Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Applied to Coworking
Recently OWNI, a French blog and a form of datajournalism, posted an article applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to Coworking. The result was a thought provoking and buzz-worthy piece – in French. So here’s the piece translated and adapted in English.
Let’s go back to high school psychology class – Remember Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs? This hierarchy was visually represented by a pyramid shape and allowed for a dynamic classification hierarchy of human needs. The pyramid is organized as such: the needs situated at the base of the pyramid are the largest and most fundamental and at the top is the need for self-actualization. According to the theory, the most basic level of needs must be met first before the individual can even begin to desire the the higher level needs.
Physiological needs. These needs are the basic needs of a human being for survival: air, food, water, clothing and shelter. If these needs are not met humans cannot function.
Safety Needs: Personal security, financial security, health and well-being, psychological well being (rights of man), and physical safety (no threat of war, natural disaster etc).
Love and Belonging: Friendship, intimacy, family, integration in a group.
Esteem: Self-esteem and self-respect. A need for the respect of others, status, recognition, fame, prestige and attention. Need for strength, competence, mastery, self confidence, independence and freedom.
Self Actualization: When a person learns their full potential and then realizes it.
Applied to coworking, Maslow’s hierarchy shows that coworking spaces (and coworkers) must have basic needs met first in order to allow the spaces and coworkers to progress up the pyramid and reach their full potential.
Coworking responds to needs such as:
- I need a place where I can be professional for my clients “Not sure the kitchen is the best place for a meeting..”
- I need a place where I can be at ease working, home is cramped. “I need an actual place to work – not my livingroom!”
- I need people that I can share my professional joys and pains with. “When’s happy hour?!”
- I need to be in a more dynamic and creative atmosphere. “I have no one to bounce ideas off of.”
Thus, “Coworking à la Maslow” leaves us with :
Basic Needs: The basic needs are similar to the physiological needs of an independent worker who does not have a real working space available. Above all a coworking space must provide the following to allow for positive working conditions:
- Functioning wifi
- Comfortable work stations
- Standard office equipment: printers, scanners, fax machine
- Storage space (lockers)
- An eating area both within the space and in the neighborhood
- Meeting and conference rooms
- Proximity to the home of the coworkers
Security Needs: To be an independent worker is a choice that inevitably means challenges in planning for the long term. Good bye fixed and predictable incomes from the time when you were a salaried employee, hello heavy and taxing responsibilities and daunting choices. Furthermore you cannot ask for advice from your boss or your colleagues when you are confronted with a delicate situation – this insecurity is a common burden shared by independent workers which can alleviated by coworking.
- Financial Security (coworkers have the option to only pay when they’re present at the space and not a fixed rent with a contract)
- An atmosphere of confidence
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Possibility to benefit from the advice of others
Need of Belonging: Gone are the days when Renaud sang, ” to be free, is often to live alone”. A coworking space is above all a community united by common values and shared ways of life. A coworking space worthy of its name allows itself to be a part of a team who lives, works, and acts together. This is manifested through:
- Professional events and festivities that bring the community together
- The development of friendship between members
- A coworking visa that makes you a member of the international community of coworkers
- The birth of collective initiatives among members
Need of Esteem: A functioning workspace, a structured environment, a community that suits and supports you. Thus the framework is in place to allow for self expression for each member. As a member of a community of coworkers, it becomes possible to:
- Be recognized for your expertise,
- Become a participant in the community
- Have an audience for your project
Need of Realization: This is the highest stage to which we all dream of achieving! A coworking space will help:
- Creativity & collaboration: coworkers feed off eachother’s creativity and collaboration
- Learning: Never stop learning! Continue to progress upward through training and daily exchanges between coworkers
- Live and work in accordance with your personal values and coworking values
- Share knowledge
Original article by William Vandenbroek, taken and translated from OWNI’s post: La Pyramide de Maslow Appliqueé au Coworking by Stephanie Ng from The pariSoma Innovation Loft & faberNovel.
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