hq10india-blog

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Co-Working Space – A Boon Or A Bane

Today as I’m sitting in my chic smart office and trying to pen a few lines, my thoughts are rudely interrupted by a team of admin and accounts staff. ‘Hey! What are you doing in your own world when the office is falling apart…? The fountain is leaking, the art piece you started is lying half finished, the problem with the power back and there’s more’. My left brain reels with the infrastructural challenges thrown in front of me and my right brain tempt me to pursue my writing. It is then that a series of articles about ready-to-work private and co-sharing offices, which I have been reading recently flash in my mind. ‘Are these really a more convenient and hassle-free choice?’,  I ask myself.  I have to admit that while on one hand  -  I am somewhat sceptical about sharing office space with strangers and unknown faces – on the other hand, I do see a surprising number of advantages that people may or may not be aware of in these kinds of arrangements. Here’s a snapshot of them at a glance

Your space is ready-to-work, so no hassles and worries about the facilities

You can focus solely on your work and hence your productivity increases

You can take your space as and when you require – this flexibility gives you a huge cost saving

You don’t have to make huge investments – rental advance, furniture etc

You don’t incur monthly recurring expenditure such as electricity, telephone, office assistant etc

You reduce the number of common office overheads like broadband and printer cost as you are sharing it with others

You get 24 x 7 access to a host of technology amenities like high-speed broadband, wifi, high-tech presentation equipment etc

You have an elegant and smartly done up office to invite customers

Most of these spaces are situated in prime locations, making it accessible for your customers

You get to work at a high-quality office or location otherwise beyond your budget

You get more mobility and not having to be chained to long leases

Expand your personal and business networks with fun and ease

Create new opportunities to collaborate on projects too large for your own business

Absorb new ideas from other industries not usually within your network

When you surround yourself with a group of people who are working hard your productivity increases

Now it’s time for you to chew your teeth on which scores – Your own office space or a co-working space. If you feel totally at home operating from a co-working space, then do a thorough research of the players in the market and choose the one that provides the best in terms of - location, ambience, amenities, co-working community and cost. Check out HQ10 at Guindy, Chennai -  a new generation workspace that offers you the cumulative impact of all functional, rational and emotional benefit expectations.  Not just that, being promoted by Radiance Realty - a leading real estate player, you can be assured of top-class maintenance and reliability.

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MY MIND. MY WORK SPACE

I am smitten by this new generation workspace bug ‘co-working spaces’ that offers business efficiency and networking together with substantial cost saving. The curious person that I am, I couldn’t resist an exploration of this kind of workspace …so here I embark on this journey.

Before I get started let me first share with you the kind of person that I am – a potent combination of moods, whims, fancies which also dictates the kind of office space that appeals to me every now and then. So here is me: ‘ Monday – The Serene Thinker – Hungry for my own privacy’, ‘Tuesday – The Analyst – Crazy to pick intelligent brains’, ‘Wednesday - The Hot-Blooded Creator looking for creative minds who can double up as bouncing boards’ ……and the list is endless. So I always have the devil in me questioning – ‘Are these staid, standard-format new generation co-work spaces for a person like me? Let’s find out……

I open the doors of this newly launched private office and co-working space called HQ10. And I find myself stepping into an elegant and not just well-lit and cheerful but also energetic lobby. Smart and friendly executives greet me with a warm smile, which definitely made a good start to my day. I start out with ‘I am not sure about whether I want…..’ and pat comes to the reply from the friendly staff ‘Never mind, Spare us a few minutes and allow us to take you through a tour of HQ10 Private Office and Co-Work Spaces’.

I was walked through winding corridors of elegant closed private cabins – compact, fitted with comfy desks – 3/5/7/15/20 seaters and some even with an enclosed cubicle. ‘Ideal for those who want privacy and thinking space’ my friendly guide said – and I wholeheartedly agreed as the soft blue and grey décor and beautiful art piece that adorns the wall, subtly triggered my thinking. Painting this picture perfect were groups of corporate teams efficiently going about their work.

From the corporate dignified world, I was ushered into an open workspace, fitted with deep brown artistically crafted desks. As I was just registering this rustic ambience, my guide politely interrupted my thoughts stating ‘Our Co-work spaces meant for those who want work to be lively and productive. And we have two types – Dedicated Desks for those looking for co-working with privacy and Shared Desks for those looking for co-working as a group’. And believe me, this was more than true – with groups of dreamers and doers working, bonding and networking.

‘We have more ‘my guide said. ‘More…?I asked with disbelief. And she went on to explain, yet another kind of workspace – The Virtual Office, meant for those who simply wanted Telephone Answering and Despatch Services.

Again my guide quipped ‘Last but not the least we have well-appointed Conference Rooms, Meeting Rooms and Discussion Rooms, fitted with all presentation gizmos that you can ask for ‘

My mind reeled with positive thoughts ‘So here is MY SPACE ----Private Cabins for the thinker in me, Co-work Dedicated Desks for the analyst in me, Co-work Shared Desks for the creator in me’. ‘Now I get the full picture.’ I told my friendly guide….’No! Not still.’ she replied with a mischievous smile.

HQ10 Private Cabins and Co-work Spaces offer you all the amenities of a Business Centre – Cloud Server, High Speed Internet, Wi-Fi, Presentation Equipment, Digital Printers, Scanners, Photocopiers, Fax Machines, Collection / Despatch Services, Air-conditioning, 100% Power Backup, House Keeping and Security Service and 24 x 7 Access. And don’t miss this! HQ10 Private Office and Co-work Spaces are not just about work. It is very much about after work fun too.

I was now whisked into HQ10’s Leisure Zone complete with Play Station 4, Library and cosy couch chairs to relax. Where you can chill out, gossip and network with your like-minded community. Then I had a peek-view of the compact pantry and dining area, where you can munch away your own lunch and sip cups of coffee and tea which is on-the-house.

‘Well!’ I said, ‘ I guess all this comes at a fat price’. To which my guide’s prompt response was ‘Not at all. Actually, it comes with a saving. Because HQ10 Private Office and Co-work Spaces give you the power of flexibility. You can take space and as and when you need it. You save on rental advance. You share electricity, telephone, housekeeping and other operational costs. So if you do a proper math you’ll realize that HQ10 is all about saving than about spending’

‘Wait! I have one more question’, I said a little sheepishly, ‘HQ10 has a beautiful ambience, but you know what, somewhere down the line when I work I would want to add a personal touch to it. ‘‘Of course’ my guide replied, ‘HQ10 is your personal workspace. You are free to do up your desk the way you want it – may be a few nostalgic photographs, cute posters on your pin-up board, colourful stationery and anything else that cheers you’.

Soon my guide and I sat down to choose the kind of workspace that would best suit my needs. Armed with a complimentary HQ10 Stationery Kit (apparently it is a welcome kit they give gift to every member), I walked out as one more happy HQ10 member

Now as I come to the tail end of the article, I just can’t wait for the next week – when I will actually start working out of HQ10. Until then ‘Happy Guessing’ whether ‘I will start off as a ‘Thinker or Analyst or Creator’

- Indu

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Radiance Realty’s co-working space

http://hq10.in/

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/radiance-realty/article22800327.ece

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Park your plans and briefcases here

http://hq10.in/

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Radiance Realty starts co-working space in Guindy

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/radiance-realty-starts-co-working-space-in-guindy/articleshow/62856707.cms?TOI_browsernotification=true

http://hq10.in/

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Home buying unchanged: Radiance Realty CMD

https://www.newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/02/27/home-buying-unchanged-radiance-realty-cmd/

http://hq10.in/

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CO-WORKING THE TRUMP CARD FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Gaurav Khanna and his four close colleagues, after a 15 year stint into a hi-fi corporate work culture, decided to pursue their heart’s passion which was all about gamification of education materials for NGOs working with economically and socially deprived children. At first the living room, kitchen and bedroom served as an office space. But very soon it became challenging – family disturbances, non-professional work ambience leading to an in-disciplined work culture anda load of daily hassles - because of which they couldn’t focus on their business. Realising that they had outgrown the ‘Home Office Set up’, they decided to look for a formal office and drew out a check list of what they needed to do:

Search for rented house or office space.

Pay advance-- 10months rent.

Broker charge one month rent.

Renovate the house / Office space with all necessary office setup as per need.

If it is a house the electrical connection to be changed to commercial.

New Internet connection.

Setup a Pantry and maintain it.

Housekeeping to be hired.

Parking space – if it is a house.

Security of the office if it is a house.

Then suddenly it dawned on them, that they could get rid of all the “PAIN” by simply opting for Co-working / Shared Office Spaces where all these and more are “READY MADE”. Yes Co-working / Shared Office Space is theTRUMP CARD for not just Gaurav Khanna but also to many other self-employed, start-ups and small firmsto run a successful business.

HQ10 a new generation private office and Co-work space located in the heart of Guindy provides office space for start-ups, free lancers, small businesses and even corporates who are looking for expansion. As against conventional office spaces, HQ10’s offering can help POWER YOUR BUSINESS. Let’s see how:

Connecting with Like-Minded people: Working in isolation prevents you from interacting and honeycombing with people in your industry. At HQ10 there is a mix of professionals of varied profiles and therefore it ends up as a melting pot of inspiration, energy and business networking. Enjoying the energy of individuals who share the same philosophy as you, can open many doors for your business, and help you expand and grow your professional network base. Further Co-working provides instant access to a larger database of knowledge – since there are all kinds of people working in these spaces, financial wizards, start-ups, business men, creative minds, IT nerds, marketing gurus and more, If you are having problems in any of these fields, you can take the help of these people.

The HQ10 Co-work space ambience is efficiently calm and will help you concentrate and work even harder. The energy in other workers will inspire you to do much more than what you could earlier.

Lower costs. - Shared office spaces are almost always cheaper than their full-office counterparts. Leasing an office space has a dual expense – rent advance and monthly overheads. Whereas at HQ10 Co-working space, your setup costs are cut down, scalability becomes as easy as hiring an extra work desk as and when required and thus its cost effectiveness makes sound business sense.

Reduce Cost- You don’t need a cash outlay for installing all the latest office technology that is crucial for effective interaction with colleagues and client. And you don’t have the hassles of administration too. It’s all included in the HQ10 Co-working space pricing. Printing facilities, high-speed internet connection, computerised phone system, reception assistance, coffee lounge and more. You can enjoy access to the office facilities of large corporations, without the high financial demands and maintenance requirements, giving your business a professional air.

Smaller commitments - Leases tend to cover periods of several years, and owning a building is an investment that can (or should) last for at least a couple of decades. HQ10 Shared office space, on the other hand, can be reduced to monthly, daily, or even hourly rentals. If your needs do change often, this is a critical arrangement.

Flexibility - Flexibility is the name of the game in the HQ10 Co-working universe. The multitude of options range from - separate meeting rooms, flexi seating arrangements, dedicated desks / seating arrangements on a monthly, weekly or even a daily basis, private cabins and even virtual offices - to suit the budgetary requirements of individual professionals or start-ups.

HQ10 Co-working facilities, help entrepreneurs find office spaces that are no less than that of any multi-national company - equipped with required amenities such as WiFi, fax, conference rooms, recreational areas, etc effectively providing a fully functional and serviced solution ready for occupation without the hassle of setting up one.

Fewer responsibilities. – In HQ10 Co-working space you have fewer responsibilities to worry about. Things like cleaning and maintenance are taken care of by the building’s owners. This is one reason why millennials tend to prefer renting over owning; most of the annoying tasks and responsibilities are already assigned to professional experts.There is also a group of support staff who will help you in routine chores -- you will no longer have to take your own printouts or make your own coffee.

So if you are a start-up/entrepreneur looking to grow your business, start with a smart move and get going with the HQ10 Trump Card.

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ALL WORK BUT NO NETWORK CAN KILL EVEN THE MOST BRILLIANT BUSINESS

As I muse back on my professional journey, my buried pet project looms tearfully at me, as if accusing me ‘Had you given me the right attention and nurtured me, I would have been flying sky-high instead of lying motionless under this tomb’. This makes me cringe, because heart of hearts I know that I gave it my best. The idea was brilliant, my effort was whole-hearted – where then did I lose out? Without hesitation I would say it was about ‘ALL WORK AND NO NETWORK’. Whether it was for funding or for allied industry knowledge legalities or for client and vendor connects – I was either groping about on my own or googling or was looking up to a set of connections I had – and kept circling within a defined boundary.

It was not that I was unaware of the power and utility of business networking, but it was just that I did not focus on it and worse still conveniently chose to ignore it. Looking back I guess it could have largely been due to the influence of social media. Maybe some where down the line I got to believe that ‘friending/following a person on social media was the ultimate of networking. But now I have understood that the answer is a clear ‘No’. Social networks merely facilitate a ‘casual connect’ – where as physical networking has the ability to build rapport and create long-lasting bonds that lead to fruitful associations.

Now comes my next challenge - ‘How can a compulsive introvert like me ever build a network’. The answer is ‘the simple, popularly growing co-working spaces’ – where hundreds of people like me come to work energetically, build a network and grow business.

While there are several co-working spaces in Chennai, one of them which left a lasting impression in me was – HQ10, a new generation private office and co-work space, promoted by Radiance Realty. What made this place attractive to me were not just the comprehensive business amenities that they offered, but also the right blend of privacy and group work - created by its tastefully designed private office spaces, shared and dedicated co-work spaces, meeting rooms and informal leisure lounges. Allowing you your own space and at the same time giving you access to a network of like-minded professionals

Just take a look at the various ways in which HQ10 Network of like-minded professionals can help:

How HQ10 Networking helps

Generation of referrals/Increased business

This is probably the most obvious benefit and the reason why start-ups, small businesses and freelancers choose HQ10 co-working space as against traditional office spaces. The referrals that you get through networking are normally high quality and most of the time are even pre-qualified for you. You can then follow up on these referrals/leads and turn them into clients.

Opportunities

Opportunities like joint ventures, client leads, partnerships, vendor connects … the list goes on, and the opportunities within networking are really endless.

Pick the right opportunity that aligns with your business and goals and you will find yourself going places.

Connections

Networking provides you with a great source of connections, and really opens the door to growth. It’s not just about who you are networking with directly either – that person will already have a network you can tap into as well. So ask the right questions to find out if the person you are networking with knows who you want to know!

Advice

Having like-minded business owners to talk to also gives you the opportunity to get advice from them on all sorts of things related to your business or even your personal life and obtaining that important work-life balance.

Self Image and Confidence Building

Being visible and getting noticed is a big benefit of networking. When you regularly attend business and social events, you will slowly become a known face. You can then help to build your reputation as a knowledgeable, reliable and supportive person by offering useful information or tips to people who need it. You are also more likely to get more leads and referrals as you will be the one that pops into their head when they need what you offer.

Positive Influence

The people that you hang around with and talk to do influence who you are and what you do, At HQ10 you will find yourself surrounded by positive uplifting people who can help your business grow and thrive

Knowledge Enhancement

By interacting and networking with the like-minded professionals across varied industries at HQ10, you will soon find that you are adding quantumly to your knowledge bank prowess which you could have otherwise never done. This is really important as a business owner, because your business growth is very dependent on your overall exposure.

Improves your self-worth

Helping others and effectively contributing your time improves your self-worth. You simply feel better at the end of the day, like you made a difference. That comes about by helping others to achieve their goals. In turn, they look to help you when needed.

Friendship

Lastly, this one is more personal related rather than business related, but is a big benefit none-the-less. Many friendships form as a result of networking because (mostly) you are all like-minded business owners that want to grow your businesses, and you meet and help each other regularly, so naturally strong friendships tend to form.

All you enthusiastic and energetic start-ups, freelancers and small business firms, I reiterate ‘ ALL WORK BUT NO NETWORK CAN KILL EVEN THE MOST BRILLIANT BUSINESS’. So when you want to grow your business by leaps and bounds, JOIN THE HQ10 NETWORK! AND SIMPLY POWER ON!

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Zero Stress Working at HQ10

Have you ever felt like tearing your hair out at work? Or banging your head against a brick wall? Relax! Be assured that you are as normal as any one else, with a ‘live or die' attitude towards everyday office situations, such as an impossible deadlines, workplace inconveniences/challenges and a heavy workload. But over time, this mounting hazard has the potential to wreak havoc on more than just your work performance. If you are unable to reduce stress at work, it is guaranteed to seep into parts of your personal life as well.

At HQ10 co-working and private office space, we have woven our business model to effectively reduce the varied stresses that business owners and employees are subject to. In fact, we help them move towards ‘ZERO STRESS' and emerge as more effective and more productive in today's go-go-go world.

Here's how HQ10 combats stress:

Zero Investment Stress

Now we all know that starting an office and subsequently running it is no joke. There could be no bigger stress than the burden of making the initial capital investment for the rent advance, interiors, furnishing, etc. At HQ10 you are absolved of this financial stress, because there is no rent deposit/advance - instead you pay just a monthly rent and that too only for the space you actually use (thanks to the flexible space policies of HQ10, which allows you to block and use space as and when you need it). And of course the plush interiors and ergonomic furniture come as part of the package.

Zero Expense Stress

Haven't we all experienced it before … the nightmares of running up expenses that we have either not adequately planned for or those that have cropped up unexpectedly. Giving us sleepless nights on the d-dates when we have to make payouts for these expenses. At HQ10, you'll experience no such shocks. Because the monthly rent you pay is ‘all inclusive' - not just for the space but also includes: electricity, telephone, high-speed internet/ wi-fi / cloud server, power back-up, collection/ delivery/, reception desk services, use of business amenities (such as use of TV/ projector for presentations), pantry/dining area, after-work leisure amenities(like library and PlayStation), office maintenance, security and so on.. To top all this, the monthly rent is truly pocket-friendly

Yet another stress relief at HQ10 comes from their transparent policies on deliverables and pricing. Very simply put there are ‘No Hidden Costs'. So somewhere down the line you will neither hear ‘this costs extra…' Nor ‘This is not included in this cost'. Simply put, ‘What you Plan/Budget is what you pay' and at the same time ‘What HQ10 promises is what you get'.

Zero Time-Wastage Stress

Time is the biggest stress creator especially when we find that we have worked more than 16 hours and yet not delivered our work - because we wasted a good few hours in trying to address office maintenance challenges. HQ10 treats ‘Time as Money' and helps you manage your time more productively by slashing down the time you need to spend on running and maintaining an office

HQ10 takes full charge of the office space maintenance – right from the security to the office cleaning to the working of the pantry, electrical/ telephone/ internet connections, air-conditioners, and other utility facilities. Which means no more stress in running behind repairs or scouting for temporary skilled workers to fix daily breakdowns and so on

Zero Non-productive Working Stress

Lack of business amenities is a big culprit when it comes to business stress. At HQ10we have a full suite of business support services – high-speed internet/wifi, cloud server, photocopying, digital outputs, presentation gadgets, reception/collection and delivery services and more. And we make sure that all these run seamlessly to ensure that your business runs productively. Reach out to our staff - our administrative team is all about helping you get the job done. From photocopying to scheduling, bookkeeping, and all of your back-office tasks, we are here to help.

Zero Fire Fighting Stress

Life is unexpected ….and so is business. We never know when an opportunity /threat may crop up.

For instance, It could be something as simple as – ‘requiring a projector for a client presentation' or ‘500 digital outputs needed in 30 min‘ to something as complex as '10 additional seats required overnight‘ or ‘posh meeting room required to entertain‘. And our stress levels simply go up!. HQ10 beats this stress down in one shot – as they are geared up and ready for any kind of emergencies/surprises the working members would spring on them

Zero Scouting Stress

At some point, every business needs support advisory services from other industries. It could be a bookkeeping advice or a legal complication or IT challenge or piece of communication to be developed or a connection to be established or just a simple pep-talk. Finding the right person at the right cost is indeed a challenge and a big stress. At HQ10 you automatically overcome this by networking with like-minded professionals from varied industries – learning, contributing and growing together

Zero Clock-Watching Stress

You have a deadline. The office doors and lights shut after the sunset… and you are left high and dry. Sounds familiar! Right? But at HQ10 you're free of this ‘Clock-Watching Culture' – thanks to its 24x7 access policy

Zero Boredom Stress

Most of us who are working, end up spending 50% of the waking hours at the office. So instead of being a moron staring at your desk or a Robo meddling with virtual avatars on the phone – at HQ10 you get a chance to interact with like-minded people during your work breaks. Professional Socializing always is a big stress buster and also widens your network.

Zero Monotony Stress

When you are sapped out and stressed, don't push yourself more. Instead, take a few minutes break and recharge yourself. HQ10 has Step Out / Stress Break Zones – here you can simply relax on a bean bag listening to soothing music or settle in the library nook and read up your favorite author or unleash your gaming skills at our Play Station or step into our Cafeteria and exchange some gossip and professional notes.

Zero Access Stress

How often have each one of us stressed ourselves in rush-morning hours, trying to convince a cab/auto driver to drive us to a specific location or in hurrying (I mean literally running a race) from the station/bus stand to reach office on time? At HQ10 you can bid goodbye to this access stress. HQ10 is centrally located at Guindy in Chennai. So you will not face the peak-morning irritation and stress of having to convince or haggle with a cab/auto driver to drive you down to the office. HQ10 is just a few minutes’ walk from the Guindy Station / Metro Station and Bus Terminus.

With a perfect splash of muted and energetic colors, an open flow layout with quiet zone cabins,  a generous sprinkling of artworks and well marked de-stress zones, HQ10 provides a ZERO STRESS affordable work environment for all.

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12 WAYS TO BEAT WORK STRESS

It is a plum job all right – the power, the social status, the money, the luxury … but then see the flip side of it - You don't eat lunch, you lay awake at night obsessing over your to-do list, you spend half the weekend worrying about Monday morning. Try as you might, relaxing is just not an option. And then your work stress is starting to affect your personal life. Here's some good news: It’s perfectly normal to be anxious about your job. And the better news: There are some simple changes you can make to gain more control over your work life and be able to relax again in your free time.

Here’s how

Relook your morning activities

Every morning, are you waking up opening your eyes and ears to your virtual avatar? Little wonder you feel frantic and four times your biological age! Instead, consider easing yourself into the day. Spend a few minutes meditating, do a quick morning yoga sequence, go for a jog, or take a few minutes looking at nature. You will have a more relaxed approach to your day

Pre-plan

One of the biggest mistakes people make that causes work stress is the lack of pre-planning. You are reacting to issues and problems instead of preparing for them. Plan out your week. Figure out your most productive time and maximize your tasks and responsibilities when you are at your best.

Take Control of What You Can

Not feeling in control can often contribute to anxiety about work. And while getting in control of your entire work life is a longer-term project, there are smaller things that you can organize in no time to ease some of your anxiety. For example, organize your inbox, prioritize your to-dos first thing in the morning and so on

Keep your Job in Perspective

Sometimes, when tension peaks at work, we feel a heart rate surge. While it is important to be committed, meet deadlines and perform at work, you should also remind yourself from time to time, that the building up stress-levels is not the answer. More often than not the stressed-tensed mind will aggravate the issue/problem rather than solving it. More so it will take a toll on the health which in turn will further hinder your performance. In case of difficult situations, keep calm, take a deep breath and see how to work around the situation keeping damages to the minimal

Don’t Multi-task

Multi-tasking can reduce productivity, and in the end, you aren’t accomplishing everything. Make a list of items you need to complete and focus on one at a time. Turn off all the distractions and block out your calendar to do only that one item. You will be surprised at how much quicker it gets done than if you were distracted!

Don’t Try to be Perfect

This is something I have struggled with a lot. Every day I used to make a after list of ‘How I could become Picture Perfect’, until a wise soul told me “You know, you don’t have to be perfect.” I then realized I had a much higher standard for myself than all the others in my team. Slowly, I learned to accept practicality and do the best job with the given resources

Don’t try to be a People Pleaser

Make a priority list and start saying no. Don’t worry about being a people pleaser. Not everyone will like you, and not everyone will be happy with what you do and say. Strive to earn respect from the people you work with instead.

Learn to say no or present your boss or co-workers with reasons why you can’t do what they have asked of you. If you have too much on your plate - say so. Also, set realistic expectations. That way both of you are on the same page and he doesn’t come asking about it an hour later.

Stay out of your inbox

Your inbox does not need to be turned on all day. Just because you received an email doesn’t mean it requires an immediate response. You can’t live in your inbox because you won’t get the important things done. It takes four hours to do any productive project, and you won’t be able to do that if you are always reacting and putting out fires.

Turn off your automatic email notification. Or even better, turn your inbox offline and focus on the big tasks that need to get done. Set a schedule to check your inbox at certain times. If this is an issue with people you work with, let them know this schedule or leave an automatic out-of-office message that says, “In an effort to serve my clients, I am only checking email at….Emails will be returned at that time.” React when you want to react.

Take Breaks

There will always be another email to read and another tab to open on your internet browser—work is infinity, but work without breaks is detrimental to your health. Log off from the digital space consistently every couple hours, even if it’s just to walk around the block and take in some greenery or to chat up with a colleague. Undoubtedly this will help bust stress and rejuvenate when you get back to work

Track your stressors

Many people don’t even realize they are stressed. Stress is the loss of control of your life. It is setting up expectations improperly. Stress comes from other people’s pressure on you to perform or deliver. Beating stress allows you to take more control of your life. Keep a journal for a week or two to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them. Record your thoughts, feelings, and information about the environment, including the people and circumstances involved, the physical setting and how you reacted. Develop healthy responses.

Assess Your Food and Drink

Monitor your intake of caffeine, sugar, and processed foods? That's like pumping fuel into your tensed and stressed mind. Try making a few healthy swaps - drink water or herbal tea instead of caffeinated drinks. Instead of reaching for sugary processed foods when you’re stressed, try balancing foods like blueberries, almonds, and seaweed. The nutrients in whole foods you eat to maintain a balanced diet will not reduce your anxiety, but they very well may help your mental well-being.

Exercise—Even if You Don’t Want To

While you may be thinking a few extra hours of works will help you crack the strategy and deliver a winning sales plan,  you’re probably better off doing some strategic sweating. Remember: Exercise doesn’t just burn calories—studies show that it burns off stress and anxiety, too. So even if you are not naturally inclined to work out, see if you can get yourself into a set regimen inspired by a class, a friend who is willing to speed walk or jog with you after work, or even a fitness app or gadget. Your body—and your stress levels—will thank you for it.

Find Time to Decompress

If you are in a work environment that is sucking the energy out of you, make sure you also schedule time for yourself in a better environment with people who fulfil you and build you up. Invite some friends over for dinner or head to the library for the day or watch a movie or play a sport or shop. Do what will make you happy and get your mind off work!!

In most cases, anxiety and stress can be overcome by making work lifestyle changes. This is typically possible in energetic and happening Co-working and Private Office Space such as HQ10 at Guindy in Chennai. At HQ10 Co-working and Private Office Space, we have woven our business model to effectively reduce the varied stresses that businesses are subject to. In fact, we help businesses move towards ‘ZERO STRESS’ and emerge more effective and more productive in today’s go-go-go world.

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WORK 200% HAPPY - Part 2

#14 Respect others to earn respect.

If someone in the office is not doing fine with their tasks, do not mock them. Instead, help everyone in need. You are on the same team with the same goal of upping your career to the next level. Why not do it together, instead of competing with every person in the office? When your colleagues see you as a friend whom they can always count on, they will admire you and respect will always be visible between the two of you.

#15 Be Kind and say “Thank you.”

Everyone likes to be appreciated. Express verbal gratitude towards your colleagues and the people around you. Give compliments when deserved. Receiving expressions of gratitude makes us feel a heightened sense of self-worth and creates a better environment.

#16 Don’t get into office politics.

It’s easy to get trapped in the web of office politics. But gossiping about who’s going to get fired only serves to make you worried about your own job. While some gossip is harmless, politely excuse yourself from the conversation when it takes a negative turn.

#17 Leave Personal Problems at Home

It is quite normal to have problems at home, too. If you have one, or two, or many, do not bring them to work. Letting your domestic problems stay in your head will have a negative impact on your career. Your officemates and colleagues will have a hard time working with you. Emotions are contagious, and if bad vibes are circulating around the office, you can never tackle your pending jobs well.

#18 Create an 'Office Nest'

Since you spend so much time at work, if you want to improve your happiness there, you should "make your space your own, decorate your area as much as your company policy permits, and make yourself as comfortable and relaxed as you can be in your office."

#19 Take regular breaks.

Taking frequent breaks makes the workday less monotonous and relieves your exhaustion, both of which contribute to boredom. Unfortunately, scrolling through your Facebook news feed doesn’t count. You have to stand up to make your break work for you. Take a quick lap around the office, or go outside for maximum benefit.

#20 Give importance to your Lunch Break

Don’t eat lunch at your desk, change environments, if you can, go for a walk. Practice some Walking Meditation. or have a walk in a park

#21 Protect your personal life.

A few late nights at the office? OK. Bringing home piles of work every night? Not OK. While constantly working at home might feel productive, it’ll overwhelm you and make you hate your job. Leave your work at work. Doing so will also remind you-you're not defined by your job, even though it can feel like it at times.

#22 Eat Healthy and Stay Hydrated

Maintaining a good diet and keeping yourself properly hydrated throughout your workday can really make a big difference in your energy level and attitude."

#23 Move Around

Whether it's finding the time to take a walk outside, run up and down the stairs on your break, stretch, or do a 10-minute exercise, moving around often throughout the workday has a number of beneficial effects--even if you regularly exercise and eat healthy.

#24 Count your blessings.

Being thankful makes you happier, and that goes double at the workplace. When you have a bad day, write down everything you’re grateful for at work – even if it’s as basic as “I’m thankful to have a job.” Want a daily reminder? Stick a post-it note that says “No Complaining” on your desk and see how it affects your day.

#25 Practice some Conscious Breathing

During your working day, remember to practice some conscious breathing, it can definitely help you be less stressed and more relaxed. When we are upset or stressed our breathing becomes quick and shallow. Breathing deeply and slowly instantly calms us down mentally as well as physically.

#26 Go on a vacation

Take time off to recharge from the stress of work. In fact, taking a vacation not only relieves stress and recharges us, it can also improve our overall health and make us more productive at work.

Make everything in your workplace enjoyable. Do not overthink of how much money you will earn or when you will have your promotion. Just be on the positive side and let time give all the rewards for your hard work. Set up your goals and think of reasons why you are so determined to do your job. Spend time with your family too, and relax. Do not forget to unwind and enjoy other great things in life.

HQ10 Co-working and Private Office Spaces provides a work ambience that assures you 100% Peace and 100% Value ----making it a 200% Happiness-Filled Working Place.

[hq10india-blog]

WORK 200% HAPPY - Part 1

On completing our education, we move on to a career – it could either be an ambition and passion that we have nurtured all our lives or it could simply be a job that we have been able to lay our hands on so that we can earn money to secure the rest of our life. Whatever it is, don’t forget that almost all of us spend more than 70% of our adult life and most of our waking hours working - consequently, if we want to live a happy life, is very important to be happy at work.

Try these tips to stay happy at work

#1 Set Goals Setting goals improves your mood because everybody likes taking control of their own life. Figure out attainable short and long-term goals, then create a step-by-step plan to complete them. You’ll find new purpose in each workhour and could even set yourself up for a raise at the year’s end by showing your boss exactly what you’ve accomplished.

#2 Make your work easier and better List all the tasks you need to accomplish at the end of the day. Mark those that are urgent and those that are not. If you arrive at work early, sit back and relax for a while and then do the simplest tasks first; answer emails and make phone calls, or print necessary documents. A sense of accomplishment and fulfilment means having a meaningful and happier vibe at work.\

#3 Don't Multitask Multitasking "wastes more time than it saves and decreases concentration and creativity.Instead of getting overwhelmed by the amount of work you're trying to juggle through multitasking, focus on one task at a time. Many do well with a simple checklist to accomplish this.

#4 Don’t bite off more than you can chew The fastest way to get depressed at work is to pile way too much stuff onto your plate. Don’t commit to projects you can’t complete. Already overwhelmed? Ask your co-workers to help you out, or delegate to anybody you’re in charge of.

#5 Learn a new skill Stuck in a rut at the office? Learning a new skill will help you feel inspired When you’ve mastered this skill, teach it to others. You’ll reinforce your knowledge and feel great helping others at the same time.

#6 Stay in the loop Nobody likes feeling out of the loop at the office. But it’s your responsibility to learn the information you need to do your job. Instead of waiting for your boss to come to you, take the initiative. Set up your own system, whether it’s daily emails to colleagues or a weekly meeting with your boss.

#7 Mix up fun and boring tasks Every job has both tasks we love and tasks we hate. Some people advocate doing all the boring tasks at once, but try spacing them throughout the workday so you don’t dread any particular hour. Just make sure to find that balance. A day filled with only tasks you love might feel great at first, but you’ll be disappointed when the rest of the week is exceptionally boring.

#8 Ask for feedback It’s hard to stay positive when you have no idea how your boss feels about your work. Ask for feedback. But it’s crucial to respond appropriately. If you receive negative feedback, remember that your work is being criticized, not you. So don’t beat yourself up!  Instead, think of ways to improve and present them to your boss at a future date.

#9 Reward Yourself Whether it's by going out to dinner with your significant other, purchasing a new gadget, enjoying a piece of candy, or patting yourself on the back, (the politician applause), find the time to reward yourself after you've completed a project or had a fruitful day.

#10 Reflect on the Day Why are you working so hard? You can answer that question by reflecting on the day and recalling something that was positive. When you record these moments in your notebook, smartphone, tablet, etc., you'll have a reminder of why your work matters to you. You can refer to these statements of positive reflection whenever you need a boost!

#11 Make Work Friends Having friends at work, makes working more fun, enjoyable, worthwhile, and satisfying." Furthermore, it creates a support system, camaraderie and a sense of loyalty

#12 Spread the Smile and give a Happy Hello to everyone Keep smiling and if you see someone without a Smile, give them one of yours. Smiling can improve your happiness at work because it tells your brain to be happier--thanks to the release of neuropeptides. Smiling is also contagious and will make your co-workers smile as well.

#13 Accept People for Who They Are You can't change who people are. Instead of letting their personalities or actions affect you, take a step back. You could try techniques like counting to 10 before responding to them, avoiding finger-pointing, and maintaining a professional attitude.

Take time off to recharge from the stress of work. In fact, taking a vacation not only relieves stress and recharges us, it can also improve our overall health and make us more productive at work.

Make everything in your workplace enjoyable. Do not overthink of how much money you will earn or when you will have your promotion. Just be on the positive side and let time give all the rewards for your hard work. Set up your goals and think of reasons why you are so determined to do your job. Spend time with your family too, and relax. Do not forget to unwind and enjoy other great things in life.

HQ10 Co-working and Private Office Spaces provides a work ambiance that assures you 100% Peace and 100% Value ----making it a 200% Happiness-Filled Working Place.

[hq10india-blog]

HQ10 Private Offices and Coworking Spaces offer a spectrum of amenities that not only make everyday work hassle-free and easy but also pleasurable. Utility, Business and Leisure amenities have been thoughtfully planned and are seamlessly integrated at HQ10 Private Offices and Coworking Spaces. All with the mission of delighting every team member. Above and beyond these amenity offerings, HQ10 Private Offices and Coworking Spaces strives to foster a community of like-minded professionals, so that team members are able to engage with one another and in the process get empowered both professionally and socially.

[hq10india-blog]

HQ10, Chennai offers Private Offices, Coworking, Spaces, Conference Rooms, Meeting Rooms and Virtual Offices with all Business Centre Amenities. These ready to work office spaces increase efficiency and reduce cost-effectively, thereby  "POWERINGYOUR BUSINESS"

[hq10india-blog]

200% WORK HAPPINESS, AT HQ10

HQ10 Co working and Private office space

I just couldn’t stop smiling.

And strangely people around me were wearing pretty smiles on their face too.And as the day passed, all our smiles kept growing – bigger …. and bigger …Was it some ‘infectious smile’ I was beginning to wonder? Am I spreading it?  Am I catching it from someone?Or am I in the Land of Giggles and Smiles? Where, as a little child I had often wondered … every time I read Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway TreeI pinched myself again and over again – and was convinced that I was experiencing something very real ---at this new generation co-work space called HQ10 at Guindy in the city of Chennai. And I realised they were working their smile magic on me as well as on hundreds of others like me.Here’s a snapshot on how they work on this smile magic…HQ10 takes full charge of the office space maintenance – right from security to office cleaning to pantry to working of electricals/ telephone/ internet connections, air-conditioners and other utility facilities. So you can simply focus on your work – without having to worry about the hassle of running behind repairs or scouting for temporary skilled workers to fix daily breakdowns and so on…Adding to this advantage is the fact, that they are geared  up and ready for any kind of emergencies/surprises, that the working members would spring on them – It could be something as simple as 500 pages of digital output required immediately ora sudden board meeting requiring high tech presentation equipment and mugs and mugs of coffeeYet another ‘Happy Working’ highlight of HQ10 comes from their transparent policies when it comes to deliverables and pricing. Very simply put, there are ‘No Hidden Costs’. So never will you hear stuff like ‘This costs extra” or “sorry this is not included”. Simply put ‘What you Plan/Budget is What you Pay’ and at the same time ‘What they promise is What you get.’This hassle-free blissful working sure gives you 100% PEACE.Next let’s hop on to the advantage of having a prestigious arterial address location and a corporate-style ambience, packed with a whole spectrum of utilities and amenities. Not to forget, the business network connects and hassle-free working, all of which operate in perfect harmony to give a value worth much more than what you actually pay. In fact, it is 9Star Benefits at 3 Star Price.Further strengthening this ‘Value-Price’ benefit, is the flexibility they offer while taking up office space. You are given the freedom to choose your space as per your hourly/daily/weekly/monthly requirement and you end up paying only for what you use.Undoubtedly all these benefits together give you 100% VALUE.Now, my mind says   100% Peace and 100% Value would work together and give 100% Happiness. But my Heart says – it doubles my Happiness to 200%.And what doubles this Happiness is probably the community networking and engagement one experiences at HQ10 together with the ‘Personal Touch’ that the HQ10 Team so carefully nurtures.Here at HQ10, every day, as I walk into the office, I am greeted by the ever so friendly people with dreams and ambitions like me. And the bonding is so strong that over a period of time I have seen a positive behavioural change in me – my temptation to fiddle with my virtual avatar through social media has gradually come down – instead I am looking forward to real life interactions and associations with my workmates, which not  only empowers my knowledge and business connects but is also  gradually making me making me work as a ‘Happy Human’ rather than a ‘Moron Robo’And now coming to the ‘Personal Touch’ , which is again quite unique to HQ10. After I started working from HQ10 premises, I slowly started forgetting my ‘Six Sigma’ (or less the clutter, the better the focus) theory of the B-school days. Today my desk is almost fully loaded (some may think it is cluttered but why would I care) with my knickknacks – a colourful mug, weird table tops, a glimmering copper water bottle, a painted stone and more. This personal touch invites me as if saying ‘This is your Happy Work Space’ (unlike my earlier workspace which used to be bit staid and boring).Having experienced all these, I have now wholeheartedly bid goodbye to the mundane conventional work set-up. By moving into HQ10, not only do I feel energized with 200% Happiness, I find I am actually able to successfully pursue my business goals with every moment of the working hours filled with what I can only call genuine job delight.

[hq10india-blog]

I not only saved ....but also earned more at HQ10

I not only saved ....but also earned more at HQ10

The one thing on most people’s mind when looking for shared work space or co-working space is to save some money. They do not have to spend on rent advance, huge monthly rentals, setting up and running expenses and so on.I was no different, I calculated the money require to set up and run one’s own office, apart from the rent (and of course the rent advance), there was also the cost of partitions, furniture, telephones, internet, security, house-keeping, pantry, crockery cutlery and million other things, to have a decent office running. And the ever-increasing cost of technical maintenance people, to attend to plumbing, electrical and network issues.

I, therefore, came to the same conclusion that most people do, unless there are overriding compulsions, it makes sound business sense to move into shared office space and co-working spaces. So that you can actually save some money.

After I moved in to this co-working space called HQ10, I started realising that I had actually saved more than what I had estimated, as the kind of ambience, furniture, fittings and all other services that HQ10 were far superior to what I had imagined and would have costed far more than what I had imagined.

But, that’s not what this note is all about.

The first two days were spent in patting myself for the ‘intelligent cost-saving’ decision of mine to move into HQ10. Moving in was so seamless, without the need for any shifting down time. The phones, the internet, the printers, projectors were all up and running from the very first minute. And when I asked for a slight rearrangement of my seat, it was attended to without any fuss. It was perhaps on the third day that I realized, I was gaining something which I had not planned or anticipated.

The stress-free environment at HQ10, was actually acting as a catalyst to improve my efficiency and I found that my success rates had gone up quite a bit. Also, as there was no need on my part to supervise the professional experts providing support services, I was saving a lot of time, which I could put back into more effective work.

I also found to my pleasant surprise, that the other occupants in HQ10 were like-minded, friendly people. So much so that the coffee breaks I took in between work were turned in to invigorating recharge time with the lively and enjoyable conversation with them.

And as a bonus, I found a tremendous opportunity for purposive networking with co-occupants, which is actually helping me build my business. In essence, I went into HQ10 to save, but ended up not just saving but also earning more!

HQ10 Co working and Private office space

[hq10india-blog]

How to choose Co working space?

How to choose Co working space?

Workspace is where one spends most of one’s waking hours. So, it is but natural that one would have a wish list of the location, ambience, fixtures, colleagues, etc. Very often, it remains a wish list. Employees of course, rarely have any say in the matter, except perhaps the adornments on their own desk. But if you are a person who is tasked with the job of identifying and setting up an office – either for yourself, or for small organisations, or as a temporary or satellite office for a large organisation, I am sure you will try to find a place that meets your expectations. Hitherto the choice was largely between buying own office or taking space on rent or lease. While buying is restricted to a select few, renting has been the only option for many.

The initial process of finalising a rented or leased space is no doubt cumbersome, but fitting it up and maintaining is where the real stressful drudgery lies. Fortunately, there is yet another option available now and on the whole a more viable and more attractive one. Co-working space, a relatively recent concept has come to stay. By exercising some caution, one can not only simplify the chore of identifying office space and maintaining it, but also make it actually pleasurable.

Points to ponder while choosing co-working space

Amenities -- Most spaces will have standard office equipment. Check out for any special needs like conference facilities, projectors, etc.

Atmosphere -- It is worth spending time to find an office that has an environment that encourages collaboration and boosts productivity.

Internet -- Ensure that the internet service provided is fast and reliable. And whether the wifi has adequate coverage.

Extras -- Check out for free use of common areas like café, gym etc and the quality of F&B

Security -- Very important to check this out unless you want to spend sleepless nights.

Access -- Do the opening hours match your working pattern? And in emergencies, how can you gain access.

Location -- Proximity to your commuting route and chosen amenities. Also, the location can make an impression (negative or positive on your business associates, if they visit you.

The fine print -- Find out all the hidden costs like printing, using specified areas etc. And any specific adverse terms/ conditions.

Trial periods -- Check whether they offer a trial period, before you are expected to commit for a longer period.

These do sound quite tiresome, but they are certainly worth spending time and effort on. Probably an easier route is to go by the experience of people who have used co-working space in the recent past. My own experience endorsed by few other users has been purposefully pleasurable at HQ10. The location, décor, fixtures, amenities, profile of other occupants, etc, were all not just satisfactory but delightful.