Published Thursday, February 13, 2020
While you may think coworking is for just one personality type, that’s just not the case! The 2018 Global Coworking Survey found that “Roughly 1 in 3 members considers themself as ‘more extroverted’ and 1 in 5 as ‘more introverted’. Around 2% of respondents answered with ‘don’t know’.” There’s space for everyone!
Let’s meet some of the most common personalities of a coworking space:
Dominique is in it to win it. You’ll know her with a mega-coffee clutched in hand, phone (meticulously detailed calendar open) in the other, and confident footsteps marching straight to her chosen workspace. No matter what her peak efficiency times are, she’s in the space - in the zone! - typing furiously and crafting the next great startup. Glance at her computer screen as you stop by for a quick chat on the latest round of seed funding for [the next big thing] and it’s full of charts and graphs.
Her catchphrase: "The most effective way to do it is to just do it!"
Where she’s working at MatchBOX: at one of our many white boards, capturing ideas and moving them in a direction that’s forward-thinking and activates the group.
You know Irene’s arrived when you hear a cheery flurry of “hellos” as she drops her bag at the bar. Irene’s first coffee is a 15-minute exercise in community building as she chats about family, current events, and a couple of brilliant ideas thrown in. Her startup model is all about connecting people in whatever sphere of expertise she enjoys. (You’ll hear about it soon enough on your next coffee break!) Her projects are always creative and her spread-out workspace shows she’s got more ideas than hours in the day.
Her catchphrase: "Your first instinct is usually right."
Where she’s working at MatchBOX: on a stool at the coffee bar so she can be sure to connect face-to-face with a variety of people to keep her energized.
Stanford was initially hesitant about joining a coworking studio, but he soon found that everyone was able to create their own routine within the flexibility of the space. He’s usually the one working steadily in a conference room, surrounded by a mass of well-organized post-it notes outlining his startup’s next big move. He’ll occasionally come out of his room to grab a coffee or heat up a meal, but Stanford’s all about leveraging MatchBOX’s assets (like 30 hours/month of conference room reservations!) to get his projects done.
Sound like something that could help you be a better founder? Choose a time to set up a tour or submit an application to MatchBOX and find your space.
His catchphrase: "Work hard in silence. Let the success be the noise."
Where he’s working: in a conference room or the mezzanine - a comfortable and relatively secluded place to deep dive into the research and heads-down work he prefers.
You know whether you roll into the studio at 8:30 or 10, Carl will be there in his usual spot, getting things done. He’s happy to have you stop by a chat when he’s got a few free minutes, but he’s also not afraid to put both headphones in and get to work on meeting his deadlines. He’s a born mediator and can often be found pacing in a corner on a call with his employees, resolving issues with impressive tact. But no matter what, at 5 pm on the dot, he’s packing up and heading out. See you tomorrow, Carl.
His catchphrase: "Sometimes you just need to slow down, stay calm, and let things come to you."
Where he’s working at MatchBOX: near the YES sign, a reminder of his accommodating disposition but also removed from the busier main space.
Now that you’ve met them, come see the many different personalities of a coworking space IRL! Choose a time to set up a tour of our space!
