As we celebrate this year’s International Coworking Day, let us reflect on the values of coworking and how it is redefining the way we work. Coworking might be an unfamiliar concept to many but it’s taking the world by storm, over 2500 coworking spaces now operating across the globe. In Australia the number of co-working facilities has grown by over 500 per cent in the past two years to 65!
What are the core values of coworking? Openness, community, accessibility, sustainability and collaboration.
I’ve pulled out the ole coworking manifesto to share some points with you, because it’s truly fascinating stuff:
THE CHALLENGE
We believe that society is facing unprecedented economic, environmental, social and cultural challenges. We also believe that new innovations are the key to turning these challenges into opportunities to improve our communities and our planet.
THE SOLUTION
Coworking is redefining the way we do work. Inspired by the participatory culture of the open source movement and the empowering nature of IT, we are building a more sustainable future. We are a group of connected individuals and small businesses creating an economy of innovation and creativity in our communities and worldwide. We envision a new economic engine composed of collaboration and community, in contrast to the silos and secrecy of the 19th/20th century economy.
THE VALUE/THE CODE OF CONDUCT OF THE COMMUNITY
We have the talent. We just need to work together. Different environments need to overlap, to connect and to interact in order to transform our culture. In order to create a sustainable community based on trust, we value:
* collaboration over competition
* community over agendas
* participation over observation
* doing over saying
* friendship over formality
* boldness over assurance
* learning over expertise
* people over personalities
THE FUTURE
We believe that innovation breeds innovation. We will transform the world culture into one supportive of the entrepreneurial spirit, of risk taking, of pioneering into the unknown territories as the great leaders of our times. This requires education, entrepreneurship and a large network of creative workspaces.
We are reshaping the economy and the society through social entrepreneurship and innovation. Our communities are coming together to rebuild more human scale, networked, and sustainable economies to build a better world.
Sign the Coworking Manifesto here: