- Community manager roles in coworking spaces are hugely multi-faceted; the number of responsibilities will eventually lead you to think about what’s next in your career.
- In the next few years, it’s likely that more jobs will be created within the booming coworking sector, with more experiences up for grabs.
- There are also plenty of opportunities outside the industry to consider for next steps.
In the bustling world of coworking, community managers stand as the lynchpin of operations, their roles extending far beyond traditional customer service. They are the bridge builders who foster connections, the meticulous planners behind events, and the dynamic marketers selling the workspace dream to prospective members — the list goes on and on.
With a role so diverse and demanding, it’s no surprise that many community managers may find themselves contemplating their next career move. If you’re in this position, it’s smart to explore some of your future career possibilities.
Coworking at Large
Before looking at opportunities beyond coworking, it’s worth considering the astronomical growth predicted for the industry. In one of our recent articles, we shared research conducted by Coworking Cafe that showed how the number of flex workspaces in the U.S. increased by 10% in Q2 of 2023. This continuing trend “could lead to changes in commercial real estate and city planning, as the demand for traditional office spaces might continue its decline.”
Indeed, coworking is booming not only in the U.S. but across the world — but growth doesn’t just provide opportunities in the cities. Research conducted by the University of Northumberland in 2021 found that “continuing preferences for rural living alongside a desire to reduce commuting is creating new demand for coworking spaces away from traditional big-city locations.”
The rising number of new coworking spaces equals more jobs created within the industry. From becoming a pillar of your local coworking community, to building flexible workspace communities in the city, or having a big adventure with nomads at remote coworking hubs in far-flung locations, a plethora of community manager roles will be available to suit your desired lifestyle — even if your personal priorities are evolving.
Community Entrepreneurship
As a commitment to generating a true sense of community within a location, more coworking operators are pledging to employ local people in the community manager role. While there is generally no traditional career path to this role, a wide range of advertisements require an entrepreneurial mindset to align with their community, which typically includes business-minded folk.
Investopedia recommends that every entrepreneur should possess the following five skills: Communication, sales, focus, ability to learn, and business strategy. As a community manager, you’re developing many of these in your day-to-day job, like attracting and retaining members and supporting them in their business endeavors.
That the position requires this skill set can often become a challenge for operators, explains Gui Perdrix, as entrepreneurial individuals become flight risks. Community managers are typically undervalued and underpaid (with an average salary of London-based community managers being just over £30,000). A larger-than-life community manager will likely tire of the role, too.
But, Perdrix is “a big believer that communities are best built when self-driven,” and proposes that employers empower their community managers to take ownership of the workspace. It’s not uncommon in smaller coworking models. When employers recognize that their community manager is irreplaceable, they encourage them to grow in their role and build out the workspace and team that manages it, eventually finding someone else to fill their position. Before diving in, check with your employer that this type of opportunity exists and that you’ll receive the support you deserve.
The Managerial Role
Unlike coworking spaces where the community manager is typically the sole individual looking after a shared workspace, larger organizations generally employ teams to manage the workspace. Community managers can be managed by the role of an assistant manager or general manager, for instance.
The day-to-day responsibilities are split across a team, with the general manager handling sales and tours, the assistant manager overseeing daily office operations, whilst the event planning and community building is down to the community managers. The advantage of this tiered level system is that there’s scope to rise to through the ranks. For better or worse, this will likely come with the opportunity to work in another city or have more varied responsibilities and salary incentives.
Bear in mind that your role entails management. It’s a skill that companies often overlook, with Simon Sinek famously making the distinction that: “The real job of a leader is not about being in charge, it’s about taking care of those in our charge…I don’t think people train for this.”
He calls for individuals to go through a transition when becoming managers, where they learn how to become responsible for their people.
As a community manager, you’re already responsible for your people — your community. Does this better equip you for a managerial role in another sector? If you’re thinking about leaving the coworking industry, then a management role might be something to consider, depending on the relevant skill set and passion you have for another industry.
Do you see the opportunities?
Don’t lose heart if right now you can’t see a way to progress beyond your current position. A fantastic benefit of being a community manager is that you’re likely in charge of the event program in your workspace. Use this to your benefit, and find relevant experts to host workshops for your community that enable you to upskill, too.
The four recommended skills to develop as a community manager include data analysis, networking, social media, and digital skills. With the majority of jobs across the board expecting competent tech capabilities, upskilling your digital skills will help you move on to the next step.
The power of networking mustn’t be overlooked either. Coworking spaces are full of innovative entrepreneurs growing successful businesses. Forge stronger bonds, make connections within your workspace through community-building activities, and who knows — it might land you an exciting opportunity in the future, too.
