Hey First name / there,

 

Rosee from Cobot here!

 

 

I had the chance to speak with one of the early leaders in coworking, Liz Elam, and bring her insights straight to your inbox, from big trends to everyday strategies you can start using today.

 

Coworking has come a long way. With 40,000+ spaces worldwide, it’s no longer a side note in office real estate. It is the future and present of work.

Hybrid policies, corporate demand, and AI are reshaping our industry fast. Yet the most resilient spaces are the ones that stay true to their values and double down on community.

 

 

“In talking to a potential member, they should highlight what makes them unique and double down on that.

 

And as far trends go, we’ve talked for years at GCUC about how physical health and sustainability are important. But what often gets overlooked is mental health. That needs to be a bigger part of the conversation, especially now.”

 

In her recent piece on 2025 Coworking Megatrends, Liz shares how AI is already reshaping operations, especially for smaller teams. From personalized onboarding to smarter analytics and churn prediction, automation is freeing up operators to focus on what truly matters: people.

 

The good news? These tools are not just for the giants anymore. Used well, they give independents a real edge.

 

But Liz also offers a timely reminder: comparison steals joy, if you let it.

Let others inspire you, but focus on your strengths. Your authenticity is your advantage.

 

And remember: inclusion, wellness, and sustainability aren’t extras anymore. They’re expected. That’s why the IDEA Project came to life, with a commitment to making the coworking movement more Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible, both online and offline.

 

Here are five strategic shifts to help your space grow with the industry:

 

Private offices pay the bills, but it’s your shared spaces and culture that make people stay. Bundle team suites with perks like meeting room credits, quiet zones, or a warm onboarding process.

 

3-day or “core days” passes (Tue–Thu) are perfect for hybrid workers. Throw in perks like locker access, phone booth time, or coffee vouchers for added stickiness.

 

McKinsey reports that hybrid remains the dominant model, but employer policies are inconsistent. This unpredictability creates steady demand for flexible third places close to home.

 

Virtual office memberships and meeting room rentals = low overhead, high return. Just make sure your booking, ID verification, and cancellation policies are tight.

 

Simple changes, like quiet corners, adjustable lighting, plant walls, and clear signage, create safer, more welcoming spaces. And they’re good for everyone, not just neurodivergent members.

 

Coworking was always about people. But now, members expect more than just friendliness; they expect inclusivity by design.

 

Use your software (like Cobot 😉) to follow trends in occupancy, revenue mix, churn, and reviews. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just consistent. Operators using data for pricing and churn forecasting are already pulling ahead.

 

I asked Liz what operators should look out for and how to respond. Here's her (very real-world) advice:

 

 

 

 

 

Still thinking: “Yeah, but I don’t have time/money/people to do all this”? That’s exactly the point. These strategies work because they’re lean.

Here are a few easy wins:

Extra Tip: With Cobot, your tools evolve alongside the coworking landscape. Whether it's new invoicing rules, accessibility updates, or local tax changes, Cobot adapts to keep your space compliant.

 

No matter where coworking is heading, AI, hybrid, or newer business models, the feeling that sets independent spaces apart has always been the same: community.

 

Through every shift and every stage of evolution, the spaces that thrive are the ones that stay true to their people. Not louder. Not shinier. Just real, thoughtful, and rooted in something bigger than square footage.

You don’t need to do everything. But you do need to do something, and do it with clarity, consistency, and care.

 

 

 

Build something no algorithm or competitor can copy. That’s the future, and it’s already here.

 

★ PS: Want to know more about Liz and GCUC?

 

Liz has been a defining voice in coworking for over a decade. Back in 2011, she took over a small event and turned it into GCUC, the largest coworking conference series in the world. 

 

She’s helped shape the industry from the ground up, always with one goal in mind: making coworking better for the people who live it every day.

 

If you're curious about how she got started, what she’s building next, and why she still believes in the power of community-first spaces, check out our interview from the Cobot archives:

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Reply to this email if you have any questions, disagree with something I said, or have a suggestion for a collaboration/future topic. I'm always happy to stay in touch.

 

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