Interview on Coworking vs. Working from Home: A Look at the Pros and Cons of the Two Working Models
The world of work has changed significantly in recent years, and with it, working methods have become more flexible. Coworking and working from home are two options that are growing in popularity. But what are the pros and cons of these two working models? To take a closer look, we spoke with Jonas Morgner, Chief of Staff at TradeLink, an up-and-coming startport community startup. He currently works 100% remotely.
1. How does the environment you work in influence your productivity and creativity?
“In principle, relatively little—and I believe that is also the reason why remote work works so well for me. I notice that I can work much more focused from home, and at the same time the flexibility allows for quicker “recharge” phases. These days there are such good ways to express creativity digitally and remotely, for example with tools like Loom or Miro.”
2. Which technological tools make collaboration easier in a distributed team?
“We use various tools, and I believe it is particularly important to invest here. The most important thing for us is a virtual office; it helps us interact socially and bring a social component into everyday working life. Tools like Miro and Loom enable extremely flexible co-working approaches. We use classic programs like Confluence for knowledge sharing and documentation. The Medium article also lists all the key tools again.”
3. Decision criteria between coworking and working from home?
“In fact, it is purely the physical and social contact with colleagues, as well as getting out of the house for once. However, in my four years at TradeLink, I have not actively looked for a coworking space privately.”
4. Ensuring work-life balance when working from home and in coworking?
“I believe working from home creates the flexibility needed for a good work-life balance. For example, it is common practice for employees to manage their day freely. Many have kids and spend time with their family between 4 and 6 PM, while others need to work out in the morning and start an hour later. Transparency and communication allow everyone to find their own balance—especially without the “social pressure” in the office when the boss stays late again.”
Conclusion:
Overall, the interview shows that the choice between coworking and working from home depends heavily on personal preferences and the requirements of the respective job. Both models offer advantages, and the right use of technology plays a crucial role in successfully implementing these ways of working. According to Jonas Morgner, TradeLink is doing very well with the 100% work-from-home model and, in this way, enables a good work-life balance.