Fantastic Coworking: 4 Steps to a Successful Work Date
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In the “post-pandemic” world we find ourselves in, it’s easy to think we’re pros at working from home. But let's be frank: sometimes you miss the “water cooler” chats or having company while you work. It can be kinda lonely going it alone. You might find that certain tasks never get done. If you’re in business for yourself, those things might be the tasks that build your business and promote it. If important tasks don’t get done, either your boss or your business will take issue with it before too long. But let’s not let it get to that.
There are plenty of benefits and pitfalls to coworking. Setting aside specific time is a classic productivity technique. The effectiveness of body-doubling is becoming well understood in the ADHD community. Similarly, some extroverts can fuel themselves with a good work date. On the flip side, the wrong coworking buddy or the wrong intention can be a huge drain. Setting a regular work date with a buddy is a great way to dedicate time to specific tasks. Plus you'll feel like you’re not by yourself all the time. That is, unless, one of you doesn’t work well with that kind of regularity and seems to cancel all the time. You can end up less productive than if you’d never tried coworking!
While we all might have dabbled in coworking, embarking on it strategically is necessary to reap the rewards. Here are 4 elements to consider to avoid common coworking pitfalls.
1. Define Your Coworking
Coworking sessions fall in one of two broad categories: impromptu or regular. They are about how it sounds: with a regular coworking buddy you set the same day and time every week (or month, etc.). With an impromptu coworking buddy it's more flexible. You and your buddy have had a conversation expressing a mutual desire to cowork, but on an ad-hoc basis. You've agreed to check in when you have a block of free time (or visa versa) and have a work date here or there.
It's a good idea to be clear with your coworking buddy as to which you're going for. Some people prefer one over the other. Others collect coworking buddies of either type and then wait and see what schedules will allow for. Any option here is fine. The key is to clearly communicate your intentions.
For both these types of work dates, all the same rules apply. As I elaborate on below: they should be a good coworking buddy, their location needs should be similar, and both of you need to respect the work date commitment.
2. Choose a Good Coworking Buddy
I hope it goes without saying that your coworking buddy should be someone you enjoy being around. Sure, you've worked around annoying people before. You can do it. But you left all that, right?! Yes! So make sure you choose coworking buddies you like being around!
But also, a coworking buddy isn't just any friend. They need to have a similar or complementary work ethic as you. Do you prefer to buckle down and silently churn out work? (Maybe you do this, but you're actually looking for a coworking buddy who will interrupt you so you don't hyper-focus?) Do you like your coworking sessions to have time for collaborative reflection on the big-picture aspects of business? How much social chatting should exist in your work date? Do you desire a coworking buddy who does the same work as you, or something very different? Do you just need to body-double? (I'm using "body-doubling to mean you'd have someone present who you’re aware is getting stuff done too. Your tasks may have no relation to each other's.)
At the end of the day a coworking buddy relationship is, like all other relationships, a two-way street. If you share the same industry as your coworking buddy, collaboration is likely to occur. Even if you don't share industries, it's likely you could talk shop about the "running a business" part of your work. Some of the best coworking buddy relationships are those rich with common ground. The perspective, clarity, or advice a coworking buddy can offer is very impactful. And the relationship will get strained if it only ever flows one way. Being aware of a disparity of experience or expectations between coworking buddies can help prevent and minimize this strain.
3. Location, Location, Location
Pick a location where you both can focus. If you can’t get work done at your house when there are dirty dishes in the sink calling to you, then meet at a coffee shop. Conversely, if you find the noise of a coffee shop distracting, meet at your or your buddy’s home or office. Or avoid the risks of meat-space altogether and meet over Zoom. Similarly, if working with/without background music is important to you, it works best when your coworking buddy has the same needs.
If you can anticipate any of this beforehand, do. Check in with your needs and your preferred working style. Also, check in with your buddy and their preferred working style. To help you identify and communicate your needs, download my free Coworking Plan Worksheet.
Check back in about these factors during or after a work date. If your chosen location is suddenly less suitable, you might need to relocate. Also, check in afterward. We don't always notice what makes a good work environment. Refining a location choice over time might help your productivity.
4. Commitment
Part of the magic of a work date is that it can help you get to tasks that you're not prioritizing for whatever reason.
I think people sometimes think that setting a regular work date is “outsourcing” your commitment. In other words, your buddy will help hold you accountable for the tasks you're not making time for. It’s likely they will, but keep in mind it’s a two-way street. In effect, you’re “trading” commitments. Sometimes it’s hard to make a commitment to yourself. By having a buddy, we make a commitment to someone else. Either way, the commitment is wildly important! Both people need to be putting energy in. Even with impromptu work dates, it's important to state your intentions and follow them. If you say, "Let's meet at the coffee shop in an hour," don't get distracted and show up twenty minutes late.
Sometimes we try and trick ourselves that this commitment isn't that important. We hope that the other person (or ourselves) still sat down to work on time even though we were late or canceled. We hope beyond hope that the work session is just as productive as if we were there. But, let me tell you: that’s a lie! It might work that way once, but it will be difficult to maintain the productivity in the long run. Our brains tend to want to think of it like a “snow day” and throw away the plans. If you have to miss a coworking commitment, be sure to honor it the next time.
Powerful Work Dates
If you've never tried a work date before, I highly recommend it. We as humans are social beings and we thrive with the right company. Not sure where to find the right company? I have a few resources:
Start with introspection, clarifying your needs and brainstorming possibilities. I've made a free Coworking Plan Worksheet download to serve as your guide.
Try a Focus Mate Session. They set most of the terms, ensuring that both parties arrive with similar expectations. This can be a great place to dip your toe in and see what coworking could be like. Oh, and it’s free for up to 3 sessions per week! If you want to expand off that app, you can always come back here to strategize your next coworking adventure.
Try my Accountability, Action, and Acceptance (AAA) Group. This group meets most weekday mornings at 10 am Pacific Time. I designed these short daily Zoom calls for those who are trying to get stuff done without the support of a boss. We'll get focused on achievable goals for the day, ensuring you make progress.
Dedicated time and a good coworking buddy can clarify and catapult your business in ways that are impossible to anticipate. Give it a try, you might be surprised!
