> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://berniejmitchell.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Find 'The Next Normal' For Coworking. - URL: https://berniejmitchell.com/how-to-find-the-next-normal-for-coworking/ - Published: 2020-05-04T05:42:08.000Z - Updated: 2020-05-04T05:42:08.000Z - Author: Bernie J Mitchell - Tags: BLOG, coworking, coworking events, new normal, #Migrated-1772907944273, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-03-07 18:26 ## ***The Next Normal*** Have you been saying words like ‘*when things go back to normal I will..?‘* In this McKinsey article [***‘Beyond coronavirus: The Path to the next normal‘***](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/beyond-coronavirus-the-path-to-the-next-normal?ref=berniejmitchell.com) the use of the term ‘**the next normal‘* and how I see the future. And this is what I’m scrambling to find out at the moment. I’m interviewing, podcasting, facilitating and reading non-stop about what is going to happen in the coworking industry. I’d love to be the person who comes up with *THE* answer, but it does not work like that. Coworking is a full-contact team game, and even with social distancing, we’re closer every day. People are craving community more than ever. The need for connection is even stronger, and amid the horror and uncertainty, I adore how we’ve come together. ## ***Where were you when you heard about CoVID19?*** The first time I heard about coronavirus was when I was lying in a hotel bed in Porto at the very beginning of January 2020. We’d spent Christmas with our family in [Vigo, Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo?ref=berniejmitchell.com) and had stopped off in Porto on the way home for a couple of nights. The only TV channel in English was BBC World, and they were showing pictures of a town called [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan?ref=berniejmitchell.com). The reporter talked about some outbreak thing, but I did not quite get it or pay attention. I was basking in the glory of all the Galician food I’d eaten in Vigo and things like that never happen in London. A few months later and I’m packing my essential gear into the boot of my mate Jan’s car and fleeing our coworking space to set up shop at home. That week we had a daily call with the London Coworking Assembly, each call had a strong air of what the *“£u* *Does anyone know?* ## ***The current normal*** The community element kicked right away in our [London Coworking Assembly](https://londoncoworkingassembly.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) world. If you’ve been reading here for a few years, you’ll know what I mean when I say the Assembly #TAGtribe for coworking space operators. Others across the UK got invited to our calls. We connected with start-up and business groups, and self-organised into “save our local coworking“. Which is going from strength to strength and out of this is growing the UK Coworking Assembly. If you are an operator or know a coworking space send them to [saveourlocalcoworking.co.uk](https://saveourlocalcoworking.co.uk/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). Working together every week, at Tuesdays we have a catch-up call to share about save our local coworking. Then on Thursdays, we have a call about marketing and comms – how to communicate our spaces in the crisis and how to be ready to open. This community spirit is all over Europe too. Every week we run a group call with [*Nexudus*](https://www.nexudus.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com)*,* [*Cobot*](https://www.cobot.me/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) and [*OfficeRnD*](https://www.officernd.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) to call to design support and help people reboot their coworking business. ## ***Everything for everyone.*** The mighty [Zeljko](https://rs.linkedin.com/in/zeljkocrnjakovic?ref=berniejmitchell.com) and I are podcasting like crazy over at the [European Coworking Assembly](https://coworkingassembly.eu/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). ### ***Recent episodes***. [Ed Goodman](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/edagoodman?ref=berniejmitchell.com) from [*Freelance Heroes*](https://freelance-heroes.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) on self-employed people and COVID in the UK – listen [here.](https://coworkingassembly.eu/podcast/ed-goodman-the-nuances-of-the-freelance-world/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) [Shazia](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/shaziamustafa?ref=berniejmitchell.com) from [*Third Door*](https://www.third-door.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) and [David](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/davidchrandall?ref=berniejmitchell.com) from [*Maple Works*](https://mapleworks.co.uk/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) in London who are leading the charge on [*saveourlocalcoworking.co.uk*](https://saveourlocalcoworking.co.uk/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) – listen [here](https://coworkingassembly.eu/podcast/shazia-and-david-through-the-pandemic-downturn/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). [Alex](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhillman?ref=berniejmitchell.com) from [*Indy Hall*](https://www.indyhall.org/athome/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) on How to close your space in the COVID19 Pandemic – listen [here](https://coworkingassembly.eu/podcast/alex-hillman-how-can-coworking-cope-during-the-covid19-pandemic/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). [Jo](https://de.linkedin.com/in/johannavoll?ref=berniejmitchell.com) and [Hector](https://www.linkedin.com/in/inztinkt?ref=berniejmitchell.com) founder of the Coworking Libray who set up the Crisis Directory – listen[ here](https://coworkingassembly.eu/podcast/johanna-and-hector-crisis-directory/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). [Stavros](https://gr.linkedin.com/in/stavrosmessinis?ref=berniejmitchell.com) and [Maria](https://gr.linkedin.com/in/maria-calafatis-frsa-9375a167?ref=berniejmitchell.com) from [*The Cube*](https://thecube.gr/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) in Athens who hosted a virtual Hackathon for Co-vid solutions – listen [here](https://coworkingassembly.eu/podcast/stavros-messinis-maria-calafatis-virtual-events-hackathon/?ref=berniejmitchell.com). This week we are recording with [Laëtitia](https://laetitiavitaud.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) on the new normal. (Laëtitia writes one of ***THE*** best [*newsletters*](https://laetitiaatwork.substack.com/p/normal-is-dead-but-soon-well-have?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo1NTc4MTA5LCJwb3N0X2lkIjozMTkzNzMsIl8iOiIvV1pHUiIsImlhdCI6MTU4ODU3MDE5NiwiZXhwIjoxNTg4NTczNzk2LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjMxOTMiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.W7-Hya2KapbmDPjxmmWzbAcn7Vm0UnCS17YSL-9waRw) of the future of work) and [Miryana](https://www.linkedin.com/in/miryana-stancheva/?ref=berniejmitchell.com), who is a researcher and works for OfficeRnD. Last week [Pauline](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulineroussel?originalSubdomain=de&ref=berniejmitchell.com) co-founder of [*Coworkies*](https://www.coworkies.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) joined our webinar and shared with Zeljko how coworking spaces are surviving the COVID19 Pandemic. Watch for the replay [here](https://event.webinarjam.com/register/5/ry9rrt9?ref=berniejmitchell.com). ## ***The next normal for Meet Up*** We’ve gathered all the [Meet Up‘s](https://berniejmitchell.com/2020/03/how-many-communities/) I’ve had a hand in running into one group under the London Coworking Assembly. There are 1000’s of London based people in these groups that have met up in coworking spaces since 2010. We’ve held back on online events because the airwaves were overrun. Next, we’ll survey these people to see what will serve them best. There is a fantastic chance to build a strong sense of community, the ‘the next normal’ happens. Then we can get back to meeting offline in coworking spaces again. ### ***Next up*** – The [***Coworking Symposium***](https://www.coworkingsymposium.com/?ref=berniejmitchell.com) Our biggest project right now is Coworking Symposium an online conference where the coworking Industry meets academia, again. I’m working on the content with the 10 speakers to design their talks. Which is a blast because I get to deep dive into topics with super-smart people. Right now in the world, these topics are even more on the pulse. We are all working towards working out our lives, work and communities. And while we have deep uncertainty right now, we’ll be stronger than ever on the other side, in the next normal. Hit reply and let me know what you are reading about the next normal.