Originally published January 14, 2019 & updated on December 15, 2020
What Is Coworking? An Outline Of The Basics
Stoke is proud to be Denton’s only coworking space, supporting the community of entrepreneurs, startups, tech-enabled companies, small business owners, freelancers, and other professionals in North Texas. Sign up for our newsletter or book a tour to learn more about Stoke and how we can help you through our educational and networking opportunities and online resources.
Read on for:
A definition of coworking
Related vocabulary
An overview of benefits that come with the coworking lifestyle
Innovative workspace
Flexible and affordable memberships
Resources in the workspace and community
In-house networking
Redefining The “Coworker” - Who Coworks?
As the term is used today, when coworking, people work on their own while in a shared office-style space. The number of coworking spaces across the nation and in North Texas has grown steadily in the past few years with improvements in communication technologies that support working remotely. Some coworking companies have hundreds of locations worldwide, or multiple locations in one city or state, while others, like Stoke, have fewer or only one location.
Traditionally, we think of coworkers as people in the same business, working for the same company, and usually in the same place; as the industry continues to grow, the typical “coworker” definition transforms along with the practice. When in a coworking space, your work and projects probably differ significantly from the work of the person two desks over.
People who use coworking spaces range from freelancers and remote workers to entrepreneurs at various stages of their business and startups looking for a place to have roots and grow their teams. Even corporations are considering coworking as a viable option for their companies, especially as remote work has become a necessary option.
Coworking Vocabulary
You might see or hear some of these terms associated with coworking pop up:
Hot desks/hot desking
The term “hot desk” actually derives from “hot-bunking” a practice in which sailors, during different shifts, used the same bunk
Shared desks
Similar to the “hot desk” concept, in which you might not have the same desk that you had yesterday
Remote worker
A remote worker is someone who doesn’t necessarily have to go to the office to fulfill their job duties (remote workers can also be contract workers)
Nomad worker
See remote worker above
Digital nomad
Much like a remote worker, a digital nomad works remotely and has the option to travel to different places while using various communication forms to stay connected to their team or business
Freelancer
One who acquires clients who need work/products from them in their area of expertise, who also has the freedom to work from home and outside of the conventional office setting
2. Enjoy An Innovative Workspace
The coworking model includes social and collaborative aspects that executive suites and typical office settings lack. Though some coworking spaces do offer private offices, the main function of the space is to offer flexible, affordable, comfortable seating and desks at which people can work uninterrupted and without distractions.
Coworking spaces provide infrastructure (dedicated or coworking desk space, conference rooms, break room, and event space) and services (high-speed internet, printing, mailing and receiving) that professionals no longer have to worry about setting up.
Many coworking spaces are located in the heart of the city, or in proximity to culturally important and inviting spots in their towns. Stoke is located just a few blocks from historic Downtown Denton and next to the DCTA at the Railyard, an area of Denton rejuvenated in the 2010’s and that has become home to startups, creative agencies, a residential building, and even a vegan diner.
There’s also something to be said about the psychology behind coworking among other people who are driven and motivated, which in turn benefits you. At a coffee shop or at home, distractions abound. At a space designed and designated to be a productive place to work, you meet individuals who have similar goals #getworkdone, though they are likely working on tasks different from your own.
Be it the coffee break conversation or discussion during member events, people in coworking spaces have a built-in support network that can be far-reaching.
3. Choose From Flexible And Affordable Coworking Memberships
As a member in a coworking space, you have shared amenities, such as the kitchen, lounge areas, and standing desks, as well as perks pertinent to your individual work and needs, like conference rooms to bring in the remote team or a phone call room for confidential calls and privacy.
Different coworking companies have varying membership levels that are dependent upon factors like amenities offered and prices in the region. At Stoke, we offer virtual, coworking, nights & weekends, and dedicated membership options for professionals who seldom, often, or frequently need to work in a productive, focused atmosphere and need access to our amenities.
If you want to try coworking before committing to a membership, you can purchase a day pass!)
4. Use Coworking Space Resources
The “collaboration over competition” concept is part of the coworking philosophy. Stoke isn’t just a physical workspace for professionals in the Denton community, but also a resource in terms of offering monthly educational events, home to the Denton Angels, Denton’s first angel investor group, and providing online resources and information.
Whether you are a freelancer looking to build your personal brand and gain more clients, or a small business owner working on your business plan, Stoke works to offer programming from which you can benefit and learn new things for your business. Members at Stoke have first (and free or discounted) access to events like these.
Lunch + Learn
Lunch + Learn events are hour-long sessions from 12 - 1 PM for attendees to learn from experts who speak on topics pertinent to owning and running a small business, developing a brand story, hiring and human resources, and more.
Speakers can be Stoke members, experts from the universities in Denton, mentors, and community partners who have wisdom to share. Lunch from a local Denton restaurant is provided by Stoke. #supportlocal
5. Take Advantage of In-house Networking
Need a community to help you build yours? Coworking spaces attract a variety of professionals with diverse skills and backgrounds. You’ll find web developers, graphic designers, and freelancers in the coworking space, working separately, but together.
At Stoke, we host monthly events like member huddles and happy hours, where you can meet people who you work around every day and share wins and successes, or needs and challenges. You might find someone in the very place that you work who has the skillset or contact to help you with what you need.
Keep Up With Stoke Coworking
Stoke is a workspace designed for optimizing your time and increasing productivity. Follow @stokedenton on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to hear about upcoming events and Stoke news.