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Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

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Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#241

Post by kerkeslager »

mourner wrote: post #237
kerkeslager wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No one talks to anyone from other companies, to the point of awkwardness. I often see two people in the kitchen area from different companies and it can be a bit like a comedy sketch as they try to get their kitchening done without acknowledging the other person exists. Absurd, why don't people talk to each other. Especially people you see every day! Having worked in a number of shared workspaces: while this does s…

Hey, any recommendations for a conversation starter in a coworking kitchen?

Just ask a question about the person, people are almost always happy to talk about themselves. Something not too personal, and ideally related to something present--i.e. if there's something going on in the kitchen or whatever. In the most general case, you're in a coworking space and their ostensibly working for a company there, so "Hey, I noticed you around and was curious about what your company does?" is generally pretty easy. Or if it's obvious what their company does, "Hey I noticed you around and I was curious about what you do at Foo Company?"

Don't overthink it, it's just a conversation and the worst that happens is you return to the awkward silence that was there before.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#242

Post by kerkeslager »

opo wrote: post #221
kerkeslager wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've worked as a software engineer for over a decade and most of that time was spent in open office spaces. I am most productive in that environment. I don't doubt that you are more productive in a different environment, but it's a pretty big leap to assume that every engineer is going to be productive in the same environment. Different people work different ways, and the answer is to find a workspace that suits you,…

There is pretty much overwhelming research that people are more productive and healthy at work when they have some privacy and don't have distractions. One example - a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology of more than 40,000 workers in 300 US office buildings: "...Enclosed private offices clearly outperformed open-plan layouts in most aspects of IEQ (Indoor Environmental Quality), particularly i…

> There is pretty much overwhelming research that...

Okay, but general studies that lump everyone together as if everyone works the same doesn't really address the point that people have different work styles.

> The best environments I have seen are when there are individual offices with plenty of open areas and conference rooms for people to meet.

A mixed shared/private workspace is exactly what I've proposed elsewhere in the thread.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#243

Post by isostatic »

dorian-graph wrote: post #37
LandR wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I finish at 4... But everything else you say is correct. Headphones are a must in a shared office.

From my experience, finishing at 4pm in London is not common.

8-4 for parents, to beat the rush home

10-6 for youngsters, then to the bar to beat the rush home.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#244

Post by isostatic »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #8
gnclmorais wrote: post #3

> WeWork offers freelancers a chic workspace and beer on tap—but are people productive? Not really. That was my experience at a WeWork space in London. It was not quiet (glass walls), it was hard to focus, social events starting at 4pm (who finishes work at that time?), and if you end up being close to the common spaces, near the kitchen… well, I suggest you get a good pair of sound cancelling headphones.

Noise cancelation does nothing for kitchen noises. They only silence things like fans or HVAC systems.

Massive difference on planes and trains of course, but the beat type of noise cancelling is noise removal.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#245

Post by Libturd »

kerkeslager wrote: post #241
mourner wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, any recommendations for a conversation starter in a coworking kitchen?

Just ask a question about the person, people are almost always happy to talk about themselves. Something not too personal, and ideally related to something present--i.e. if there's something going on in the kitchen or whatever. In the most general case, you're in a coworking space and their ostensibly working for a company there, so "Hey, I noticed you around and was curious about what your company does?" is generall…

lol, literally teaching shut-ins how to socialize. this site is AMAZING.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#246

Post by nitrogen »

dionidium wrote: post #180
nitrogen wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If everyone is complaining about their office being too noisy, how can an even noisier pub be more relaxing than that?

You're asking why people are OK with a noisy pub but not a noisy office? Surely you can see the difference if you try.

The difference I see is that a relaxing drink in a less noisy office would be more relaxing than the same drink in a more noisy pub

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#247

Post by whatever_dude »

LandR wrote: post #27

I work in a shared office / coworking space. We have 3 desks in a large open plan office with a kitchen area. It's about 10 feet from my desk. Most of the time it's just me from our company as the other devs work from home or work out the main office. My experience of working in this shared space: * It's noisy. I mean really noisy, noise cancelling headphones are a must. Like I said the kitchen area is near my desk,…

> The kitchen area, despite being an office staffed with supposed professionals, is always a mess.

This is a pet peeve of mine. What the hell, people? I feel like in a lot of "cool" spaces, people working there are just kids that expect their mom to take care of their space, so they don't care about dishes or cups lying around. Hey, you don't have to do all chores, but at least move your stuff to the dishwasher or sink! Geez.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#248

Post by briandear »

LandR wrote: post #27

I work in a shared office / coworking space. We have 3 desks in a large open plan office with a kitchen area. It's about 10 feet from my desk. Most of the time it's just me from our company as the other devs work from home or work out the main office. My experience of working in this shared space: * It's noisy. I mean really noisy, noise cancelling headphones are a must. Like I said the kitchen area is near my desk,…

> But working here I at least don't have all the distractions of working from home.

What kind of home do you have where all you have described is less distracting? Perhaps you ought to move!

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#249

Post by hnzix »

MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #130
creep wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! Men and women actually work better together than groups composed of just men or just women [1] [2] The thinking is, men prefer taking risks, while women prefer to limit risks. In cooperation, men can push women to see the benefit of a risk (and in turn she gains more experience of risk), and women can push men to hold off of risks that might be detrimental. Women are good at synchronizing group thought, in that…

Fully agree. Narcissistic men are annoying - I don't get how they seem to lack self-awareness, and they are toxic for teamwork. Not that women don't have their downsides, too - some can be neurotic, but at least the bitchy ones tend not to work in IT. I'm really glad we have a few female developers.

Well, if you're guessing people's personality you also have to factor in their star sign and the shape of their skull.

Re: Why It’s So Hard to Actually Work in Shared Offices

#250

Post by Libturd »

enolan wrote: post #191
gambiting wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't imagine worse environment for a tech job than the one where you have music playing out of speakers. Also - working on your laptop? Without proper monitors and upright sitting position? Nope, thank you.

Coworking spaces do not have a magical force field stopping you from bringing equipment or furniture in FYI

yea, because everyone wants to bring their expensive array of monitors and expensive chair and other accessories to a shared space.

lulz.

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