The upsurge of remote working, startups and digital nomads opened a market space for affordable office space with short term leases. Hence, the rise of flexible office solutions like seat leasing and coworking spaces came as no surprise.

Seat leasing solutions itself have been around for a while now and continues on helping startups have their first office and large corporations open up a brand new site. All the while, the boom of coworking spaces have been observed recently.

According to the latest survey, there is an estimated 13,800 active spaces worldwide. An additional 2,500 will be added and by the end of the year, more than a million people will have worked in one.

Its rise to stardom wasn’t only because of the demands for short term office spaces. Coworking spaces brought benefits to the table that were simply just too good to resist for freelancers and young professionals – stable internet connection, creative private and shared desks as well as conference rooms and free coffee.

As more and more communal areas open up around the world, it makes choosing the right space harder. In the sea of aesthetically pleasing spaces, here are a few things to remember in finding the perfect workspace.

“Want is different from Need”

Before making any decision, evaluate the current resources that you have and what you will be needing. How many are you in the team? Will you be needing a general seat membership or just dedicated desks? It’s also important to know how long your team will be renting the space. Make sure to check the terms and contracts of your initial choices.

Moreover, assess how coworking spaces can help you and your business. How will it help you reach your goals? Make sure that you don’t confuse your needs from your wants.

Take note of what you need to prioritize and use it choose potential spaces. Evaluate each one and pick what fits most closely with to both your needs and wants.

Location is a principal factor to consider when searching for the right workspace. Will it be easily accessible to everyone? From your team to your clients. Make sure that the commute will be pleasant – or at the very least, decent – for those visiting the office.

Create a list of ideal locations you’d like to have and find coworking spaces within the said area. Check out spaces located within central cities like Mandaluyong, Makati and Ortigas which have easy access points to different modes of transportation.

For things to work well, you have to be compatible.

High-end facilities, aesthetically pleasing interior and great ambiance; those will all be for nothing if you and your team feel out of place amongst the sea of busy bees.

With community and network as one of its greatest strength, it is important that the culture of your startup is compatible with the present community in your chosen space. Different surveys have that work relationships and culture on a professionals overall quality of life.

Search for coworking spaces that fit the culture of your startup perfectly. Visit the facility yourself and ask around members to get a better idea on how things run within the community and see if it fits you.

Picture your business 5 months later, will coworking still be enough for your needs?

It’s important to understand that what matters most today, might not matter tomorrow. Consider what you’ll be needing 2-3 months later and ensure flexible terms within the contract. Imagine how exasperating it could be to be stuck in a space that is too small for your team. Assess your future plans and integrate it with your current needs today.

Finding the perfect place to serve as home for your business can be perplexing – every minutiae of your needs must be regarded in all the decisions you have to make. But these desks and meeting rooms will bear witness to the success you are about to make.

Come and see what makes coworking spaces, actually work.

The rise and success of coworking spaces wasn’t groundless. It wasn’t unprecedented. If not, it seemed inevitable.

Since its inception, it had brought so much to the industry, from aesthetically pleasing workspaces to communities that foster passion, creativity and collaboration – something that most office space solutions don’t really have. Not to mention the numerous benefits it claims to offer to both enterprise and workers.

At the same time, its claims aren’t just empty promises. There are statistics, surveys and studies to prove that its advantages are very real. Still, how effective coworking spaces are to you and your enterprise depends on how you utilize it.

Here are some things that you can do to make the most out of coworking spaces:

Coworking Spaces take pride in the community it fosters within its communal areas. And a community of a hundred people starts with an introduction.

While walking up to a stranger and striking up a conversation can be difficult to some of us, it’s the very first contribution you can make as a new member of the community. You can try introducing yourself to those situated near you without interrupting them.

Don’t shy away from your coworkers, tell them about yourself and what you do. You never know what partnerships and business opportunities are hiding behind small talks

Don’t bore yourself out by sitting all by yourself in your desk. Allot time to be spent on community spaces and join them.

These areas generally emit a contagious energy from individuals chatting and laughing – all the good stuff social beings like us need. Not to mention that some of the best interactions and most significant connections unexpectedly take place in the lobby, the couches and even in the kitchen.

Coworking spaces would usually hold series of events which allow its diverse members to learn from one another. From presentations, workshops, networking events and even happy hours, all of these activities are conceptualized as an avenue for co-workers to freely socialize and celebrate at the same time.

Take advantage of the said gatherings so that you can get an overall feel of your culture. Bask in the energy and socialize with more members of the community. In addition to this, you can decompress and talk within your peers.

These events serve as platform for the supportive and collaborative feeling of the space.

Normally, there would be more than one kind of work area available in your space. So instead of gluing yourself to one desk for six months, try the different areas your coworking space offers. Try something new every day and change up where you sit. Move around a bit until you find your favorite place. Moreover, this allows you to get to know your space, giving you a sense of belonging instead of feeling alienated by unfamiliar space

As you get more familiar with the community and culture of your space, collaborations and partnerships can be foreseen.

Having such a diverse talent pool, there is a never ending flow of creativity within the room. You can develop ideas and projects with designers, developers, writers and so much more. These passionate and talented individuals can inspire you create and produce better output. Moreover, members can generously offer help with almost anything you need.

Endless opportunities can be found if we make the most out of everything. So why not open your door to so much possibilities with us!

Albert Einstein once said that “creativity is contagious”, pass it on.

Contrary to popular belief, creativity doesn’t really come from one sole place. It usually comes from a piece of artwork or simply, anything – that inspires one person to create another masterpiece.

Though not everyone has innate artistic abilities, anyone can be inspired by anything. If not, creativity itself, can be found in the most unusual nooks and crannies around us. It’s a contagious virus that can be passed from one person to another. The idea that creativity comes from quite literally tens of thousands of ideas is something that most offices want to tap into. Executives aim to create an environment for their employees and themselves as well that cultivates creativity and productivity.

According to a survey conducted among 500 members of the public, nearly half of the respondents have said that having different spaces for both work and de-stressing would be a great step toward improving their creativity and productivity. Office design and interior have been said to have a significant effect in an employee’s productivity, creativity and overall performance. Moreover, a large number of today’s workforce are demanding for more agile workspaces and expect more variety in their respective workplaces instead of being cramped to a desk and chair.

But how can you inspire people with a room full of plain desks and computers?

Investing in an office environment that would maximize the talent of a workforce would give great results in the long run. Though it would seem costly, it’s definitely something to think about. And though redecorating a whole office space can be tedious, change can start small.

Start by having a designated space wherein your employees can get some rest and relax. These said spaces can come in different spaces or sizes.  According to the same survey by the Dale Office Interiors Survey, one out of five office workers agree that having a space solely for relaxation at work increases productivity. These rooms can also help relieve neck or back tension and weariness of the eyes from staring at a computer screen.

In addition to this, you can also add a quiet space for private work. Though some employees’ can handle distractions better than others, some need a secluded place to focus. Over 17 of the respondents of the said survey reported that quiet spaces would improve their productivity that is often disrupted. Should a worker need to focus, they have a place to go.

With the demand of workplaces offering more variety in terms of office designs and atmosphere, a new kind of flexible workspaces sprung and became the latest trend in the industry.

Giving the employees diversification in workplace and office set-up, Coworking Spaces give home to creativity and productivity with open plan spaces, shared desks, private offices and creative meeting rooms. Moreover, these communal spaces foster collaborative communities among its members.

Recent studies and surveys have revealed that more and more freelancers and even teams from companies are moving into coworking spaces due to the positive impact it has on creativity, productivity and overall happiness of its members.

No matter what the context maybe, the overall environment a person is in contributes highly to its physical, mental and even emotional state. Hence, it’s not much of a surprise that businesses are doing everything they can to create a workspace that allows room for creativity and innovation.

Well known for its great white sand beaches, clear blue oceans and warm hospitality – Philippines have become one of the greatest tourist destinations in Asia. But in the recent years, the country has proven itself to be so much more than the perfect vacation getaway.

In the year 2015, Philippines took over Mumbai’s position as the 2nd top ranking BPO destination in the world.

With a workforce composed of highly literate young individuals and competitive labor rates, numerous countries around the world favor the Philippines as a good destination for offshoring – one of them being, Australia.

Most Australian firms prefer the geographical time zone the country has. Cities of Perth and Western Australia have the same time zone while there is only a two hour difference to the Australian Eastern Standard Time.

The country has a large number of well-educated workforce with over 600,000 tertiary graduates. Universities and schools encourage development by providing skills that companies need, like speaking the English language fluently which caters specifically to the requirements of the BPO Industry.

And with over 100 million citizens, majority of which are young professionals, the country produces over 450,000 college graduates every year. This continuously contributes to the country’s growing talent pool. Recent studies have said that over a million of Filipinos have worked in the BPO industry and the numbers are increasing exponentially.

Another factor that led the Philippines to become one of the top BPO destinations is its lower cost. From labor rates down to office space leasing, companies save a lot due to low cost of living. The affordable pricing of course is inclusive of great services and facilities.

The economic growth brought by the BPO industry also attracts firms to the country. Experts reported a prominent increase in the revenue of BPOs in the year 2016. Strategic advisory firm Tholons have recognized the consistent growth rate of contact support, finance and accounting in the country. In addition to this, significant improvement have also been observed in crucial areas that impacts the success of businesses in a foreign setting.

In another report, the Philippines sit between Indonesia and Vietnam it terms of how easy it is to start and operate a business in an Asian country. The country’s archipelagic landscape also contributes to how diverse the local economy is – offering different benefits and various capacities to host small to large enterprises.

With numerous tourist attractions near prime locations such as beaches, hot springs, resorts and spas that are only 2 or 3 hours away – you can relax when the city bustle gets a little too much for you without having to file for an extensive leave.

So why not try having the best of both worlds? Numerous seat leasing providers and coworking spaces in the Philippines’ prime business spots like Mandaluyong City, Makati City and Ortigas Center  – await you.

“Survival of the fittest”

For years, we’ve lived by Charles Darwin’s words – those who adapt with the opportunities and risks presented by nature will have better chances of surviving – and we’ve applied this in various aspects in our lives.

This, of course, resulted to a culture bred by constant competition. In school, we competed against our classmates for awards. In the University, we competed with friends and in certain circumstances, we compete with a few family members. That’s why it doesn’t come as much of a surprise when we compete with our colleagues in the office.

For decades, numerous companies have created an environment wherein employees compete against one another for bonuses, promotions and even recognition. This Darwinian approach to corporate culture have always received a mixed amount of commendation and criticism.

Studies have suggested that competition can motivate a person to improve the quality of their work and help boost their creativity. In addition to that, skills like willingness to push past boundaries, trusting one’s instinct and problem solving are being developed. These are the same skills needed for innovation.

It increases productivity – igniting a fire in a workforce and motivates employees to work harder in order to keep their position – and at the same time, it helps increase overall efficiency of the firm.

Competition also helps employees identify their strengths and weaknesses. It allows them to narrow their focus on what they’re good at and concentrate on improving the areas that they are lacking. In addition to this, it pushes individuals out of their comfort zones, makes them strive harder in order to become better and allows them to break boundaries.

Despite of the numerous statistics and studies showcasing the positive effects of competition, it is also important to note that every individual’s motivation and creativity can be accessed in various ways.

Authors of the book “Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing” quoted a research that says 25% of people have a hard time under too much competition and become disengaged but 50% of employees benefit from it. All the while the remaining 25 percent are not affected by it. They also mentioned that there’s even a gender gap as well.

When the environment gets too competitive, it kills morale, causes stress and fosters petty politics and backstabbing. It narrows an individual’s cooperation among his or her coworkers. The fear and anxiety too much competition elicits can affect how a person behaves – how the competition makes a person feel dictates how they would try to win.

Though it seems like finding out a way to get the right amount of competition that could be beneficial to everyone in the enterprise is hard, it’s best to strive for the middle ground.

University of Toronto psychologist Jordan B. Peterson said that competitive games are also cooperative games. Take for example basketball; each team are competing against one another and every member of the respective teams are cooperating to win the game. At the same time, each player from both teams are competing against one another to become the best player by the end of the game.

“Cooperative Competition” suggests that by working together, each member pushes the other to be more productive and produce better output. According to the author of the book The Leadership Brain for Dummies, cooperation among one another releases brain chemicals that enhance bonding, motivation and pleasure.

And as more and more members of the workforce demand for a little less competition and a little more cooperation, a new kind of workspace have been discovered.

Made to foster a community that values collaboration and lessens internal competition, “Coworking Spaces” is a new kind of flexible workspace made to house freelancers and young professionals from all kinds of industry. With an office space setup, it opens an individual up to the chance of meeting talented people from different places without the need to compete with them.

At the end of his discussion, Dr. Peter says “And the victory that you attain across the set of all games isn’t winning all the games: it’s being invited to play.” Winning confuses us and blinds us from the truth that playing among talented members makes the game more meaningful.

Are you ready to play along and win – or lose – with everyone? Join us then!