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Carlos Almansa Community Wednesday, February 18, 2015

How does your space celebrate special occasions?

How does your space celebrate special occasions?

Photo source: (Desi Mendoza)

Events held by coworking spaces come in all shapes and sizes: they can be formal or relaxed, planned or spontaneous, and there are usually plenty of coworkers thrown into the mix. Sometimes spaces host events for celebrations like Halloween or Valentine's Day; other get-togethers are arranged for special occasions in the space (birthdays, coworker welcome or leaving parties, opening ceremonies, etc.). 

Such events or meetups can really help with building a community in the space. They're especially great for the following aspects:

  • Introducing members to one another and promoting interaction between them. Events are perfect for encouraging coworkers, new and old, to spend time together and get to know each other.
  • Launching products and promoting projects. Some spaces organise events so that their coworkers can showcase their products (textiles, crafts, etc.) or give presentations about their services and projects. 
  • Promoting the space in the press. Local press often cover interesting events, which helps promote the space in its city or region.
  • Improving community ties. Forging bonds and creating an environment of trust takes time. But sharing meals, conversations, good times, etc. can speed up the process. 
  • Having fun! This makes almost anything easier! ;)

Espacio Arroelo, a coworking space in Pontevedra, Spain offers a great example of this type of event. The space organises a monthly meetup, called "Arroeladas", and held a special Valentine's Day edition called "tai loviu" (I love you in Spanglish). The coworkers decorated the space and companies associated with Arroelo showcased their gift ideas. 

 
Photo source: Espacio Arroelo “Tai Loviu day” (El espejo mágico producciones)
 
Another common event organised by coworking spaces is the Jelly, an informal networking session. Coworking space workINcompany from Seville, Spain, recently held its 25th Jelly, which has become a monthly date for its coworkers' diaries.
 

Rhythms and rituals are more about establishing patterns than rules (Alex Hillman, Indy Hall)

 

Alex Hillman's interesting article explains why it is important for coworking spaces to find the balance between the number and frequency of events they organise. For Alex, one of the main ingredients is regularity for anything from a daily informal gathering like sharing lunch to planned meetups. Events gain long-term sustainability when they become regular: your coworkers 'adapt' to them and eventually take it on themselves to organise them.
 
In a nutshell, celebrations, get-togethers and events are another important tool for building a community around a coworking space. 
 
How does your space celebrate special occasions?
 
 

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