A tip for VAs: how to make the most out of co-working space

If you’re a VA who has decided that home isn’t really the most productive place for you to be, finding a co-working space can be daunting. Won’t it be awkward sitting in an office with complete strangers while they work on totally different businesses?

Leading management Associate Professor Vareska van de Vrande from the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University (RSM) says that people could benefit more from a co-working space. These are her three top tips for professionals and entrepreneurs.

1 Talk to the people around you
Talk to as many people as you can. Associate Professor van de Vrande says this is the key to gaining new and beneficial knowledge. Furthermore, talking to people about your expertise and the projects you’ve worked on can help in finding a new gig or a temporary project.

2 Create a community feeling
The more people feel they are part of a community, the more likely they are to collaborate and develop their products or services. Feeling part of a professional network will encourage you to learn new entrepreneurial skills, advance your creativity and strengthen your chances of learning new business techniques. Use the lunches and coffee areas at co-working spaces as the perfect opportunity to speak with new people and get involved.

3 Take public transport to the co-working space
Co-working spaces contribute to a healthier working lifestyle, as they are located in central and easy-to-access locations. Walking or riding a bike will not only help you stay in shape but will also help to tackle wider issues such as pollution and congestion.

Associate Professor Vareska van de Vrande says: “These communities of innovation can play a powerful role in developing businesses and entrepreneurial skills, but also in the development of cities and regions as a whole. People need to show an interest in their environment and what’s happening around them, then have a willingness to contribute to the development of that community if they are to see genuine value manifest from the co-worker lifestyle.“