Ultimate Guide To Get Started With Virtual Coworking

Dive deeper into why virtual coworking is the future of work. Discover how virtual coworking can enhance your productivity and teamwork.
October 4, 2023
15 mins to read
Virtual Coworking
Litespace Blog
>
All Blogs
>
Ultimate Guide To Get Started With Virtual Coworking
Table Of Contents

Introduction 

Virtual Coworking is becoming increasingly popular as a collaborative work solution, offering employees a flexible and dynamic workspace for productivity. With the rise of remote and hybrid workforces, companies are now prioritizing understanding their employee’s needs and revamping their workspace designs beyond the conventional desk setups. 

Virtual Coworking is an interactive way to enlighten your employees' productivity and incorporate a new dynamic to remote collaboration. It brings an enjoyable approach to working together that emphasizes meaningful connections. As we navigate the post-pandemic era, these elements become crucial in promoting effective teamwork.

What Is Virtual Coworking?

Virtual Coworking, also known as digital coworking, leverages the use of technology to build an online community (remote community) of distant employees. It serves as a shared digital community or workspace where individuals can interact, create, collaborate, and work together. 

What Are The Benefits And Challenges Of Virtual Coworking?

Virtual coworking spaces offer flexibility and convenience for coworkers, allowing them to work from home or remotely. While the idea may seem strange, this approach has numerous benefits and challenges. Since easy solutions can help prevent them. 

Benefits of Virtual Coworking: 

  1. Accountability 
  2. Productivity
  3. Cost Efficient 
  4. Growth of Community and Company Culture 

Challenges of Virtual Coworking: 

  1. Technical Issues 
  2. Feeling of Isolation 

With all the benefits and challenges we still need to bring in a smarter way to build a consistency of working with a routine that makes our day better with remote and virtual coworking. With the use of SMART Goals, companies bring more to the table to learn and know what to implement for their employee's wellness. 

What Is The Difference Between Traditional And Virtual Coworking?

Traditional coworking involves individuals or small groups sharing a physical workspace, often in a communal office setting. People in traditional coworking spaces work side by side, collaborate in person, and have access to meeting rooms and common areas. 

In contrast, virtual coworking takes place in an online environment, where individuals from different locations work together remotely. Virtual coworking typically involves video calling and messaging platforms to facilitate communication and collaboration. While traditional coworking fosters in-person interactions, virtual coworking relies on digital platforms to create a sense of community and productivity among remote employees.

Virtual Coworking Spaces: The Future of Remote Work

Further Boost One's Productivity

Virtual coworking spaces include shared digital communities that can boost productivity in a number of ways:

  1. Virtual meeting platforms - giving way to real-time communication, as well as a more connected human aspect to virtual coworking, meeting over video conferencing platforms while virtual coworking can lend a productivity boost
  1. Mentorship and coaching - while virtual coworking, interacting and receiving advice from mentors can help with making work more efficient and streamlined with the advice from mentors
  1. Scheduled work sessions - with focused work sessions with colleagues, you can see increased accountability and productivity across the board as individuals are now held accountable in a social setting

These aspects aim to replicate the supportive and collaborative environment of a physical space, but while virtual.

To boost your team's productivity have a look at the strategies▶️Future-Proofing Your Work: Virtual Coworking Strategies

What Are Productive Hacks For Virtual Coworking?

Virtual Coworking encourages commitment to oneself and the group, motivating against procrastination. It taps into social commitment and mutual encouragement, making it a crucial tool for overcoming procrastination.

A well-structured work routine in virtual coworking can boost productivity, time management, and work-life balance significantly. It encourages a good work-life balance by aiding with the maintenance of a daily schedule, lowering interruptions, establishing regularity, and signaling the beginning of the day. 

This structure encourages an effective workplace to be organized and interactive with a healthy work environment. Simply Virtual Coworking is a productivity strategy implemented on employees who don't engage actively or interfere with tasks. Virtual coworking supports the employees in regaining a sense of social accountability and focus to complete the task. 

Who Is Virtual Coworking Good For?

Virtual Coworking for Remote Teams

For remote teams, virtual coworking spaces act as more than just platforms for work. They serve as virtual hubs where team members can collaborate, brainstorm ideas, and engage in casual conversations, mimicking the spontaneous interactions of a physical office. 

For employers, this platform ensures geographically dispersed teams remain cohesive, promoting smoother communication and collaborative workflows. Remote teams can take advantage of breakout rooms, shared documents, and real-time messaging, which help make distant work a unified and productive experience. 

Importantly, virtual coworking can help combat isolation, which is a common issue faced by dispersed workforces. It acts as a vital connection point that is driven by active participation and team-building, which can help instill a sense of belonging, boost team morale, and enhance the culture of remote work.

Virtual Coworking for Hybrid Teams

Virtual coworking is transforming hybrid work by connecting remote and in-person teams seamlessly. It promotes easy collaboration and inclusivity through real-time communication tools and connectivity. Whether employees work from home, from the office, or on the go, virtual coworking makes it easy for team members to sync up while transitioning between work modes. 

For employers, integrating digital coworking spaces successfully into the workforce requires choosing the right platform, providing training, and establishing clear usage guidelines. 

Looking ahead, companies can look to gain a competitive edge with virtual coworking, leveraging opportunities such as AI integration and worldwide accessibility. As a result, virtual coworking becomes not just a productivity enhancer, but also a lucrative opportunity for businesses, fostering connected communities beyond physical boundaries.

Virtual Coworking for Digital Nomads

Digital nomads are constantly on the move. They face the challenge of maintaining a stable work routine due to their active travel lifestyle. Virtual coworking bridges this gap between work and adventure by offering a consistent professional workspace for dedicated productivity. 

Some virtual coworking platforms serve as centralized hubs for nomadic individuals. They offer: 

  • A global community network 
  • Group focus sessions
  • Idea sharing and project collaboration opportunities
  • Networking events for like-minded individuals
  • Flexible connectivity from anywhere in the world

This helps nomads not only stay accountable and focused on their work amidst tempting excursions and surroundings but also overcome feelings of loneliness by adding companionship. Virtual coworking strikes a balance between independence and community, empowering digital nomads to maintain their professional commitments without sacrificing their love for exploration.

Enhancing Virtual Coworking with AgileTest

Merging virtual coworking principles with AgileTest can revolutionize agile team dynamics and testing protocols. This integration, focusing on enhanced communication and teamwork within AgileTest's structure, allows for increased flexibility, smoother operations, and more efficient test management strategies. For a deeper understanding, explore the full guides on AgileTest

Top Remote Working Communities for Virtual Coworking

Whether you’re looking to engage in deep work sessions or be part of remote working communities as a digital nomad, here are a few platforms to get you started on your virtual coworking journey:

Caveday Review | PCMag

Caveday

Centered around guided group focus sessions, Caveday enables participants to let go of time, enter the flow state, and focus on their productivity. Individuals from around the world come together in “caves”, where peers can turn off distractions, plan their work spreads, work under time sprints, and celebrate the small wins together. It’s great for finding flow, focus, and community all in one place.

Flow Club

The key to living an enjoyable nomadic lifestyle is balancing work accountability with the ongoing joy of travel. Flow Club facilitates this by empowering task completion using goal-focused virtual coworking sessions. Through goal sharing, Flow Club creates an accountability system that pushes members to get things done, leaving more time for things in life that matter.

Work Club

For some, having virtual coworking be part of the daily routine can be a key driver for productivity. Work Club fosters this through daily coworking sessions where individuals plug in for silent work, work under time blocks, and share their progress with other coworkers. Each session is uniquely tailored with curated music and scenery to create a similar vibe to working in a cafe or coworking space.

Nomad List - FAQ

Nomad List

A go-to platform for digital nomads, providing essential information about cities worldwide. It offers detailed city guides, covering the cost of living, internet speeds, safety, and quality of life, enabling remote workers to make informed decisions on where to travel. This resourceful community also fosters new connections, connecting global professionals for collaborative and productive online work experiences. Members can engage with like-minded individuals on Slack, organize group meetups, or schedule coworking sessions together.

What Does A Virtual Coworking Plan Look Like?

With a Virtual Coworking Plan, employees should have access to a dedicated online space where they can join virtual coworking sessions. These would include virtual meeting rooms or messaging platforms. Either through scheduled work sessions or working in “sprints”, employees are able to complete work in collaborative innovative environments. 

Be sure to have the following:

  1. A virtual coworking meeting space 
  2. Scheduled work sessions
  3. Calendar/scheduling tools
  4. Mentorship and guidance built into the plan
  5. Technical support

This way, employees can integrate virtual coworking into their workflow and further improve their productivity.

Why Is Coworking Culture Essential For Any Company? 

Coworking culture refers to individuals coming together in a neutral space to work. It can offer a multitude of benefits and is key to creating an environment where innovation and productivity blend. 

Coworking culture brings a mix of benefits to companies. It sparks innovation by gathering people from different backgrounds and fields, encouraging the sharing of ideas and expertise. Additionally, coworking spaces allow individuals the chance to:

  1. Connect with colleagues
  2. Create a network that can lead to partnerships 

The productivity in these spaces can inspire employees to stay focused, improving their overall performance and task completion.

How Is Virtual Coworking Impactful For Company Culture?

Company culture is a crucial aspect in creating a positive work environment while reducing employee turnover, and Virtual Coworking is a vital aspect. Since the pandemic ended, employee turnover has skyrocketed, and focusing on creating a sense of community while virtual coworking can foster feelings of belonging. 

With shared values among employees, talented individuals will feel more connected and will be more inclined to stay at companies for longer, while embracing and contributing to company culture. 

Virtual Coworking Software

What Is The Top Virtual Coworking Software?

Understanding how virtual coworking space connects employees through platforms and software creates soft connections to collaborate in a virtual work environment. Virtual Coworking Software looks at the many aspects that support employees to communicate with their teams.  

The top virtual coworking software that employees have been using at work:

CoFocus

CoFocus is an excellent online platform that links people for 50-minute video sessions, boosting productivity and accountability through mutual support and encouragement. It is simple to use and incredibly successful thanks to its user-friendly design and customizable scheduling.

💡Join the CoFocus Community for free.

FocusMate

By linking you with other professionals who have vowed to be accountable for finishing their most essential job, Focusmate transforms the way you work. Focusmate matches you with an accountability partner for a live, virtual coworking session so that you can stay on track when you set a time to work.

💡Coworking Community Free to Join 

Focus Sessions

Your productive 90 minutes, a free tool that assists online coworking. You can do your most crucial task with the aid of focus sessions. Focus Sessions can be useful if you struggle to focus on tasks when notifications or reminders, chats, and phone calls. They give you the chance to focus and complete tasks for a predetermined amount of time without any of these interruptions.

💡Join a Coworking Membership Group

These 3 virtual coworking software have made interactive platforms to work remotely. This method has been applied to hybrid and remote work models. Many companies are still in remote work models, especially those startups that are taking advantage of these software. 

Why Is It Important To Use Virtual Coworking Software for Businesses, Companies, and Entrepreneurs?

As mentioned before, virtual coworking software makes remote or fully online work models to have an innovative and interactive work model approach. These software provide any company or business owner with a viable working space that is innovative and seamlessly interactive for their employees. 

These software provide businesses, companies, and entrepreneurs to pitch in an innovative online work approach to build their work environment with full flexibility and build their online presence. 

This approach brings its own advantages for any business, company, and entrepreneur that are: 

  • Lower Cost: increases ROI 
  • Scalability: the cloud software either connected with the virtual coworking software, which makes it hassle-free. 
  • Sustainability and Flexibility - the increase of hybrid teams in virtual workspace reduces the use of paper and makes digital documents shared in seconds 

The importance of virtual coworking software provides flexibility working from anywhere with a stable connection to wifi and digital wellness to improve efficiency, collaboration, and security. 

Interactive Games For Virtual Coworking  

What Is The Importance Of Virtual Coworking For Team Building?

In traditional office settings, having an interaction is as easy as hovering over to the neighboring desk, or striking up a spontaneous water cooler chat with a coworker. This is difficult to imitate in a remote work arrangement, where a face-to-face interaction typically relies on an arranged meeting session. 

Virtual Coworking makes it easier for remote employees to interact with each other by providing a structured yet flexible environment where teams can collaborate, socialize, and form meaningful connections. 

With some platforms, the flexibility of these spaces goes beyond just virtual meetings and can include:

  • Collective sessions for independent or collaborative work
  • Brainstorming discussions for sharing ideas
  • Virtual events for celebrating momentous occasions or achievements
  • Team-building activities for building synergy and strengthening relationships

Not only does this encourage smaller teams to interact regularly, but it also offers a unique opportunity for cross-functional collaboration that can create a more cohesive and closely-tied workforce.

Imagine your team participating in exciting challenges or joining themed virtual parties—all within the same digital space. Sounds fun doesn’t it?

The Collaboration Superpowers Podcast explores this avenue in more detail through their insightful podcasts on remote collaboration. We’ve handpicked these two podcasts that elaborate well on virtual team building:

What Are The Top Games For Virtual Coworking?

Elevating virtual coworking spaces from mere workstations to thriving hubs of collaboration and camaraderie involves infusing a bit of fun into the mix. Engaging team members through interactive games and activities not only fosters a sense of unity but also transforms mundane workdays into exciting shared experiences. 

Below, we’ve curated an array of captivating games and activities tailored for virtual environments. These can be introduced during short breaks, after meetings, or as wind-down sessions to relax from work. From brain-teasing challenges to creative pursuits, these options are designed to bring your team together, spark laughter, and enhance the bonds that make remote teamwork truly exceptional.

Personality-Based Games

A game of “Who’s most likely to” can be a perfect ice-breaker for remote team members, who maybe only know each other on a basic work level. A moderator from the team can prepare a list of questions beforehand that may showcase work behaviors during and outside of work. For example, “Who’s most likely to have the best Zoom background?” or “Who’s most likely to become a stand-up comedian?”. This game adds another layer of personality to your teams as members negotiate in creative ways to match themselves with certain traits. 

🃏Card Games

Looking to add a bit of friendly competition? Organize a virtual poker night with your team. It’s a great way to sharpen strategic thinking and encourage camaraderie amongst coworkers. Platforms like Arcadium and WSOP are two great options for free play and custom lobby access. 

For a more playful and relaxed atmosphere, UNO Online is perfect for sharing those light-hearted moments with your team. No one wants to get +4 stacked, so play your cards strategically.

🖼️Creative Games

Gartic.io brings your team’s drawing and guessing skills together by inspiring artistic expression and oftentimes hilarious interpretations. It brings a fun dynamic that teams will love and elevate morale as a result. 

On the other hand, Scattergories is a great word game that encourages quick thinking and creative responses. Given a starting letter, players race against the clock to come up with unique words within a set of categories. Players score zero points for duplicate answers so be prepared to put on your thinking cap for some unique and out-of-the-box answers.

🧩Puzzle Games

For smaller teams, Codenames is an action-packed word game. Each team is led by a "spymaster" who gives one-word clues, guiding teammates to guess specific words on the board. The challenge lies in avoiding the opponent team's words. It's a test of wordplay, strategy, and teamwork!

For a more profound problem-solving experience, look towards a murder mystery like Whodunnit. Participants work together to unravel clues in complex mystery settings. While it does involve a small investment, the game's themes are seemingly affordable. This immersive experience will not only provide entertainment but also result in valuable team-building outcomes, as participants learn to navigate challenges and high-pressure situations together.

Discover how you can further boost productivity, engagement, and team morale with these➡️ 5-minute Games for Virtual Meetings

Keys To Success When Working With A Virtual Coworking Team?

Creating a win-win situation for the Virtual Coworking team is to always look at the examples done by top corporations. During the pandemic, we look at how companies have curated for their employees to work from home and learn how to work virtually. 

For most of them, it was hard because they hadn’t received the proper training on how to use certain aspects of a laptop or computer and this provided more details on how there are technical issues too. That employees did not understand information about technical issues and needed more training to learn. 

Companies like Google, Amazon, and many more provide hands-on training for their employees to be ready to understand in these hard circumstances such as the pandemic. Here are tips for success when it comes to Virtual Coworking nowadays: 

  1. Experimenting with new findings brings new incentives and adaptive ways for employees. Also, look at the aspects that work for them, and we emphasize adaptability and flexibility. This is called the inclusive nature of the shift. 
  2. Adopting a daily routine and priority your values 
  3. Willing to try or learn new things 

Optimize With Litespace! 

Virtual coworking can be a great tool for increasing productivity. But what if there was a way to empower its capabilities even further?

Litespace has several tools that can facilitate virtual coworking:

1 - Hybrid Flexibility for Team Cohesiveness

With hybrid teams, the ability to seamlessly transition between remote and in-office work is crucial. Litespace's hybrid flexibility feature empowers coworkers to coordinate their schedules effectively, providing a better alignment between work modes for virtual coworking sessions. This ensures that teams maintain productivity regardless of their location.

2 - Automated Workflows with Smart Scheduling

In a virtual coworking environment, automation is a game-changer. Litespace’s AI-powered smart scheduling feature eliminates the hassle of finding suitable meeting times, allowing remote teams to focus on collaboration and meaningful projects. This results in higher participation rates, efficient time management, and ultimately, stronger connections among virtual team members.

3 - Effortless Virtual Event Planning 

Litespace considers team composition, interests, and goals to recommend tailored virtual events. This ensures that events resonate with the team, increasing participation, engagement, and motivation. Whether it's scheduling a collective deep work session, a team celebration meeting, or a virtual game night, Litespace makes virtual coworking planning a breeze.

4 - Seamless Integration for Maximum Connectivity 

Virtual coworking relies heavily on digital tools and platforms. Litespace's easy integration with popular platforms like Outlook, Google, Slack, and HR software ensures that your virtual workspace is well-connected with familiar tools and features, making virtual coworking sessions more productive and efficient.

Ready to elevate your virtual coworking journey? Book a demo call today and discover how Litespace can streamline remote-hybrid collaboration.

Aqsa Aamir
Aqsa Aamir

Aqsa Aamir is a Digital Strategist at Litespace and has a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management. Aqsa has experience in several areas of business and digital strategy. Aqsa's proficiency in creating hybrid work tactics to offer guidance in content planning. Her current focus is on hybrid work models and culture building in marketing. 

Explore Our Latest Blog Posts

See More ->

Get started for free
now!

Get Started
4.8/5
From 100+ Customer Reviews
LET’S TRY!
Light Green checkmark
Improve your employee engagement
Light Green checkmark
Seamless integration with all your favorite tools
Light Green checkmark
Around-the-clock support