Depending on your personal preference or default disposition, we all have a love/hate relationship with socializing. Fortunately, we have plenty of opportunities to practice our social interaction skills as we gain more experience in the professional world — especially if you work in a shared office space.

HOW DO CONVERSATIONS WORK IN A COWORKING SPACE?

While there’s considerably less noise and distraction in a coworking space compared to working from a café or at home, don’t expect total silence. In fact, some talk is expected and encouraged!

Coworking spaces, such as LOFT, are hubs for productivity and collaboration where you can focus on getting your best work done. Most of these coworking spaces hold regularly scheduled events where members can get to know each other, expand their network, and perhaps form partnerships.

However, you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to meet your coworkers. Start a conversation by the coffee machine or exchange pleasantries at the pantry! You never know who you’re going to meet.

EASY CONVERSATION TIPS FOR THE SHARED OFFICE SPACE

In a shared office space, there’s a low hum of conversation that is generally acceptable in a working environment. Still, people aren’t always up for a conversation when they’re busy concentrating on their work.

You can often tell if someone is open to socializing or not, such as when they’re wearing headphones, typing furiously on their computer, or staring contemplatively into the distance. These are tell-tale signs that they’d rather be left alone. But if their eyelids have been drooping for the last 10 minutes, it’s probably okay to start a conversation… and they’ll probably welcome it, too!

If you need to brush up on your social skills in the office,  here are a few reminders:

• Keep an open mind.

• Start with a smile.

• Remember to introduce yourself first.

• Learn (and try to remember) the other person’s name.

• Listen to understand.

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION WITH A COWORKER

Ever had one of those awkward conversations where you’re being bombarded with questions by someone you barely know? As though you’re in a job interview? Or do you find yourself in the position of the interviewer, battering an office acquaintance with HR-like questions?  Not to worry, we’ve got a fix for it.

Instead of probing someone you just met by asking intrusive or highly personal questions, share details about yourself first.

If you’re not sure how to approach your fellow coworkers, here are some interesting conversation starters:

• How was your commute this morning?

  • Break the ice with this oh-so-relatable subject. With the heavy traffic in the metro, we’re only too familiar with commutes that take an average of two hours. There’s nothing like a mutual pain point to bring people together.

• How long have you worked here?

  • With this open-ended question, you can safely ask about the kind of work they do. Or you can tell them about your job and hope they respond in kind. Either way, you’ve started a conversation relevant to the time and setting.

• How do you usually start a workday?

  • Remote workers and freelancers often have a system they follow to incorporate a bit of structure into their daily routine. Having a routine can help maximize their time for each task and avoid putting them off.

• What job would you be terrible at?

  • Get acquainted by showing your vulnerable side! Sharing something that you’re not good at can encourage people to open up to you faster.

• What’s the best/worst thing about your work?

  • Everyone has something they like and dislike about their jobs. And while it’s easy to start complaining about the bad stuff, try to steer the conversation into a constructive direction. You don’t necessarily have to solve their problems — simply listening to them can already help.

• What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to?

  • This is a great question to ask during your downtime. It doesn’t even have to be related to work. It can be about a hobby you’d like to pick up, a skill you want to develop, or a vacation you’ve been dreaming about. It’s a great way to get back to work motivated and positive.

• If you were to start a business, what would it be?

  • This can open a conversation about interests and skills. And this conversation has the potential to lead into a discussion on collaboration and partnerships, so we highly recommend asking it.

• After a long day, how do you relax?

  • While this might be a question better asked at the end of the day or week, it does set a positive tone to your conversation. Talking about something you’re looking forward to can be motivation enough.

Not everyone can be a social high flyer. But while we don’t expect you to be the best conversation starter ever, your ability to keep a conversation going helps a lot.

You may find yourself being eased into more clusters at social or business events. Even basic niceties can benefit you in some way. But do try to come up with a better lead than “Nice weather we’re having today.”

Put your social skills to the test at LOFT’s flexible workspaces. They’re great spots to start conversations with fellow entrepreneurs or like-minded folk and, perhaps, expand your network. Book a desk today! Send an email to [email protected] to schedule a tour of our space.