How to turn down potential members?

Hi Everyone

I've seen some discussion here about selecting members and being transparent with your criteria if you are accepting applications, but I'd like to know how some of you have handled turning down members.

I know some spaces use the method of self-selecting - ie: anyone can join and those who don't fit eventually phase out. And I can see the merits of that. However, we still find that having an application process works well for us. We have everyone fill out an application and on their space tour we let them know that we are looking for good personality fit, similar work styles, community/coworker expectations and we try and have a wide diversity of businesses. We stress we are a boutique space so we are small and therefore all of these factors are even more important in choosing members.

We cringe a little at all of this because it does sound elitist, but to be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that don't fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don't pursue membership.

However, there are a few who don't and I am wondering how others turn down these people who you know just aren't going to fit, but do it in a way that is polite and considerate. We find the conversation is just awkward! However it's necessary as we have found in the past, ignoring our gut instinct and having them become members isn't very nice in the long run either ...

~Erynn

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Erynn Lyster
The Commons Calgary
a cowork apothecary


(403) 399-1716 (cell) or (403) 452-7938 (office)

Hi Erynn-

While we don’t have an application process, we are somewhat selective in order to make sure that everyone is here for the right reasons. We have found success in having everyone agree to an agreement that includes Community Norms + basic expectations of our coworkers. It is written in very casual language (no legalease) and gets the point across. This gives us the opportunity to refer to the signed agreement in case of any problems. We have only had one problem in the14 months we’ve been open. And, I find that this sort of approach gives people expectations up front (and, in writing, of course).

Hope that helps.

Kelly

···

On Tuesday, September 23, 2014 12:44:27 PM UTC-4, Erynn Lyster wrote:

Hi Everyone

I’ve seen some discussion here about selecting members and being
transparent with your criteria if you are accepting applications, but
I’d like to know how some of you have handled turning down members.

I know some spaces use the method of self-selecting - ie: anyone can
join and those who don’t fit eventually phase out. And I can see the
merits of that. However, we still find that having an application
process works well for us. We have everyone fill out an application and
on their space tour we let them know that we are looking for good
personality fit, similar work styles, community/coworker expectations
and we try and have a wide diversity of businesses. We stress we are a
boutique space so we are small and therefore all of these factors are
even more important in choosing members.

We cringe a little at all of this because it does sound elitist, but to
be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that
don’t fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don’t
pursue membership.

However, there are a few who don’t and I am wondering how others turn
down these people who you know just aren’t going to fit, but do it in a
way that is polite and considerate. We find the conversation is just
awkward! However it’s necessary as we have found in the past, ignoring
our gut instinct and having them become members isn’t very nice in the
long run either …

~Erynn

Erynn Lyster

The Commons Calgary

a cowork apothecary

www.thecommonscalgary.com

(403) 399-1716 (cell) or (403) 452-7938 (office)

…to be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that
don’t fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don’t
pursue membership.

I’m curious to find out a little more. Given the above, and noting your own cringing toward the application process, why do you use an application? Beyond that, too, what makes someone unworthy of joining?

···

On Tuesday, September 23, 2014 12:44:27 PM UTC-4, Erynn Lyster wrote:

Hi Everyone

I’ve seen some discussion here about selecting members and being
transparent with your criteria if you are accepting applications, but
I’d like to know how some of you have handled turning down members.

I know some spaces use the method of self-selecting - ie: anyone can
join and those who don’t fit eventually phase out. And I can see the
merits of that. However, we still find that having an application
process works well for us. We have everyone fill out an application and
on their space tour we let them know that we are looking for good
personality fit, similar work styles, community/coworker expectations
and we try and have a wide diversity of businesses. We stress we are a
boutique space so we are small and therefore all of these factors are
even more important in choosing members.

We cringe a little at all of this because it does sound elitist, but to
be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that
don’t fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don’t
pursue membership.

However, there are a few who don’t and I am wondering how others turn
down these people who you know just aren’t going to fit, but do it in a
way that is polite and considerate. We find the conversation is just
awkward! However it’s necessary as we have found in the past, ignoring
our gut instinct and having them become members isn’t very nice in the
long run either …

~Erynn

Erynn Lyster

The Commons Calgary

a cowork apothecary

www.thecommonscalgary.com

(403) 399-1716 (cell) or (403) 452-7938 (office)

Would any of you be willing to post examples of your application forms to see exactly what that looks like?
I have been looking into opening a coworking space and heard that an application process is useful so Erynns question caught my eye.

Stacy

···

On Thursday, November 13, 2014 3:24:25 PM UTC-6, Adam Teterus wrote:

…to be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that
don’t fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don’t
pursue membership.

I’m curious to find out a little more. Given the above, and noting your own cringing toward the application process, why do you use an application? Beyond that, too, what makes someone unworthy of joining?

On Tuesday, September 23, 2014 12:44:27 PM UTC-4, Erynn Lyster wrote:

Hi Everyone

I’ve seen some discussion here about selecting members and being
transparent with your criteria if you are accepting applications, but
I’d like to know how some of you have handled turning down members.

I know some spaces use the method of self-selecting - ie: anyone can
join and those who don’t fit eventually phase out. And I can see the
merits of that. However, we still find that having an application
process works well for us. We have everyone fill out an application and
on their space tour we let them know that we are looking for good
personality fit, similar work styles, community/coworker expectations
and we try and have a wide diversity of businesses. We stress we are a
boutique space so we are small and therefore all of these factors are
even more important in choosing members.

We cringe a little at all of this because it does sound elitist, but to
be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that
don’t fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don’t
pursue membership.

However, there are a few who don’t and I am wondering how others turn
down these people who you know just aren’t going to fit, but do it in a
way that is polite and considerate. We find the conversation is just
awkward! However it’s necessary as we have found in the past, ignoring
our gut instinct and having them become members isn’t very nice in the
long run either …

~Erynn

Erynn Lyster

The Commons Calgary

a cowork apothecary

www.thecommonscalgary.com

(403) 399-1716 (cell) or (403) 452-7938 (office)

I had the same reaction that Adam did. If you hate the idea of an application and mostly everyone comes through or falls out after a month then why have an application?

We need a few more details? Is this because you have had one bad member experience and you want to ask them to leave or is this an ongoing concern every month?

There might be other solutions available.

Hi Kelly,
Would be be willing to post your agreement? I am setting up a new coworking space and getting into writing this for myself. I would love to see yours to make sure I am not leaving out anything important. Thanks

Gretchen

···

On Wednesday, November 12, 2014 9:59:54 AM UTC-6, Kelly Fitzgerald wrote:

Hi Erynn-

While we don’t have an application process, we are somewhat selective in order to make sure that everyone is here for the right reasons. We have found success in having everyone agree to an agreement that includes Community Norms + basic expectations of our coworkers. It is written in very casual language (no legalease) and gets the point across. This gives us the opportunity to refer to the signed agreement in case of any problems. We have only had one problem in the14 months we’ve been open. And, I find that this sort of approach gives people expectations up front (and, in writing, of course).

Hope that helps.

Kelly

On Tuesday, September 23, 2014 12:44:27 PM UTC-4, Erynn Lyster wrote:

Hi Everyone

I’ve seen some discussion here about selecting members and being
transparent with your criteria if you are accepting applications, but
I’d like to know how some of you have handled turning down members.

I know some spaces use the method of self-selecting - ie: anyone can
join and those who don’t fit eventually phase out. And I can see the
merits of that. However, we still find that having an application
process works well for us. We have everyone fill out an application and
on their space tour we let them know that we are looking for good
personality fit, similar work styles, community/coworker expectations
and we try and have a wide diversity of businesses. We stress we are a
boutique space so we are small and therefore all of these factors are
even more important in choosing members.

We cringe a little at all of this because it does sound elitist, but to
be honest almost everyone gets in who wants to be in and those that
don’t fit actually realize it themselves on their first visit and don’t
pursue membership.

However, there are a few who don’t and I am wondering how others turn
down these people who you know just aren’t going to fit, but do it in a
way that is polite and considerate. We find the conversation is just
awkward! However it’s necessary as we have found in the past, ignoring
our gut instinct and having them become members isn’t very nice in the
long run either …

~Erynn

Erynn Lyster

The Commons Calgary

a cowork apothecary

www.thecommonscalgary.com

(403) 399-1716 (cell) or (403) 452-7938 (office)