Collision Conversations – Finding Ways to Collide, Collaborate, and Connect in Our “Now Normal”
By Cara Krezek
Founder & Chief Purpose Officer @ The Talent Strategy Collective & The Apiary CoWork
As we moved from the uncertainty of the pandemic (dare I even say that word?) into an era of permanent hybrid and remote work, the way we work, connect, and even ideate has changed significantly. While many professionals appreciate the flexibility and efficiency of working from home, something is still missing. It’s not just the music on the commute, the office birthday cakes, or even the reliable Wi-Fi—it’s the energy that comes from physically sharing space with others.
We miss the spontaneous moments that breathe life into our workday, the casual interactions in the hallway or over coffee that spark new ideas and lead to unexpected collaborations. It’s the “I was going to call you” moments where you get others’ insights, information or ideas. These are the “collision conversations,” which I wrote about back in Sept. 2020. They’re those unplanned, quick exchanges that fuel innovation, keep us in tune with our teams, create friendships and give us a sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves.
As current workplaces embrace hybrid and remote work as the “now normal,” coworking spaces like The Apiary are stepping in to fill a gap for those that need a “sometimes” space – or a space that others occupy that don’t even work for your company, but that you benefit from happenstance conversations. These spaces have become the new hubs for entrepreneurs, gig workers, and remote teams who want the best of both worlds—the flexibility of working from home and the collaborative energy of an office. At The Apiary, we’ve created a space that is not just about desks (and did I mention that they are all sit-stands?) and Wi-Fi but about community, collaboration, and the kinds of collisions that lead to innovation and growth.
Coworking: Meeting the Needs of the New Economy
The pandemic fundamentally changed how we work. The rise of gig work, freelancing, and small business entrepreneurship has created a need for spaces where people can connect, collaborate, and thrive—individually and collectively. Coworking spaces like The Apiary provide the ideal environment for this new way of working, combining flexibility with the opportunities for connection that come from being in a shared space.
These spaces are designed to meet the challenges of the new economy, offering more than just a place to sit with your laptop. They foster a sense of community, bringing together professionals from different industries, backgrounds, and skill sets who might not otherwise meet. In these diverse, dynamic environments, the magic of collision conversations can happen again—where ideas are exchanged, collaborations are born, and businesses are launched.
A New Kind of Community
Beyond the physical benefits of a coworking space, something even more powerful is happening—community. Coworking spaces are not just places to work; they’re places where people can belong. For female entrepreneurs and their allies, The Apiary is where collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a space where we support each other, learn from each other, and push each other to grow—personally and professionally.
In these coworking communities, those unintentional bump-ins from the old office days can happen again. And they’re not just convenient—they’re essential for fostering innovation, creativity, and growth. Amazing things happen when you bring people together in a space designed for collaboration. Ideas that might never have come to life in isolation are sparked through casual conversations at the barista station, in the hallway, or at a hot desk where you happen to sit beside someone new.
Creating Intentional Collisions in a Remote World
In this hybrid work world, leaders must find ways to recreate those informal yet powerful moments of connection that we once took for granted in the office. While virtual tools like Zoom and Teams help us stay connected, they don’t offer the same spontaneous energy that comes from being in the same physical space.
That’s where coworking spaces can come in. They provide a place for people to collide intentionally. At The Apiary, we’ve designed our space with this in mind. We’ve created not just workspaces but shared spaces for collaboration, casual conversations, and community-building. Whether it’s a quick chat in our conversation room, brainstorming over a cup of coffee from our barista bar, or participating in one of our workshops, these interactions are where innovation happens.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the way we work has changed forever. However, the need for connection, collaboration, and community remains the same. Coworking spaces are uniquely positioned to meet this need, providing flexible, vibrant environments where people can thrive in the new economy.
How are you creating collision conversations in your hybrid or remote world? How are you fostering the connections that drive innovation, creativity, and collaboration? Share your ideas about how collision conversations drive innovations in your organization.
