What is a Virtual Coworking Community?
Remote working is not going away anytime soon. Many companies adapted to the virtual style of working once the pandemic hit and have seen success. However many companies have reverted to in-office working and are implementing hybrid strategies to satisfy the employees who enjoy working from home.
But if there is one thing we all learned from the pandemic - after being quarantined for an extended amount of time, we miss being around people.
Working remotely can be lonely and unmotivating. Have you ever walked into a coffee shop on a Wednesday afternoon? They are packed with people working on their laptops who enjoy the atmosphere of being around people. Not to mention the afternoon buzz of a cup of coffee that they didn't have to make themselves.
Working in a coffee shop is much like working in a coworking space. This coffee shop is one example of a coworking space. It's a space for remote workers to plug in and effortlessly connect to the Wi-Fi while enjoying being part of a community. Coworking spaces give remote workers a chance to be productive while getting out and about within the community. Many coworking spaces have an enjoyable camaraderie about them as people are there to be productive and yet have the opportunity to build relationships with those around them.
But here's the thing: remote workers tend to enjoy working from home. 87% of Ohio remote workers surveyed said they would rather work from their home office than in a coffee shop, library, or coworking space.
If you are one of those who love working from the comfort of your home and being able to throw in a load of laundry between meetings - working in a local coffee shop or coworking space might not be an attractive incentive to remote working for you.
The question then lies: how are you going to build your network outside of the professionals at work if you don't put effort into attending networking events? 35% of remote workers surveyed in Ohio are thanking someone within their network for connecting them to their current opportunity. Without those connections they initially made - they could still be dreading a stuffy office cubicle instead of working from the comfort of their homes.
Connecting with remote workers specifically who live within your neighborhood or driving distance can be challenging.
That is where virtual coworking communities (like The Ohio Annex ) come into play. A virtual coworking community is a digital platform where those who work remote can connect. This is why we started our virtual coworking community: The Ohio Annex. Here - it is our goal to do one thing: connect and enhance the virtual workforce within the state we call home, Ohio.
This might sound like a ton of digital static, but what it boils down to is connecting Ohioans who live and work remotely. Whether you are a recruiter hunting for candidates with remote experience, a freelancer looking to connect with other solopreneurs, or a knowledge worker anxious to make friends and share a table at a local coffee shop, the Annex is here to help your network expand.
Our slack community provides opportunities for members to shoot the breeze, meet up for local events, and reach out for advice. No matter if you are comfortable in your home office, you are a coffee shop dweller, or a digital nomad who has roots in the O-H, being a part of the Annex, you have a community to reach out to wherever you are.
Besides the networking benefits of being involved in a virtual coworking community - it is a great way to beef up the involvement section of your resume. With the trend of remote working on the rise - it can be difficult to stand out in the crowd. However, those with involvement within remote communities outside of their professional lives have access to other remote experiences outside of their full-time jobs.
If you are looking to make new friends, advance to your next location independent role, connect to other professionals who work remote, or simply get advice on a topic from someone local - our virtual coworking community is a place you want to consider getting involved in.
Written from a cozy booth at Cool Beans Cafe, Medina | Ohio