How to Build a Community When You Work Remotely From a Coworking Space

The most reliable way to build a community as a remote worker is to put yourself in the same place, with the same people, on a regular schedule. A coworking space with member events does most of the work, and a focused online group fills the gaps. The rest is follow-up: a short message after a good conversation counts for more than a stack of business cards.

Why does remote work leave people feeling isolated?

At home there is no office kitchen, no hallway chat, and no one to ask a quick question. Freelancers also lose the built-in colleagues that an employer provides. Research published in Harvard Business Review on coworking members found that many of them described themselves as thriving, and pointed to the sense of community and the ability to work alongside others who are doing their own thing. You can read the details in Why People Thrive in Coworking Spaces.

How do you choose a coworking space that has a real community?

A nice desk is easy to find. A space where members talk to each other is rarer. Before you pay, check these things:

• Scheduled events: member lunches, workshops, demo afternoons or skill swaps. Look at the calendar, not just the brochure.
• A community manager: someone whose job is to introduce members to each other.
• Layout: a shared kitchen or lounge encourages casual chat; rows of silent desks do not.
• Member mix: people in your field, or in fields you want to learn from.
• A trial option: a day pass or trial week lets you see whether people actually speak to each other.

Our piece on using coworking spaces to host workshops shows how much a space can offer beyond desks.

How do you start conversations when you are new?

Do not aim for networking. Aim for becoming familiar.

1. Work from the shared area at the same times each week so people start to recognise you.
2. Say hello to the same two or three people each visit.
3. Ask a specific, easy question: what are they working on, or how did they find the space.
4. Go to one scheduled event in your first fortnight, even a short one.
5. Offer something small, such as a recommendation, an introduction or a tool you use.

If you are shy, events with a structure, such as a talk or a workshop, give you something to discuss without needing small talk.

Which online communities are worth joining?

Online groups work best when they are narrow. A group for your profession, your tools or your city will give you better answers and more relevant contacts than a huge general forum. Platforms like Meetup also list local in-person groups, which is a simple way to move from screen to room.

Pick one or two groups and take part properly. Answer questions you know, ask clear ones of your own, and stay long enough to be recognised. Joining ten groups and reading none of them builds nothing.

How do you turn acquaintances into a network?

Most connections fade because nobody follows up. A simple routine helps:

• Within two days: send a short message that mentions something you actually discussed.
• Every few months: share something useful, like an article, a job lead or an introduction.
• When you can: meet for coffee or work side by side for an afternoon.
• Keep notes: a line about what each person does and what they need makes later messages easy.

Give before you ask. People remember who helped them, and a network built on favours offered freely holds up better than one built on requests.

What if you travel and cannot stay in one space?

If you move between cities, the same habits apply on a shorter timescale. Join the community channels of the space you use, go to an event in your first week, and keep the contacts alive afterwards. Our guide to finding meetups while you travel covers that case in more detail, and the portable home office kit helps you work comfortably wherever you land.

How do you know it is working?

You will notice small signs: people greet you by name, someone saves you a seat, a member sends you a lead, or you have a person to call when a project goes wrong. Those signals matter more than the number of contacts you collect.

If after two months nothing has changed, try a different space or a different event type rather than giving up on the idea. The right room makes a big difference.

The short version

Choose a space with an active calendar, turn up regularly, join one focused online group, and follow up with the people you meet. Community for remote workers is built by repetition, not by one big networking night.