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Coworking and networking are two terms often mentioned when it comes to running a small business or being an entrepreneur. Coworking spaces have become popular with business owners due to their flexibility and affordability. Besides the financial benefits of a coworking membership, they also offer the opportunity to network with other business owners, making it the perfect place to fuel innovation, form partnerships, and get introduced to potential clients.
In this post, we will discuss how coworking and networking go hand in hand and the benefits of participating in a coworking community.
The Importance of Networking
Love or hate it; networking is essential to doing business. In doing so, you get acquainted with your competition, learn about new trends, and you might just meet people who will refer you to others. But none of this will happen if you don’t put yourself out there.
The great thing about coworking centers is that they make networking effortless. Coworkers are like-minded. You all have something in common and a similar work ethic. Even if you don’t work at doing the same things, you might be able to help each other, and that’s when the magic happens.
Unique Perspectives
In traditional office spaces, people tend to stick to their usual groups, whereas, in a coworking community, there are no set social circles or office politics to get in the way. This opens the possibility of meeting people from different industries, backgrounds, and experiences who may have different perspectives to offer.
Building Relationships
Meaningful, fruitful business relationships are not built casually. You can meet people at a trade show, but you may never see them again. Your coworking colleagues are there every day, so each interaction is an opportunity to build trust and rapport—which may lead to working together on projects or helping each other connect with other people or needed resources.
Getting Started: Participate in Coworking Events and Meetups
Most coworking centers organize group activities, meetups, or networking lunches where you can get to know your colleagues. Sign up or show up for as many as possible, especially if you’re new. People can’t support you if they don’t know who you are or what you do. People need to know about your business if you’re going to thrive, so start with your community and see where it takes you.
You may not be a big fan of networking—and you’re not alone in that. But as a coworking member, you have the advantage of a strong, vibrant network at your fingertips. So dive in! Meet your colleagues. Find out what they do and let them know about you. The more effort you put into it, the more you’ll learn, and the greater the potential for advancing your career and business goals.
Need some introductions? We’d be happy to help. Speak to the Fusion team today, and let’s get networking!
