Maslow’s hierarchy of Co-working

Maslow’s hierarchy of Co-working*

               *with apologies to Abraham Maslow

You may be familiar with Maslow’s slightly more well known hierarchy of needs.  I thought we might try to re-imagine it for the hybrid working era.

Let’s start at the bottom

“Get the basics right”

Obviously a co-working space needs to be somewhere you can work well and comfortably.  So we need desks at the right height with access to power.  Chairs that are ergonomically designed and easy to use.  Reliable and fast Wi-Fi is an absolute essential.

But how about a comfy sofa area where you can sit and chat?  And wouldn’t it be better if the whole thing was put together thoughtfully and aesthetically so that it felt like a nice place to work.

“Reliability”

In your working life you require a certain amount of predictability and control.  A pricing structure that gives you as much access to workspace as you need and which you can change as your needs evolve.  Meeting rooms that have all the electronic stuff that modern meetings demand yet give you an environment where getting together in person can be a pleasure and an effective business tool.  Acoustic Zoom booths (other remote meeting systems are available!) so you can communicate with some privacy.

“Belonging”

A good co-working space exists within a local community and creates a community of members.  The space should have links to other local businesses and shops so that working near to home is a convenience as well as reducing time, money and carbon spent travelling. 

At the same time linking member to member is an important service.  A sense of friendliness and sociability enhances a workplace whilst more functional opportunities to network and share experience add value to the working day.

“Productivity”

Co-working offers a professional space which gives you that bit more confidence than working from the kitchen table.  At a very practical level avoiding the distractions of the home allows you to use your time more fully.  In a more psychological sense coming through the ‘office’ door allows you to get your working head on and to concentrate on the job in hand.  You are also in the company of other people who are getting on with their work so there is a spirit of shared productivity.

“Sense of purpose”

Getting everything above right will help you to be your best professional or creative self.  Good co-working space shouldn’t just provide the basics but should foster an environment of achievement.

In addition, a co-working space that is truly rooted in its local economy will be helping to breathe life into an area.  Keeping spending local and cutting down travel time are both a boost to the energy and resilience of a locality.