Deskwanted, in partnership with Gidsy and Grasshopper, early this month launched a photo campaign called “Need a Better Place to Work”, with the aim of promoting collaboration in the workplace and mobile workers and, to that end, the coworking movement - an intrinsic and important part of the collaborative economy. Collaboration happens when individuals join together with a common vision. Without collaboration, innovation is impossible. Supporting the collaborative economy means supporting collaboration itself, but also individuals with great ideas, and the spaces that bring them together. Combined, they create the foundations for sharing, and we’d like to support that.
The mobile worker’s role in the collaborative economy
The modern day worker - whether they are a freelancer, entrepreneur or employee - can work anywhere. Thanks to technology, they have the possibility to work where, and when, they like. This increasing flexibility is an exceptionally important trend for the continuation of the collaborative economy, which is fuelled by connections between individuals from a range of backgrounds. In essence, the easier it is for us to move, the more chance we have to cross paths with others, and the more likely we are to find people with whom we can connect and collaborate. It hasn’t always been the case Looking back only a decade or so ago, the majority of the white collar work force was tied to their desk, rooted beside the same people each day, in the same department, with limited maneuverability, little possibility of meeting fresh faces, exchanging ideas or increasing their weak-tie networks. At least on a day-to-day basis. Advances in technology, however, has changed the face of the workforce, and shifted our understanding of the stereotypical worker. Laptops. Mobile devices. Smartphones. Wifi. Cloud computing. The advancement of technology has made the traditional office redundant, and as a result, we’re experiencing significant changes in international work trends. First, companies are becoming more flexible, and embracing new ways of work, allowing their employees to telecommute and work remotely. But more importantly, this technological advancement - along with a number of other important factors - has facilitated the rise in the number of freelance and contractual workers, who number over 50 million in Europe alone. It is this new wave of independent workers that has been the catalyst for the creation of the coworking movement, an important part of the collaborative economy. Without the mobile workforce, coworking spaces could simply not exist. Coworking spaces are places where individuals go to work alongside others. They increase collaboration between people who would otherwise be strangers. Coworking spaces are open spaces hosting communities of professionals from a range of backgrounds. Members of coworking spaces work alongside one another and are thus exposed to huge business and social networks. These new connections are gateways to collaboration, with many coworkers coming together to work on projects, share knowledge, and found innovating products. In fact, according to Deskmag’s Global Coworking Survey, 86% of coworkers said that cooperation was one of the most important values of their space. The community element was highly valued by 96%, meaning that the value of coworking spaces is actually the people who work in them.
Certainly, coworking spaces exist to this end, with the overwhelming majority of coworking spaces regarding community and collaboration as their main assets. They are certainly worth supporting. But given that the flexible worker upholds this trend, it is important to remember their role in the proliferation of the collaborative economy, too.
‘A picture is worth a thousand words’
‘Need a Better Place to Work?’ is a photo campaign that aims to do both of these things. It calls for people to take photos of themselves working in ridiculous situations, thereby highlighting the fact that coworking spaces are the best places for independent professionals to work. Each picture will help spread the word about the necessity of these spaces, which are giving the opportunity for freelancers, entrepreneurs and startups to network, share ideas, and collaborate. We at Deskwanted want to let people know that there’s a much better option to working from home, cafés, parks... and to let them know that they no longer need to work in place that simply aren’t meant for work. And we’d like you to help us. Have a look at the pictures that have already been submitted here. Of course, incentive helps.Deskwanted
- the largest international portal of coworking spaces (with over 1000 listed worldwide) - has teamed up with two partners that embody the needs of mobile workers and the collaborative economy, to create incentive for this important cause. A little bit about the other two companies: Grasshopper is a Boston-based virtual phone service, allowing entrepreneurs and freelancers to receive and manage business calls anywhere, anytime, through a landline phone number. There are tools mobile workers need to remain flexible and professional, a fixed phone-line is one of them. But this is not always easy. Grasshopper solves this problem, and is offering one winner in the US or Canada a lifetime account to the Grasshopper service. And the next ten best entrants will receive $100 off the Grasshopper service. For entrepreneurs everywhere, professional-sounding connectivity could get a whole lot easier. Reflecting the collaborative and social nature of coworking spaces, entrants from all over will also have the chance to win a place in a Gidsy activity of their choice to the value of 100 USD/EUR. Gidsy is a platform where anyone and everyone, all over the world, can search for, propose, and book things to do. The Berlin startup is a thriving example of how now, more than ever, we are using the internet to share skills, knowledge and experience in the real world.
Together, Deskwanted, Grasshopper and Gidsy combine to represent the mobile workforce, coworking spaces, and the sharing that goes on inside them. And we’re really proud of that. Join us in spreading the word about coworking spaces, and get people thinking about the possibility of working within a diverse community of professionals. To enter, take a photo of yourself working in a ridiculous situation and tweet it to @Deskwanted with the #NeedABetterPlace hashtag. And that’s it. You will go in the draw to win the Gidsy prize or the Grasshopper prize (if you’re in North America). And you’ll be able to congratulate yourself, because you’ve helped us spread the word about the collaborative and social movement that is coworking. Well done. All the photos will be uploaded into a Facebook album to be laughed at for many months to come, and the best 12 will be made into a calendar, hung up in coworking spaces around the world (are you Japan’s next hilarious sensation?) as a daily reminder that working alone is not the answer, and that community is the way forward. More information on entering can be found on the Deskwanted blog. Otherwise, head to @Deskwanted on Twitter with your photo and make us laugh. We’ll love you for it. Guest post written by Anna Cashman.
Communications for Deskwanted, head writer for Deskmag: I'm all about coworking, collaboration and community.