In addition, one in five remote workers in 2020 stated that loneliness was their biggest struggle.
The power of sociability
Luckily, after a lengthy lock-down period in Prague, we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Workers are no longer confined to their homes and are free to work and socialize in their office environments. As you might expect, sociability has quite a positive impact on one’s productivity! When it comes to traditional companies, those that foster a culture of sociability and building strong bonds between its employees boast higher output and employee engagement.
The coworking solution
But what about freelancers? The socialization opportunities and outlets at traditional workplaces are unavailable to solo workers. The profession can be quite solitary with few opportunities for spontaneous interactions. Luckily, there is a solution for this. A solution in the form of a new environment that aims to solve the issue of freelancer isolation while still facilitating their productivity. That solution, of course, is the coworking space. A coworking space provides essential infrastructure to its members who lack a traditional office but, just as necessary, allows them to be surrounded by and socialize with like-minded, driven individuals. The opportunity for socializing allows the freelancers to take a break from their work, without the risk of losing focus associated with home offices. When everyone around you is engrossed in their work, you feel motivated to keep pace and be just as productive.
Besides allowing the members to chat with someone by the water cooler, the environment of a workspace provides the members with opportunities for networking and career growth. And as a meeting point for creative, and motivated individuals, how could it not? Industrious people brought together by a stroke of luck could lead to the beginnings of truly amazing things.
Finally, the convenient thing about coworking space socialization is its informality. The interactions are relaxed and natural, no office politics. Each member is allowed to tailor the amount of socialization to facilitate their productivity. Be it a handshake in passing or a passionate conversation about your latest project, the environment of a coworking space allows for it all.
So are you a freelancer tired of your home office? Maybe some non-obliged sociability is just the spice you need for your productivity to flourish. Either way, you won’t know until you try! Luckily, you can sign up for a free day here at Locus and let relaxed interactions get your creative/productive juices flowing. It is all just one click away. Happy coworking!
