Remote work has many advantages, but for some professionals, working from home every day can feel isolating at times. Shared office spaces for remote and independent professionals are a great middle ground.  

There’s no long-term commitment for a traditional office, and shared workspaces eliminate non-work-related distractions and ambient noise that can be inherent to working from home and at other locations. 

Shared office spaces are low-cost, ideal environments to conduct business, improve focus, diminish distractions, establish new connections, and create a clear boundary between work and personal life.  

My journey from a small business home office to a shared office workspace 

After a year of remote work and challenging personal hurdles, I was craving community. I tried to restore human interactions in my professional life by working out of coffee shops, libraries, and even grocery store coworking spaces. None of these were conducive to making the genuine connections I hoped to build. They did not offer consistent interactions with the same people. 

Having spent 20 years in hospitality operations – running kitchens, restaurants, country clubs, hotels – there was a built-in social component to my work. Then, in the evolution of my career, the organic nature of interacting with my team, guests, and members went missing.  

As mentioned, I tried different ways to restore that sense of community in remote work, but the persistent void of working alongside other professionals made it difficult. 

I needed to change how I ran my business, and I found the answer in a shared workspace solution. 

Opening the door to a new remote workplace model – complete with meeting rooms and amenities 

Recently, I’ve been working from a shared office space through Switchyards, a company that revitalizes older properties and turns them into vibrant shared workspaces. The variety of people I’ve met and the number of connections I’ve made there have been incredibly powerful. 

For a minimal monthly membership (I pay about $100), I gained access to conference rooms and smaller meeting rooms, private phone booths, free coffee and tea, a patio area, and plenty of comfortable places to work. They also offer a quarterly, nationally printed Club Paper, where I’m able to post ads about my business.  

A shared office space is also a great place to meet with clients – and in my case as a talent recruiter, it gives me a nicely appointed professional setting to conduct interviews with job candidates and conduct client meetings to discuss and staff important roles.  

Overall, the environment has been fantastic for networking and made a noticeable difference in my mental health, motivation, and productivity.  

Let’s dive into the details of how shared office spaces can be game-changers for remote workers, independent consultants, contractors, small business owners, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and others who fly solo in today’s business world. 

Increasing remote team productivity in a private office space  

Studies on coworking environments show strong productivity gains among their members. For example, a recent industry analysis found that 78% of coworking members report increased productivity when working in a shared workspace compared to working elsewhere. 

These environments reduce common work-from-home distractions while offering flexible workspace options and professional amenities (dedicated desks, quiet booths, and meeting rooms) that help people stay focused throughout the day.  

For me, it’s the perfect workspace with the presence of other motivated professionals and remote teams. This creates a sense of accountability and energy, which leads to better concentration and focus.  

Improving the mental health of hybrid and remote workers 

Another benefit of shared office spaces is the positive impact it can have on your mental health. Being around other professionals, even if they are employees from different companies, can help to reduce feelings of isolation and increase motivation.

Simply having casual conversations and sharing ideas with others in a collaborative environment can make the workday feel more energizing. Mental Health America emphasizes that supportive work environments and social interaction play a key role in reducing stress and improving overall well-being. 

Building enterprise-level business networks 

Shared professional workspaces are also excellent for networking. You never know who you might meet! A business owner, a marketing expert, a talent recruiter (like me) – people who may become a future client, partner, or job candidate. 

In today’s flexible environment of remote and hybrid working models, shared office spaces provide the best of all worlds – independence, community, new opportunities, and professional growth.  

Gain access to my thriving community of top-tier talent 

I’m Ed Gromacki, Senior Recruiting Partner with Goodwin Recruiting, a Forbes Best Recruitment Company. Talent recruiting is above all else a people business, a tenet that defines my professional purpose and working style.  

As you might gather from this article, my approach is rooted in building genuine relationships. This is how the right talent gets aligned with a company’s organizational goals. 

Make a connection with me and let’s start a conversation about your hiring needs or your next strategic career move.