Workplace Psychology: Are Coworking Spaces the Right Fit for an Introvert?
We all have different personalities and not everyone is outgoing and extroverted which presents a challenge for those who have more introverted tendencies, especially when it comes to sharing with coworkers in an open plan office environment.
The modern working phenomenon of coworking is based around the idea that an office setup is designed to encourage a spirit of collaboration, open dialogue, and easy communication with those working around you.
The prevalence of coworking management software and a trend toward a style of office design that encourages openness is ok for some but if you are someone who could be described as introverted it might present a few difficult challenges.
Here is a look at the psychology behind coworking environments and how it can have an impact on introverted workers.
Coworking for the introvert: No need to panic
The overriding point to make straight away is that despite the fact that a venice coworking space, or elsewhere, is fundamentally designed to encourage an air of collaboration and communication it is not so much a challenge to operate under these conditions if you are an introvert.
By design, if you are introverted, you will most likely want to keep a lower profile and have more privacy. Often, coworking spaces are specifically designed to provide some quiet spaces where you can get on with your work without being disturbed or having to make conversation with others.
Using these spaces should provide the needed quiet space needed by most introverts and it is perfectly acceptable to request that you are not disturbed by alerting the management or host of the coworking setup.
Embrace the positives
The bottom line is that even if you have introverted tendencies and prefer to work alone without any disturbances there has to come to a point where you will need to do some networking in order to gain some new clients and build some useful contacts.
One of the positive attributes attached to the concept of coworking is the fact that you will be surrounded by people who are just as focused with getting on with their work without disturbance as you are.
This means that you can do some micro networking by having a quick bit of dialogue while you are making a coffee or fetching some water and not feel like it is a problem to break off the conversation and get back to work.
This working arrangement should meet the approval of plenty of introverts and a more natural approach to networking without a conversation being forced does seem like a positive.
Anything goes
Savvy owners of coworking office spaces understand that you have to cater to all personality types and that means that introverts want to feel comfortable in their work environment just as much as an extrovert personality.
A key point to remember is that introversion is fundamentally different from shyness and there should not be any confusion between the two.
A coworking space should ideally be a workspace where every person feels that their needs are catered for and that means providing quiet spaces that are suited to introverts and offering the facilities and conditions that mean everyone feels at home.
