It’s easy to see why coworking spaces have quickly earned such a devoted following.

“ … it’s much more than resources and a place to do business. It’s a community – and it’s the future of how business is going to be done,” says Lawton Ursrey in his February Forbes article “What Coworking Can Really Do For You.”

Ursrey couldn’t be more right.

Initially, the modern coworking space largely was inhabited by technology startup companies. Coworking spaces provided a refreshing alternative to coffee shop counters for many infant, independent organizations that hadn’t the budget or need for large-scale commercial offices. As more locations opened in major cities around the world, though, established corporations began seeking out these spaces as homes for satellite offices and deviating endeavors. What followed was a melding of companies and professional individuals into a dynamic, ubiquitously-benefitted workforce.

While the startups still thrive here, the coworking space is no longer exclusive to that specific brand of company. Any business agreeing to coexistence is welcome, no matter their concentration. Joynture, our coworking space that opened in July at 48 Wall Street, is proud to host tech startups, financial tech firms, financial educators, recruiters, a video game developer, a jewelry-design firm and professionals in several other industries. “We wanted to create a space that encouraged success and arranged opportunities for compatible professionals to interact, regardless of their occupation,” said Joynture’s co-founder, Shahzad Latif.

This platform for professional interaction is one of the major benefits of working in a coworking space. In a typical work environment, networking often is restricted to emails and prearranged meetings and events. In a coworking environment, however, potential clients walk through the same set of doors each morning and utilize the same community space throughout the day as you do. Coworking spaces influence professional advancement by putting like-minded, distinctly-talented people in close enough quarters to provide consistent networking opportunities. Every inch of the workplace becomes a virtual water cooler for professional socializing.

Even if it isn’t your aim to seek out clients by striking up conversation in the hallway, your professional neighbors may be qualified to offer advice and insight into areas of work that you feel unable to utilize appropriately. Also, it’s very common for coworking spaces to offer an event venue for conferences and gatherings, which, as a member of the organization, typically allows free or discounted access. Whether the conferences pertain to your area of interest or not, these gatherings are further opportunities to expand your network and, if nothing else, put an eager face to your business.

The coworking movement is far from just a “professional trend.” It’s a host of opportunities for the individual and the business to cultivate success. In her Forbes article “Coworking: Is It Just A Fad Or The Future Of Business,” Adrianna Lopez says it well:

“Gone are the days of working in a traditional office setting, where cubicles separate colleagues and the only social interactions occur around the water cooler. The rise in coworking spaces around the world have left more people yearning for work environments that are collaborative, inspiring, and stimulating.”