Businesses of all sizes operate satellite offices for different reasons. Whether an offshoot of a global corporation that’s building a growing team in a small or developing market, or a small to midsize company looking to expand its reach without taking on the additional overhead of a full-sized or permanent office, satellite offices often present the perfect solution to meet a business’ needs.
With the rise of coworking spaces in recent years, satellite offices are becoming even easier for companies to operate and are more enjoyable for employees.
Because of this, the benefits of operating a satellite office extend beyond just the obvious bottom line break or the convenience and efficiency. There’s now an undeniable benefit presented by satellite offices simply because of the nature of the environments in which they operate. Today’s satellite offices also create a hugely positive impact on corporate culture.
Here’s how.
They Create a Close-Knit Corporate Subculture
For employees of a big company working from a satellite office, there’s a different dynamic at play. The satellite office creates a tight-knit team mentality simply based on the small number of team members within the greater coworking space. While each team member – and the team as a whole – is part of the bigger company and corporate culture, they don’t spend their days within that atmosphere.
Even with overarching direction and goals being set by the company’s head office, the team understands that they are very much operating independently on a day-to-day basis and must rely closely on one another. Because of this, the team develops its own close-knit culture within the greater corporate identity.
Often times, satellite offices diminish the traditional hierarchy and create an all-hands-on-deck approach to success. Because colleagues work so closely together, the work environment shifts away from one in which managers delegate a task to a subordinate and wash their hands of accountability. Instead, the team works more collaboratively to ensure goals are being met.
The diminished importance given to hierarchy also makes managers more relatable and approachable to their junior staff. This rapport promotes a culture of communication that can streamline business processes and improve efficiency. Beyond the business benefits, it also encourages team members to share social relationships rather than just professional ones, in turn adding to the overall team dynamic.
They Stimulate a “Hustler” Mentality
Coworking spaces are filled with all kinds of businesses – with startups and growing companies representing a good portion of them. Startups are notorious for their “hustler” mentalities – they understand the work that needs to be done in order to grow a company from inception to success.
For the satellite team of a big company, this environment stimulates that work ethic by imparting that same “hustler” mentality. While they may have the resources of a big company behind them, they are often lower in manpower. Being surrounded by other smaller and growing teams creates a culture of hard work – a sense of the entrepreneurial grind – and offers the inspiration and support that can boost productivity to the levels necessary for success.
They Offer the Benefits of Diversity
Being part of a company means being part of a team – one with a shared vision and the determination to realize it. But that sense of unity and one-mindedness can also be limiting. In a company office, all employees operate within the same corporate culture even if they perform different functions.
Coworking spaces provide diversity that is, in large part, simply inaccessible within a single company. This goes beyond different personalities and different jobs and encompasses different backgrounds and different industries, providing a wealth of different insights and opportunities for collaboration.
A culture of diversity and open-mindedness doesn’t just make the satellite office a more interesting place for employees to work. It creates a culture of imagining new possibilities for a company that can translate directly into business growth.
They Provide New Business and Networking Opportunities
It’s no secret that coworking offices often have outstanding amenities and social features – from meeting rooms to lounges to party rooms and cafeterias. They often even social activities for the companies who work in them. These amenities and perks mean that coworking spaces are social places where professionals are able to network and collaborate to grow their business.
It’s only natural that satellite offices operating within a coworking space will adopt the traits of their environment.
Satellite offices create a culture of socialization, networking and collaboration that can amount to new business connections that may eventually materialize into leads.
Whatever the business size or scenario, employees who work from a satellite office are required to operate in a unique environment. Because of that, satellite offices have a unique effect on corporate culture. Whether it’s helping to shape the culture of a growing business or adding a unique touch to an existing culture, the satellite office environment can be an asset to corporate culture.
But if there’s one key point that can summarize the value of satellite offices to a company, it’s the amalgamation of the individual benefits: satellite offices in coworking spaces create a culture in which employees don’t just go to work to get a job done but rather a culture of hard work and dedication among employees that will drive the success of the team – and the company.
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