FLD Virtual Coworking: What It Is and Why You Should Consider Doing It

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The A Propos LogoLast year, the French Language Division (FLD) of the American Translators Association organized a series of virtual coworking sessions for the 2023 rentrée. They’ve been such a hit that the FLD has continued to host them ever since. But what exactly is virtual coworking? If you struggle with accountability, are craving a connection with colleagues, or just need to set aside time to finally check that pesky task off your to-do list, you may want to consider joining our next session. Let me tell you why.

What is virtual coworking?

Virtual coworking is very much what it sounds like. A group of people meet on an online meeting platform for a set period of time to work on an individual task of their choosing. Participants do not work on projects together; rather, they each work separately on something they’d like to make progress on that day. The purpose is multifold:

  • Provide a structured environment where everyone can hold each other accountable
  • Boost productivity while fostering a sense of community
  • Enjoy time with colleagues you might not otherwise get

It’s such a popular model that you can even pay to do it. Thankfully for FLD members, these coworking sessions are completely free. What’s more, your coworkers will all be fellow French translators and interpreters!

What happens during the FLD virtual coworking sessions?

The FLD virtual coworking sessions start with a five-minute check-in where we all introduce ourselves and briefly state what we’re going to work on. Then, we work uninterrupted for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break, and work again for another 25 minutes. During the work periods, everyone is muted, but attendees can keep their cameras on for extra accountability.

The sessions end with a five-minute wrap-up where we share what we worked on and answer an optional question. In past coworking sessions, these have been questions like, “what are your goals for the year?” or “what is a helpful resource you recently discovered?”

What should I work on during a virtual coworking session?

The beauty of coworking is that you can work on anything you want! Some of the tasks past participants have worked on include:

  • Marketing
  • Accounting
  • Finally responding to that email
  • Tracking down and following up on unpaid invoices
  • Working on an ATA conference presentation
  • Drafting and issuing a quote
  • Personal tasks, like scheduling a doctor’s appointment (they don’t always need to be “work” related!)
  • And last but not least, writing this article

Coworking sessions are a great opportunity to tackle tasks you’ve been neglecting or ones where you find yourself getting easily distracted. However, you are also free to work on regular day-to-day work in the virtual company of your peers.

What are the benefits of virtual coworking?

I attended nearly all of the coworking sessions organized in 2023 and found them to be very beneficial. To me, the main benefits of coworking are:

Accountability

Since we all state our goals at the start of the sessions, there is an extra dose of pressure to accomplish them. I find that if I verbalize a goal to others, I am much more compelled and likely to actually do it. The Harvard Business Review agrees!

Focus

Working in the company of others makes it harder to give in to distractions. You don’t want to be the only one “procrastinating” when you can see everyone else working! You probably won’t be checking your phone, finding something else that needs doing around the house, or getting distracted on social media, which means you actually make progress toward your goal.

Productivity

These coworking sessions are structured into short bursts of time, ideal for accomplishing things you’ve been dragging your feet on. Working against the clock can also make certain tasks more palatable and attainable. For example, instead of the looming, intangible concept of, “I will work on marketing today,” you can work on marketing for the duration of the session and maybe even set a more tangible goal (like “I will send three marketing emails”).

Connection with FLD colleagues

These coworking sessions are also a chance to check in with all your fellow FLDers. And it’s a nice break from the isolation of work-from-home life.

The connections don’t have to end when you leave the Zoom meeting, either! During the sessions, I discovered two French translators who also live in Chicago. I’ve met up with one for coffee and have plans for an in-person coworking session with the other.

How do I sign up?

Attendance is open to all FLD members. The FLD aims to host one coworking session a month. Stay tuned for the next one!

Elizabeth Eckardt is a French and Spanish to English translator based in Chicago who has been translating since 2014. She is ATA-certified in both language pairs and has an MS in translation from New York University. She specializes in medical, legal, and official document translations. For more information, visit elizabetheckardt.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.