New delivery of interviews with managers, this time, we have Luis Flores, manager of the Coworking space of Mostóles . You will wonder why for us it is so special. The usual thing is that the managers of the coworking centers are, in turn, founders of it, but Luis is different. When he decided that he would like to enter the coworking industry, and after a time of searching he found the perfect coworking, and decided to manage his transfer, starting this adventure.
What role does the figure of the coworking manager play?
I think that the fundamental role, because around him the course of Coworking will turn. I had a Coworker who, after being in a big Coworking, told me that he barely knew anyone, that he missed that, like when he was with us, someone would take him for coffee with more people or introduce him to fellow companions. I believe that the figure of the manager is the pillar of the relationship between Coworker and Coworking.
How does a coworking create an adequate ecosystem to obtain a faithful coworking community?
I think it comes naturally. If when the people come to visit it, the person who teaches it is he / she and represents the values of the space, quickly the user knows if it is going to be a Coworker and, if this continues like that and that value, that feeling, remains the same, there is nothing to fear. At the beginning I was very corporate and talked about tables and offices, prices and services. Everything changed when I started talking about having coffee together every morning, doing events or the projects that we developed there.
Has the profile of users who choose to work in collaborative workspaces changed?
In the case of Coworking Móstoles it has always been the same: People who work from home and need to separate work family or people who want to carry out a project from 0 and need help. While it is true that the arrival of “the greats” has helped people look for us as Coworking instead of how to rent premises or shared work spaces.
Let's talk about Coworking Móstoles, what is the added value of this center? How have you managed to differentiate yourself from the competition?
I believe that the added value of Coworking Móstoles is the specialization we have in the digital sector. Over time we have seen that most of us who are dedicated to the world of online business (online Marketing, graphic design, photography, etc.) and, when someone comes from this profile loves to see that we all talk here "your language ”, so it fits from minute 1.
You would tell us some mistakes that you have learned during your years of space management to help other managers not comment on them in their new career.
I have made many mistakes , but I think the main one is the one I mentioned earlier: Sell a space instead of selling personal value. All centers can have the best chairs and tables, but not all centers have good personal equipment. In addition to this? Lower prices, not deposit, do not leave things in writing, etc ...
Finally, how does a center adapt to the changes that are taking place in the coworking sector? (Entrance of big companies like WeWork ...)
In the case of Coworking Móstoles we have not had to adapt much, why no great has come to Móstoles, all we have noticed is that the publicity they make of the Coworking concept has benefited us so that people already come knowing what it is .
Thank you, Luis, for this first intervention, we are sure it will not be the last.
