Building Community from Within: How Your Team Culture Shapes Your Coworking Business Success

As a seasoned coworking operator and business coach blessed with the opportunity to develop thriving coworking teams, cultures, and communities in multiple markets, I have witnessed firsthand how essential building a vibrant and supportive employee culture within a coworking team is to the member experience, financial success and longevity of the business. Let’s explore why culture fit matters when it comes to hiring and retaining staff for your coworking space and how it can contribute to the success of your business and the overall well-being of your community.

1. Shaping Your Community Culture:

Every coworking space has its own unique culture, which is most often shaped by the internal culture of the founders or the community management team. The values, beliefs, and behaviors exhibited by your staff members have a profound impact on the overall community culture. By prioritizing culture fit during the hiring process, you ensure that new hires align with your community's core values, fostering a cohesive and supportive environment.?

2. Strengthening Community Health:

The strength of your coworking community is directly influenced by the strength of your team culture. When employees understand the vision of the company, have the tools and resources to fulfill the purpose their role holds, and are aligned around common values and goals for your community, they can collaboratively work towards creating an inclusive and engaging atmosphere. A strong culture fit cultivates a sense of belonging and ownership amongst the team and promotes positive interactions among community members, leading to increased member satisfaction and retention.

3. Empowering Happy Employees:

Happy employees make for inspired community managers, with the potential for high output. Happy employees not only enhance productivity but also serve as brand ambassadors, nurturing a culture of excellence and exceptional member experiences. When staff members resonate with the culture and values of your coworking space, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged in their work. This happiness translates into improved member experiences, as community managers become more approachable, empathetic, and efficient in addressing members' needs.

4. Focusing on Team Development:

By prioritizing the happiness and development of your employees you enable them to wholeheartedly focus on building your coworking business into one that members find indispensable. When employees feel supported, valued, and encouraged to grow both personally and professionally, they become enthusiastic ambassadors for your coworking space. They actively contribute to enhancing the overall member experience, which leads to greater member retention and drives positive word-of-mouth referrals, attracting new members.

5. Not Everyone Fits the Start-Up Lifestyle:

Most indie coworking teams exist in perpetual start-up mode, characterized by a fast-paced and ever-evolving environment. Not everyone thrives in such a dynamic setting. Assessing culture fit during the hiring process allows you to identify individuals who possess the resilience, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit required to thrive in the coworking industry. This ensures that you build a team that is well-suited to the unique challenges and opportunities that come with running a coworking space.

6. Uniqueness of the Community Manager Role:

The role of a community manager, host or catalyst in a coworking space is dynamic, constantly evolving, and multifaceted. It requires a unique skill set encompassing strong communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building abilities. Assessing culture fit helps you identify candidates who possess the necessary qualities and mindset to excel in this role, ensuring that you find individuals who are not only capable but also passionate about creating an exceptional coworking experience for members.

7. Hiring with an Open Timeline:

Hiring is a long process, and taking your time to get the right fit for your team and community is so important to the sustainability of your coworking business, this can’t be overstated. Although it can be tempting when there’s pressure to fill an open role asap, rushing and subsequently hiring the wrong fit can be disasterous and expensive. One mismatch amongst a team can cause a breakdown in the overall dynamics of not only the team, but the member community as well. Toxicity in employee culture will not create a good member experience. The old adage “hire slowly, fire quickly” is your best mantra for success when bringing new team members into an established staff culture and community. Your unicorn is out there, and they are worth the wait.

As a coworking coach with 15 years of real-world operations and team building expertise, I cannot overstate the importance of culture fit in cultivating a thriving coworking community. By prioritizing culture fit, you lay the groundwork for a cohesive and engaged community that fosters collaboration, creativity, and success. Invest in your team's happiness and growth, and watch them transform into inspired community managers who curate an indispensable coworking experience for your members. Embrace employee happiness and development as a cornerstone of your coworking business strategy, and witness the positive impact it has on your community's longevity and prosperity.

Wanna chat culture? I love to support coworking founders in running successful coworking businesses, let’s connect! Book a call with me.