AdvantEdge Workspaces Blog

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness month? Millions of Americans face struggles with mental health, and sometimes the office can be a factor in these struggles. For the remainder of May, focus on how your workplace can improve mental health awareness through different activities. Check out these seven things to do with your team to spark conversations and help everyone on their path to wellness and balance. 

Being self-employed comes with a plethora of benefits and challenges. It is a unique work situation that not many people understand. Working for yourself is incredibly rewarding- whether you’ve been doing it for years or are just starting out, a shared workspace has the solutions you need for success. 

Did you know April is Stress Awareness Month? You might be thinking, “I don’t need to be more aware of my stress!” and feel like thinking about stress is the last thing you need. However, thinking about our stress is essential to lessening it. This month, focus on yourself and make your days lighter in the office- whether for your workload, mental headspace, or both. Here are four ways to combat stress in the workplace: 

March is Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the impact women have in all facets of life. In the workplace, women have made countless contributions and strides toward equality. The fight continues for equal pay, opportunities, and a balance between responsibilities. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, which you can participate in by celebrating today’s International Women’s Day, and every day this month! 

Did you know tomorrow is National Employee Appreciation Day? This day of recognition has been around for years, and while only semi-official, many companies use the first Friday of March to honor their workers. Employee appreciation could not come at a better time, after the shortest month of the year and the shininess of the new year has worn off. It’s not too late to make plans for tomorrow- here are four ways to celebrate National Employee Appreciation Day! 

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but not everyone can leave their office worry-free. While we all wish to leave our work at the office, the holiday season poses a challenge to companies, and especially small business owners, everywhere: how can I leave work for a week and keep the business going? Employees are checked out, all the attention is on what festive treats are in the lounge, and holiday obligations compete for our time. It can be exhausting trying to think about how to keep things afloat without seeming like the Grinch.

Amenities provided by a shared workspace are the simplest way to navigate time off around the holidays. Whether you are already in a great workspace or are looking to make adjustments for the future, this time of the year is the most wonderful in a shared workspace.

It is the season of giving thanks, and at AdvantEdge, there is so much to be thankful for in the workspace. Work is often lower on the gratitude list, but the right office space can make a huge difference in one’s happiness. We typically spend at least 40 hours a week working- it is a major part of our lives! Here are six things to be thankful for in the workplace this year: 

Did you know November is National Career Development Month? With Q4 final pushes, yearly reflections, and upcoming goal-setting, there is no better time to think about your career. Here are five ways to further develop your career, whether in the next month or over the next year! 

Who says workspaces are only for working? Many of the offices you see during the day have amazing areas that can be transformed after-hours into the perfect party space. Cost-effective, unique, and flexible- here is why a workspace is the perfect destination for hosting your next event!

First impressions are not everything, but they can make a huge difference in the workplace. Ensuring your personal presence and physical space send the right message to others can be the first step in building successful partnerships and growing your business. Here are a few extra tips and tricks for wowing guests, colleagues, and clients at the office: 

First impressions are crucial to our business and personal relationships! Your client’s impression of your company forms the moment they arrive at your office before you even have a chance to shake their hand or hand them a business card. Details such as the neighborhood in which your business is located, the aesthetic and architecture of the building, and the staff experience can all be directly connected to earning new clients and bolstering existing business relationships.

The events and developments of the past two years have drastically altered how and where most of us get our work done. More and more businesses and entrepreneurs are foregoing traditional office space and looking to coworking solutions to meet the needs of their organizations; a trend that was already in motion but has escalated since 2020.

Many of our clients have been teleworking with us for over a decade, so AdvantEdge has plenty of experience catering to the various needs that arise for professionals who are working from home. It’s no accident that we have a flexible membership structure that enables us to customize services on a personal basis to ensure that each of our members can work effectively and efficiently no matter where they are. Here are a few ways that AdvantEdge makes it easy to run your business from home.

Working from home has lots of perks: getting to stay in your sweatpants, more time with pets, no need to pack lunch, and the list goes on! However, there are some very practical elements of working in an office that get lost in the shuffle when you work from home. Is your wifi secure? Do you need to give out your personal address to vendors and clients? While a home office can be a dream, it can also lead to security concerns and logistical challenges. If you are not looking to head back into an office anytime soon, read on to learn how to secure your home workspace and keep work (and yourself) safe.

When thinking about safety, you must not leave out tech security. Invest in a secure home internet system. Ensure you have two-factor authentication on devices and a strong password on your home networks. Back up your devices regularly, and perform routine security updates. Being diligent about the technology in your office can help avoid a catastrophe further down the road.

If you hesitate to give away your address to others, worry about packages being stolen, or keep mixing up important documents with holiday cards, then it is time to consider a different mail solution. A professional business mailing address helps keep a divide between work and personal life. At AdvantEdge Workspaces, you get more than just a safe space for mail and package collection. Here, client services coordinators date-stamp and file mail, sign for items, and send notifications. You can even select to have pieces forwarded or have someone scan time-sensitive documents directly to your inbox on a busy day.

A mailing address also provides credibility to your business. It connects your work to an established workspace location, protecting your privacy while adding an extra layer of professionalism.

Home offices are great, but sometimes you may miss the amenities of a larger office. Reception, for example, is an important service for many businesses. Just because you work from home, does not mean that you cannot outsource help from a shared workspace. Phone answering services are available to you even if you do not have a physical office location. With a dedicated phone line, a professional can answer your calls with a customized message. State-of-the-art technology enables them to relay messages and field inquiries, all while maintaining a high degree of efficiency and personalization.

In a home office, you will want to keep the right items on hand. Invest in a separate work laptop and phone (if needed). Ensure your devices are free of less-secure personal information. Put a lock on your door or use a safe if you live with roommates. If you are not sure about your security, hire a professional to audit your workspace and make recommendations that are the right fit for your business.

Working from home is not going anywhere. An investment in safety and security is an investment in your future. With the right support services, you can sit down in your home office worry-free.

Is your daily schedule so full of meetings, appointments, and errands that you can't find a moment for self-care? Unfortunately, in today's society, most of us prioritize completing our to-do list rather than maintaining healthy lifestyles. This doesn't have to be a binary choice. Yes, you can still be super productive and efficient without totally neglecting your personal wellbeing! With the use of some planning, time management, and discipline, you can reconcile your routine to take care of yourself and your work responsibilities in a positive manner.

Offices spaces shifted dramatically over the past two years. For many people, physical workspace went from an undeniable fact to a “nice to have.” The entire work landscape is different, from the “Great Resignation” of people trying their hand at freelancing or entrepreneurship to companies giving up those cubicles for good. That leaves the average person with some choices to make. Is it best to work from home with distractions or in a noisy coffee shop? Our office environment ties into our productivity and happiness, so why not explore an in-between solution: coworking. This workspace solution has been trendy for a while, but is it actually a good fit for you? Read more to find out:

Call answering is the amenity you didn’t know you needed! Phone calls can be an endless distraction during the day. Every time you hear a ring, you need to stop what you are doing. Once on the phone, you can be wrapped up in long conversations or derailed by a simple junk call.

With call answering services, take back your time and leave the screening and initial handling to administrative professionals. Create a plan that works for you. Customize a greeting and voicemail recording, and draft up a forwarding plan. Your recordings serve to direct callers to the correct extension or provide important information. For forwarding, put a process in place so you never have to worry about missing an important call. While on vacation or out of the office, only certain numbers can be transferred to you while others are directed to voicemail or can provide a message. A forwarding plan can also include priority callers, times when you will be unavailable to pick up… really, whatever guidelines you need to make the service work for you. And if you truly want to disconnect, it is not a problem as staff members will communicate a personalized message to callers.

The AdvantEdge team operates under a three-step process: answer, screen, and transfer. Whenever anyone calls your number, we will pick up the phone first. From there, we screen the call. No more need to be bothered with spam messages asking about car warranties! For transfers, you will be notified about who is on the line before being connected. With this process, there is always room for adjustment, too. Every client has access to an on-site team that can modify service on a weekly to an hourly basis. Leave the office or sit down and focus with ease!

When you begin your search for a new office space for your organization, you will probably realize that there are a lot of factors and details impacting your decision you hadn't considered before.  It is important to stay vigilant when it comes to determining precisely what kind of workspace your company needs to thrive. Leaving no stone left unturned in your search is the best way to make sure you're finding a workspace solution that will make your colleagues happy when you move in, and provide opportunity and infrastructure for long-term growth. 

Many of us have tried working in our local coffee shop, but that doesn't compare to having a quiet and professional atmosphere where you can really get things done! Here are eight reasons to choose coworking over the cafe:

AdvantEdge Workspaces has provided DC-area professionals with modern workspace facilities and attentive and efficient service for over 30 years! We appreciate the importance of consistency and do whatever we can to make our community members' jobs easier on a daily basis. The foundation for a strong relationship with any client is trust, and that trust can only be established by following through time and time again with the promise of great service.

The way we work is changing. As businesses return to normal, it may be time to reconsider your office space solution. Temporary office space is perfect for people in transition who want a professional workspace without commitment. It can be a test run to see if you like a space for a long-term arrangement, or it can be great to suit current needs, such as space for contract workers or a team that is in town for a month. No matter the situation, AdvantEdge Workspaces has a solution for you!

Despite a temporary situation, you want your space to feel like your own. Personal touches, such as desk decor, wall art, or company mementos can help the space feel comfortable. Take advantage of Command hooks and provided bookshelves to easily display items in a non-permanent way. At AdvantEdge, you can also select what furniture you’d like in any private office. Arrange pieces however you see fit. Even for temporary clients, our goal is for the space to fit you- not the other way around.

If you’ve ever had to set up wifi or deal with tech support over the phone, you know how draining and time-consuming it can be. With a temporary workspace, everything is all set up and ready to go. Forgo hours on hold and instead show up with your laptop and hit connect. Renting an office in a shared workspace environment also means that there is support on hand for whatever tech issue you run into. An expert is always available to provide immediate assistance.

There are many types of temporary office solutions, but when you select one in a shared workspace you benefit from a plethora of amenities and services. Utilize a variety of meeting rooms, decompress in the lounge, and allow Client Services Coordinators to handle admin tasks. Let guests enjoy a modern and polished reception area. Keep your mail safe at the front desk and take work up to the roof for some sunshine. Whatever your work demands, we will match it with an unparalleled experience.

Temporary workspace solutions ensure that your team can seamlessly transition to whatever is next. AdvantEdge has decades of experience in providing a top-notch experience to all clients, no matter how long they are in the workspace. If your business is in flux, or if you are not yet ready to settle on a specific long-term solution, try AdvantEdge Workspaces for full-service support with the office space you need.

When you think of coworking, you might think of communal business lounges and happy hours, but maybe the most valuable aspect of working in a shared workspace is the support staff that helps your business day-to-day. Here are a few ways that AdvantEdge’s Client Services team can provide the infrastructure where your business can succeed.

Did you know that September is National Self-Care Awareness Month? This month aims to shed light on different practices one can do to create balance in their life. Self-care can be about treating ourselves, but it is also about maintaining a healthy lifestyle that enables us to be our best selves at work. In a time where it can be hard to disconnect and easy to overwork oneself, self-care is more important than ever. Here are four reasons why you should incorporate it into your work life:

1. Prevent Burnout
With the challenges of the past year and a half, and uncertainty about the future, burnout is at an all-time high. Burnout at work affects one’s psychological and physical health, and can easily spill over and impact our personal lives as well.
Being part of a workspace that values your entire self is key to keeping burnout at bay. Look for spaces with a gym, outdoor areas, separate places to eat, and quiet rooms for when you need a change of scenery. When your company and space encourage healthy office habits, you’ll feel better and work better.

2. Be Aware

The pandemic has forever changed the way we work- including conducting meetings. Many realized that events they used to travel for could easily translate to a video call. On the other hand, others saw the challenges of not being together in the same room and struggle to replace the collaboration remotely. Whatever camp you fall into, there is a way to create better meetings that work for you and your team.

Over the past year and a half, the lines between our work lives and home lives have blurred. For many of us, our homes have actually become our full-time offices, even if we were accustomed to doing some amount of teleworking before. Just because you're working harder than ever shouldn't mean that you let your work-life balance fall to the wayside. 

Over the past year and a half, almost everyone has been forced to create new routines in their personal and professional lives. We are all adapting to the ever-changing realities of the world, but that doesn't need to stop us from getting things done. As you continue to build your career, network, and skillset during these uncertain times, a Virtual Office plan could be a great option for you. Here are a few ways a Virtual Office can provide you with a low-risk, high-reward solution for staying productive.

Dreaming of a week fully unplugged from office life? While it may seem impossible sitting at your desk, a real vacation is more feasible than you think. Running a small business is challenging, and when you wear so many hats, it is complicated to disengage. However, with careful planning and the right workspace, you can achieve pure out of office bliss. Here’s how you can give your team the right tools to keep things running while you take a break:

At AdvantEdge, we understand that the search for new office space can be very stressful and time-consuming, whether you are in the process of starting a new company or relocating an existing one. Since we've been in the office space business for over thirty years, we'd like to offer some insider tips and wisdom to help you find the right office space. We have had the opportunity of working with countless clients who once were in this exact position, so we understand the concerns and considerations that come along with your office search.

Summer is supposed to be a season for relaxation and family time, but as a business owner, leaving your business behind while you travel can produce a lot of anxiety. When you work with AdvantEdge, you can take a little snooze in the sun or splash around in the pool or ocean while knowing your business won't miss a beat! At AdvantEdge, our team is truly your team; our Client Services staff will get to know you and the way you operate so that we can help run your business while you are away! Here are some ways we keep things running smoothly at the office while you are on vacation.

The business world is constantly evolving, and your organization needs to be flexible and efficient in order to keep up. When you have a strong support structure in place, your business is prepared to adapt and grow in moments of opportunity and crisis. AdvantEdge provides a variety of options and a willingness to customize service around clients' needs, coworking creates an ideal environment for organizations that want the benefits of flexibility without the extra cost. Here are a few ways that finding a coworking solution for your business will help you be prepared for any surprises. 

How do members of the AdvantEdge Workspaces stay focused and energized throughout the busy workday? With snacks! Save time, money, and calories by bringing snacks and lunches from home to power your brain throughout the day. A little tummy rumbling doesn't need to derail you from being productive and positive! Here are a few healthy items to satisfy your hunger and help you get back to business when mid-day hunger strikes!

Over the past year and a half, many of our normal work routines have been upended and the boundaries between our personal and professional lives have blurred as more and more of us have turned to working from home. Some professionals are now returning to the office full-time, while others adopt a hybrid model that includes both remote work and physical office space. Whatever transition period you might be going through in your career or life, AdvantEdge Workspaces can provide access to a professional environment along with the flexibility to create your own schedule.

Coworking is becoming increasingly popular amongst psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals. AdvantEdge's facilities are fully furnished and serviced; perfect for solo professionals who want the resources of a larger entity, but only need one or two dedicated offices. Our outstanding client services team also makes it easy to meet with guests and patients in a confidential and comfortable environment. 

Since AdvantEdge Workspaces was founded over 30 years ago, we have excelled in supporting DC-area professionals and local businesses with outstanding support services and top-notch office facilities. As a small local business ourselves, we are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of a growing organization and provide the infrastructure needed to thrive. Over the years, we’ve learned a few things about running a successful and sustainable operation.

Finding the right address for your office is vital to making sure that you have the foundations for sustainability and the tools for growth. It is important to find an office facility that will be convenient for you, your colleagues, and your clients. You also want a workspace that fits into your longer-term vision of durability and expansion for your company. Moving your office to a shared workspace could be the step your business needs; providing you with a prestigious Washington, DC address and all of the resources you'll need to thrive without the full cost of a traditional office lease. 

To many people, the freedom and flexibility of freelancing are incredibly attractive. Leaving behind a corporate job and being your own boss can be a dream. Whether you want to have more time with kids, want to travel the world, or make another lifestyle change, freelancing can help fulfill those desires. However, many people who set out on their own find that the workspace situation isn’t all that it's cracked up to be. Working from home used to be more appealing, but after a year of it, you may be ready for a change of scenery, even though you work solo. If you’re loving the freelance life but missing some of the perks of a traditional office environment, then a coworking desk is the perfect solution for you!

It seems like every other week that we are reading about another corporate hack or data breach in the news. Advances in technology have allowed us to connect and work in new and exciting ways, but they have also revealed the vulnerability of our personal information. If major corporations like these are at risk of being hacked, smaller organizations and individual professionals who don't have the resources to implement complex security systems to protect their data are clearly at risk as well. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we are all mindful of protecting our personal data; here are a few simple security tips that will give you some peace of mind.

The modern workplace is constantly adapting and evolving to keep up with the circumstances of the world. Luckily for us, technological innovations enable added flexibility and productivity, allowing us to work on anything, at any time, wherever we happen to be. Today more employers than ever are offering some variety of teleworking or remote working options for their employees. At AdvantEdge, we have a track record of over thirty years of providing the physical and intangible support structure required for productive and positive collaboration at work!

With Memorial Day weekend behind us, summer is officially here! It can be hard to focus during the season, as warm weather beckons and the desire to have a lazy day is at an all-time high. The world is returning to normal, and this summer will feel much better as we can actually enjoy the seasonal activities we love. To ensure you have time to do what you want this summer, set yourself up for success in the workplace. Here is how a shared workspace like AdvantEdge Workspaces can help you thrive this season!

Many of us are just starting to return to the workplace. After over a year at home, it may be hard to decipher our needs. A shared workspace has many options so that your office space solutions can change alongside your needs. Sit at a coworking desk one day a week or move up to a private suite as your team grows. Wherever business takes you this summer, AdvantEdge Workspaces will have the office space for you.

While most aspects of normal life are coming back, many have adjusted to eliminating non-essential work travel. Virtual meetings are difficult, which is why meeting rooms at AdvantEdge are equipped with the latest technology- you won't even realize you aren't in the same room as your colleague! Diminish tech stress and seamlessly host meetings with people from all over the world, leaving more "me" time this summer.

Summer is a season of flexibility, and making your schedule work with activities and vacations is no small task. You need a workspace that is flexible and adapts to your schedule instead of creating another headache. Building access means you can work whenever you want, and community benefits, such as building upkeep and management, enable you to simply shut your laptop and leave without worrying about the space.

Whether a private office, a virtual office, or coworking is the right choice for you and your organization, AdvantEdge's outstanding Client Services Team is ready to back you up and keep your business running smoothly when you go on vacation! Leaving your work behind isn't as easy as it sounds, especially for those in positions of leadership. Even as you dip your toes in the pool or enjoy a beautiful mountain top view, your brain may wander back to the constant anxieties that come with running a business. Joining the AdvantEdge Community will allow you to breath deep and kick those feet up, here's how:

Over the past year,  we have all had to adjust our routines and our mindsets, in both our personal and professional lives. In this new and constantly evolving landscape, it pays off to be flexible and open-minded. Luckily for you, AdvantEdge has over 30 years of experience in helping DC-area businesses manage transitions without a hitch!

Successful business leaders have both short and long-term goals for the growth of their organizations. You have probably thought of new ways of expanding the reach of your products or services and considered what resources that your company will need to access these opportunities. The fact of the matter is, in spite of your best preparations, it is sometimes impossible to foresee the obstacles and opportunities that will emerge in your business’ path, be it next year, next month, or even next week. Choosing a full-service workspace provides your company flexibility and peace of mind to change your office solutions and services at any time.

May is Small Business Month, but at AdvantEdge we celebrate and support small businesses each and every day! We know what it takes to keep a small business running on a day-to-day basis and to succeed in the long run; that’s because we are a small business ourselves!

A good leader in the workplace sets a strong example through his or her actions but knowing how to motivate your team is a crucial skill that they probably didn’t teach you in school. Every coworker or employee at your workplace requires their own leadership style and knowing how and when to press those buttons can empower your team and produce incredible results for your organization. It doesn’t have to be complicated; if you consider the personality types of the people you work with, you will understand how to connect with them, and get their best performance!

Many of us dream of going to work in a corner office, but goals don’t come to fruition overnight. As you continue to build your network and skill set and work your way up to that high-powered role, a Virtual Office plan could be a great option for you. Here are 5 reasons why a Virtual Office can provide you with a low-risk, high-reward solution as you grow in your career.

At AdvantEdge, we remind our community members that their personal health should be a priority and we work to promote healthy workplaces at our office and the home office! The true key to your success is yourself; taking care of your mind and body can be the crucial foundation for fruitful work life. You can implement a post-work yoga routine or even add twenty minutes of exercise and mindfulness to your lunch break. However you fit personal care into your schedule, yoga can bring about many benefits to help us be more productive and efficient in the workplace.

At AdvantEdge Workspaces, our main goal is to help you reach yours. We provide flexible workspace options with responsive customer service and we foster the ideal work environment to promote business growth and sustainability. Worried about not being able to grow when the time comes or stressed you won’t have enough help along the way? Have no fear! AdvantEdge promises to accommodate your evolving workspace needs and we provide a friendly and capable Client Services team that takes care of everything along the way.

Running your company with AdvantEdge Workspaces makes your life as a business owner much easier; we take care of all of the logistical details and allow you to focus on what is most important – guiding your business to success and growth. We know that meetings are what really take your business to the next level; we’ve designed our centers to provide professional meeting spaces that help you close the deal. All AdvantEdge locations offer a variety of meeting spaces built to accommodate anything from intimate weekly meetings to large full-company seminars. 

One of the fundamental concerns in opening a new office will be deciding what physical location is best for your company. How will you find a space that is within your price range yet still meets all of your needs? Will this be a space that your company can grow into overtime or will you be forced to relocate within a year or two? Choosing to office your business with a shared workspace can be a valuable step towards jump-starting your entrepreneurial endeavor.

Spring is upon us; the season of rebirth, growth, and optimism! There's no better time to give your business a positive boost, so here are five simple ways to set yourself up for success this spring!

Like any work model, running your business from home has its pros and cons. Since working virtually removes the physical proximity to your teammates, work-at-home professionals must possess strong communication skills.  In order to make the most of your virtual office, we propose a few tips for managing and communicating with your clients and co-workers.

Last year, businesses were thrust into a remote work model, needing to adapt on the fly as working from home became the safest option. As the world returns to normal, one must decide how to handle returning to the office. Some may choose to stay remote, while others will gladly come back full time. But what about both? The hybrid model is a combination of at-home and in-person office time. If your business is considering this option, here is what you need to know before implementing a hybrid work plan, and how a shared workspace can help you.

Logistic Obstacles

A hybrid work model is not without challenges and takes some planning to be successful. If you are part of a larger team, you need to coordinate schedules to ensure people have different days in the office, or that there is enough room for everyone to be safely distanced together. You will also need to take time to rearrange standing meetings. Plan group meetings for office days, and leave one-on-one calls for when you are in the privacy of your home. Each week, take a look at what is on your plate and determine which to-do list items are best suited for the workplace or home office.

Another consideration is your technology. Will you need a laptop to transport back and forth? Are all files uploaded to the cloud? What will be kept at the office or at home? Audit your work tools prior to beginning a hybrid plan to avoid frustration and delays. Implement services that are great for hybrid settings, such as Google Drive or Sharepoint, or buying a lightweight laptop.

A Space For Every Need

Hybrid work means you are not limiting yourself to one workspace solution. A shared workspace perfectly compliments this plan because of access to a variety of spaces. From meeting rooms to private suites to lounge areas, when in the office, there is a space for every need. Instead of needing multiple settings, all are under one roof at places like AdvantEdge Workspaces. The best part of a shared workspace is flexibility. In these uncertain times, you can confidently rent knowing you can size up or down depending on needs.

Although you might come to love your shared workspace enough to ditch hybrid, the reality is that having work-from-home days is still essential for many people. Hybrid work allows you to plan your schedule around your needs. This type of work fits around your schedule to create the perfect mix of shared and personal spaces.

Part-Time Schedule, Full-Time Support

If you're thinking of starting your own business, you probably already have a great idea and a lot of passion for your work! Now it's time to ask yourself these five questions in order to turn your business from an idea to a reality!

As a leader of your business, it's your responsibility to answer many crucial questions about the future of your organization. How can I best accommodate additional staff? What kind of office plan works for my business? What kind of message do I want to send guests and clients? By considering a private office suite in your shared office space, you may just find the answer to all these questions and more.

So you’ve done it: you started your own business. You’ve taken the leap. The next steps can be as exciting as they are terrifying but now that your organization has taken off, it and you will need to adapt on the fly. The name of the game is efficiency and that means spending money on the things you need and saving on the things you don’t. Young companies, in their eagerness to get to work, too often fall into traditional models of doing business which can trap capital, stifle growth and leave employees ill-equipped to do their job.

Yesterday, women around the world were celebrated and honored for International Women’s Day, which occurs every March 8th. The festivities and recognition should last year-round, but especially for the rest of March, as it's Women’s History Month. Women's achievements deserve celebration- particularly in the workplace. Bring your office together with these four ways to celebrate the women in your office all month long! 

Is your organization planning on hiring any new staff members this year? Do you have the space and support system to help them feel settled and welcomed in a new office environment? When you work with AdvantEdge, our professional infrastructure and flexible space make onboarding a hassle-free experience!

Our lives are filled with appointments, to-do lists, errands, and calls; there's one crucial thing you need to accomplish all of these tasks... yourself! Taking care of your mind and body shouldn't feel like it's pulling you away from taking care of business, in fact, these are very closely tied to one another.

Last year, many people were suddenly thrown into the position of teleworking. While some have done it for years, for the majority of workers this was a completely new experience full of adjustments and sacrifices. Whether you are a teleworking pro or are still not convinced you can do it full-time, we are breaking down why you need the support and services of a shared workspace.

Teleworking provides you with the flexibility you need throughout the workday. But what about those office amenities, like a receptionist and a professional mailing address? Enter a shared workspace, where you can have a business phone number and address. With the latest technology, client services coordinators at AdvantEdge Workspaces can answer calls with a personalized message and route callers accordingly. With someone always around to receive packages, you can swing by when it works for you. Teleworking services can help you take back personal space from your home.

More professionals than ever are choosing to work from home; with over thirty years of experience in virtual administrative support, AdvantEdge Workspaces is ideally equipped to meet the transitioning needs of the business community in the DC area. As you continue to build your network and skillset and work your way up to that high-powered role, a Virtual Office plan could be a great option for you. Here are 5 reasons why a Virtual Office can provide you with a low-risk, high-reward solution as you grow in your career.

Transitions are Easy with AdvantEdge

Blogging began as a form of expression, an outlet for the online community to release their frustrations and joy into the universe. Channeling our thoughts and feelings via the written word has long been used to produce a cathartic effect, and blogging began as a public platform to do so. Since its inception, however, blogging has grown into something much bigger. Blogs are no longer merely an expression of thoughts; they now play an important role in business in terms of building, branding and promoting your company.

AdvantEdge Workspaces has been providing professional facilities with attentive and efficient service to the DC business community for over 30 years, so we appreciate the importance of consistency. The basis of a strong relationship with any client is trust, and that trust can only be established by following through time and time again with the promise of great service.

Many important facets of your business, from sales to team communication to customer retention, rely on building strong relationships. Whether you are providing exceptional customer service, facilitating a productive meeting or workshop, or hiring a new employee, your ability to create genuine connections will set you and your business apart!

Onboarding new employees is a necessity for all organizations, but sometimes it can feel like a drag. It doesn’t have to be that way! Of course, your new employees need to get trained and get comfortable with the way your business operates, and there are a lot of logistics to figure out as well. At AdvantEdge, we do our best to take as many of these worries of your plate as we can, so that your staff doesn’t miss a beat and the new team member is up to speed in no time.

We have always had many hardworking and successful teleworkers in the AdvantEdge Community, and their numbers have grown substantially over the past year as more people have decided to work at home. For over thirty years, we have built our reputation on providing top-notch infrastructure and support to allow  professionals to work effectively and efficiently whether they are at home or on the road.

Data breaches at major global corporations in the past few years have have demonstrated how vulnerable all of our personal information can be. If major corporations like these are at risk of being hacked, individuals who don't have the resources to implement complex security systems to protect their data are clearly at risk as well. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we are all mindful of protecting our personal data; here are a few simple security tips that will give you some peace of mind.

Virtual events come with their own unique set of challenges. Planning one online is a very different experience from executing one in-person. Right now, meetings are still essential, and if you can’t put off holding it in-person any longer, going virtual is the right solution. How can you ensure that your event will have people ready to turn on their cameras and mics to participate? Follow the tips below to set yourself up for success!

Be Prepared with the Right Space

Even though your event is all online, the physical space that you are in still matters. Utilizing a serviced workspace can help you focus on what truly matters and leaves elements like the set-up to experienced staff members. You will have a professional backdrop for the event while having crisp audio and video. Renting a meeting room to get on a video call may seem counterintuitive, but it can be what takes your event experience to the next level.

We all have coworkers who seem to have it all together—including what seems like an impossible exercise routine. We imagine them waking up at 5 AM and tossing together a body and mind nourishing smoothie, heading out for a run while watching the sun rise, and still managing to arrive early at the office with the kind of glow you can’t pay for. Or maybe they use their lunch hour for a local yoga class, hit the gym for a session with a personal trainer after the day ends, or any other number of time-consuming fitness activities.

At AdvantEdge Workspaces, we don’t believe in ‘one size fits all.’ Each organization has unique challenges, strengths and processes. It’s our job to help find a workspace and administrative support solution to meet the needs of each community member! When we say ‘Your office, your way’, we truly mean it! A major part of daily business is conducted over the phone, so our team goes above and beyond to offer exceptional live-reception service. We will truly build our service around you; allowing you to create your own personalized phone greeting and forwarding plan that will best suit your needs. 

Lately, many of the routines and procedures we rely on to manage our businesses have been upended. As more professionals than ever have turned to working from home, it’s crucial to keep our lines of communication open and our organizations running smoothly! AdvantEdge has over 30 years of practice in providing on-call support and flexible solutions to our community members; and our service has allowed them to keep working without missing a beat during these trying times.

The number of professionals relying on virtual office space has grown considerably over the past decade, and especially surged in the past year, with more people than ever working from home. The concept of virtual office space has become a sought-after alternative for many businesses that are looking to maintain or establish their own unique, professional image in a cost-effective manner.  At AdvantEdge Workspaces, our virtual office space packages offer a robust infrastructure of administrative support and professional facilities that set the platform for any organization to thrive! 

With a new year comes new trends for workplaces worldwide. Coming off of 2020, which changed the office landscape forever, it will be interesting to see where the workplace community goes in 2021. We have rounded up three trends to look out for that may impact how we work and live this upcoming year.

A new year can bring new opportunities and challenges for your business. Here are a few ways you can structure for success to set yourself up for a positive and productive 2021:

To say the office experience has changed this year is an understatement. No matter what industry, everyone had to rethink how we function at work and how our space serves us. As we head into 2021 still facing social-distancing measures, think about your office space and how it can best serve you. We often make personal resolutions for the New Year, but it is also the perfect time to make goals surrounding your workspace experience. Here are four goals you can set to have your best year at work yet:

Running a business requires a lot of attention and energy, as hard as you work you can't do it all by yourself! Investing in a Virtual Office will help reduce your stress, improve your productivity, and provide new growth opportunities for you and your business. AdvantEdge's Virtual Office service offers full-time live reception with customized mail and phone handling. You can take AdvantEdge of having this great support structure to be happier at work and home during the Holidays! 

This year, the holiday season looks different in almost every way. At the office, December is typically a cheery month, filled with various festivities. So much of what we love about this time of year is how it brings us all together. In a time where we have to stay apart, there are still ways to celebrate your team and wrap up the year by getting creative with solutions to having a virtual office holiday party.

If you’ve been looking for a sign to take the business idea in your head to the next level, this blog is it! December is National Write a Business Plan Month and is the perfect time to put your thoughts to paper and take the first step in launching your idea. We’re breaking down the must-have elements so that you can craft a successful business plan.

Don’t let a busy schedule get in the way of your personal health! Self-care can consist of doing little things throughout the day to keep yourself sane, focused and happy. Find free moments throughout the day between meetings or emails to silence your email and do something for yourself. Taking care of yourself is crucial to a being productive and happy at work, so try these easy tips to practice self-care:

Like many aspects of our nation’s capital, a professional office space can be expensive, inconvenient or inflexible. AdvantEdge's Washington DC office centers are an ideal solution to this frustrating problem- offering executive offices for firms large and small seeking affordable and conveniently located representation in Washington, DC. For attorneys seeking to work from home without missing a beat, our Virtual Office service provides the ideal professional infrastructure! 

A serviced workspace can help you through the busy holiday season. Between end of the year business and tying up loose ends before time off, you could use all the assistance possible! In a serviced workspace, the holidays can be an enjoyable time where you can truly unwind, instead of worrying if your office needs are taken care of. Here’s how your workspace can help make December the most wonderful time of year, even at work:

Whether it’s answering your own calls or scribbling your phone number on a cocktail napkin instead of being ready with a business card, professionalism can be a looming hurdle between new businesses and future growth. Acquiring virtual office space offers an inexpensive solution to such obstacles by providing professional services to emerging organizations. With a professional infrastructure and organizational assistance, virtualization can revolutionize the way your small business or startup. Here are 5 reasons you will be glad your business went virtual!

Over the past year, we've seen a major increase in the number of professionals working from home worldwide. This transition has presented its challenges, but also shown us new ways we can be productive in our work and collaborate effectively with others.  As we continue to redefine the future of the workspace, business owners may see benefit from continuing to have their employees work remotely or semi-remotely. There are some challenges to managing a remote team, but with communication and structure your team can be more productive than ever!

“Holiday season” at work typically means decorations in the lobby, office parties, too many holiday cookies and several gift baskets from clients and colleagues. But this is also the season when we reflect on all we can be grateful for and take the opportunity to give what we can to those in need in our communities.

Today is #GivingTuesday, a day that originated as a response to the personal spending that occurs on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The idea of the day is to give money, time, or goods to organizations in need after you finish your holiday shopping frenzy. #GivingTuesday has grown in the era of social media and is often stylized with the hashtag because people share their activities across different platforms. Whether today or anytime throughout this season, take time as a workspace to give back to the community! We have five easy ways you and your coworkers can participate in #GivingTuesday.

It’s the season of giving thanks, and although holiday celebrations will look different this year, there are still things you can do at the office to get in the turkey day spirit! Whether you are back in your shared workspace all together or working remotely, we have five activities that any team can enjoy, no matter where you are in the world!