M ost people in that coworking office could leave and get a 9-5 job tomorrow if they wanted . They are talented people . Therefore , it ’ s important not to treat the environment like a standard office , because that ’ s not what it is , because that ’ s not what they want . A coworking office is part workspace , part social center , and the key to successful networking is recognizing the appropriate time for each .
Take time to research the different options in your area and find an office with an environment that suits your needs . Some have more structure than others . Vladimir Vaculik works on the business development team at Connect-Network , and advises people to take advantage of both facilitated and non-facilitated opportunities . The offices where you ’ ll have the most success networking will be ones offering special events , presentations , and happy hours . Bring your business card and talk to everyone about each other ’ s projects .
The last thing you want to do is to try selling your product or service to the other people in the room . Instead , focus the conversation on finding out why they are using this space , and what they hope to achieve . By focusing on goals , you ’ ll be seen as a member of the community , and not someone simply trying to profit off it . Even better , they will think to recommend you to the next person they speak to who is in need of your service .
If your coworking office hosts special events , it ’ s a great idea to contact your community manager about hosting something yourself . Invite people to a launch party for your new project , or conduct a short seminar to teach a new skill . If you ’ re a writer , provide insight on a couple SEO strategies non-writers could use to improve their copy . If you ’ re an affiliate marketer , teach those less savvy to use a certain software or one of the analytical tools you ’ ve mastered . People will be glad that you ’ re providing free education that can help their business , and if they like what they see , they might just approach you to do the work for them . Do not invite everyone into the conference room to hear a presentation about just your business and accomplishments .
Your community manager could also be a valuable person to have in your network in case you ’ d like to connect with local businesses . He or she might know of someone nearby who would be interested in your product or service . At the least , they might be able to provide you with an introduction .
Don ’ t constrain your time for networking to only formal events . Taking an extra few minutes over a cup of coffee , or eating your lunch in the common area , are both opportunities for you to interact and get to know other people better . It ’ s important to focus your energy on people who will be sharing the office for a longer period of time , and not those who are just there for a day . However , regardless of who you are speaking with , no one wants to talk business all the time . Strive to find mutual interests and form personal connections to enable your relationships to grow .
If you are working somewhere that provides sleeping arrangements , chances are likely that others will be travelers interested in exploring parts of the city beyond the office . Use that to your advantage . Even if there isn ’ t a sleeping component and most people are local , you can still organize after-work meetups , or lunches during the day . People in coworking offices want to improve their work / life balance , so if you can improve their workday , you ’ re improving their life , and that ’ s the principle that should guide any networking activity .