Foster a sense of community at the workplace with these five tips
The future of innovation is community-led. Workspaces that recognize the importance of community are already ahead of the innovation game – reshaping the future of work as we know it. But why is community so important? Because as social beings, we are motivated to achieve specific needs. Maslow’s theory of needs proposes that physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization are our five motivational needs, starting from the most fundamental. Here, we see social needs as the third most fundamental human need. So, it’s no surprise that workspaces that provide sufficient social interaction are far more successful than workspaces that don’t.
This brings us to coworking spaces – an effective solution where diverse groups of remote professionals work together in a shared setting. The proximity to such a diverse community translates into endless possibilities, such as:
- Starting new businesses or enterprises together,
- Networking within the community,
- Sharing experiences and knowledge, and
- Drawing on the collective intelligence of the community for new ideas.But how do we ensure a sense of community in the workspace? Let’s explore five ways to achieve, activate, and nurture the community at the workspace.
Five tips for fostering a sense of community in the workplace
1. Deliver a holistic experience
Avoid designing each element of your office space independently. Consider the holistic experience you are offering your employees because when designed intentionally, space, technology, and community complement each other beautifully, becoming more significant than just a sum of their parts.
2. Design a better than at home experience
Your organization is currently competing with the convenience of working from home and ‘other places’ such as coffee shops. So it’s essential to design a convenient, informal, welcoming, and flexible place. Or you could apply for a coworking membership where you and your team can work and collaborate easily.
3. Create spaces that inspire human connections
Your design needs to prioritize community from end to end, much like coworking and shared spaces do. For instance, placing a community desk near the elevator helps reinforce the community ‘vibe’ and build trust right from day one. Common areas such as lounges, kitchens, staircases, and corridors should be designed to encourage eye contact, foster connections, and inspire connective moments such as impromptu lunches or brainstorm sessions.
4. Bring the employee experience to life
Develop an employee experience strategy that combines experience design, facilities operation, and event management with a human-centric approach. For instance, hiring a community manager can help facilitate ideas between employees and management. A community manager can also listen to employees’ needs and connect them to the right resource for help.
In a coworking space, community managers are generally full-time resources who have the full autonomy to create a community that trusts each other and thrives as a unit. Community managers have the power to create a sense of belonging, thus enhancing employee experience to the optimum.
5. Drive innovation through new partnerships and opportunities
Community managers have the capability to sense what employees need and want. They use these insights to encourage potential partnerships and opportunities between organizations, share their learnings with management to understand their employees better, and essentially create a sense of belonging within teams and organizations.
Conclusion
These tips are levers that can help reinforce your organization’s goals and help every employee feel seen and heard. Use them to create a culture of community within your organization. Alternatively, you can embrace the future of work by considering coworking memberships that encourage flexibility and promote a sense of community at the workplace.
A coworking membership gives your team a flexible, shared place to work and collaborate, built around the community that keeps people engaged.
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Frequently Asked Questions
As a social species, we naturally crave community in our relationships and workspaces. A strong sense of community makes employees feel like they belong instead of being left to wonder if they are around to round off the headcount.
Leaders within an organization can create a sense of community by sponsoring activities and events that get people together. Social events are great for team building and boosting employee morale.
Building a sense of workplace community within your organization is possible on a budget. Here are a few ideas to build a strong workplace community:
- Encourage a sense of belonging by making recognition a part of your company culture.
- Organize regular social events outside of work to enable people to get to know each other better.
- Cultivate team spirit by promoting competitive sports and employee participation.
- Give back to the community by volunteering for worthy causes.
- Create a space for employees to get together socially – whether it’s the cafeteria, water cooler, or seating arrangement throughout the office.
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