It’s time to reclaim the word coworking.
Because somewhere along the way, it started to lose its meaning. Coworking became shorthand for flexible office space; for desks and hospitality; for proximity without connection.
And while the flexspace industry is an important part of the evolution of work, working near other people is not coworking.
The prefix “co” in coworking matters. It doesn’t mean working in parallel. It means together, with, jointly. It implies connection, a shared experience, and shared momentum.
Community is not a nice-to-have
Community can’t be sprinkled on as a nice-to-have in a coworking space. In great coworking spaces, community is woven into the DNA of the space. It shapes how it’s designed, how it’s run, and how members experience it day after day.
Coworking isn’t defined by happy hours, open seating, or common areas. It’s a value, a mindset, and an intention. It includes open coworking members, dedicated desks, teams, and private offices all designed around connection, collaboration, and belonging.
Proximity without connection is lonely
Seeing the same people every day without knowing them is not inspiring. It’s isolating. And proximity without community is boring, disheartening, and lonely.
It also leaves massive potential on the table.
What made coworking game-changing was never office and desk rental. That has existed for decades. What made coworking transformational was that a new generation of people came together to learn, share, and connect, with the freedom to work from anywhere and the desire to build something meaningful with the support of a community.
That potential still exists, and it matters now more than ever.
The best spaces are being drowned out
Right now, the loudest voices defining “coworking” belong to big flex brands and commercial real estate.
Meanwhile, the best coworking spaces in the world—the ones quietly building connection, belonging, and real impact in their communities—are being overlooked and dismissed as unserious, unprofessional, and unprofitable.
This is a false narrative.
Community-focused coworking is not the opposite of profitability. It’s one of its greatest advantages. Across the world, community-focused spaces are retaining members longer, creating deeper impact, and building healthier businesses while making a real difference locally and beyond.
This is not nostalgia. This is the future.
People are craving connection. Young people want in-person experiences, collaboration, and community. And work is no longer just about productivity, it’s about belonging.
The future is community. Not as a trend, not as a throwback, but as the guiding force for the next chapter of coworking.
And that’s why I’m proud to officially announce:
The Coworking Creators Lab is the next evolution of The Lab, which I launched in 2020. It is a leveled-up, more focused home for community-focused coworking pros who believe coworking is more than real estate.
This is not something new. When you join, you’re stepping into a fully formed community of coworking pros with 200+ years of combined coworking experience.
Inside the Coworking Creators Lab, we:
- Treat community as a core business strategy
- Share what’s actually working (and what’s not)
- Build visibility, voice, and leadership in the industry
- And actively shape the future of coworking together
This is a place for the people doing the real work of creating connection, community, impact, and belonging.
Your Invitation
If you believe:
Coworking is about what happens in the space; community is foundational, not optional; the industry deserves a clearer, bolder definition; and the future belongs to spaces that put people first, then I’d love for you to join us.
👉 Join the Coworking Creators Lab
Let’s reclaim the word coworking, create the next chapter, and lead together.
Further together,
Cat
If you’re working to create community in your coworking space, the Coworking Creators Lab is for you.
