Who Holds Space for the People Holding Space?
When you’re the one others rely on — the calm voice, the steady organiser, the connector of people — who holds space for you?
This quiet question sits at the heart of many conversations emerging across coworking, community building, and leadership today.
Through coaching, community building, and on my podcast Powering Productivity Coworking, I keep hearing versions of this:
The people doing the holding often silently need the most holding themselves.
For micro business owners and neighbourhood coworking operators, the work is rarely just operational. It is both strategic and deeply personal. You are building businesses rooted in values, designed to support others, while carrying both the responsibility and emotional weight of leadership.
We do not often talk about the emotional toll of community-focused leadership. The unseen weight. The quiet depletion.
On the podcast, Leah Fairman from Connected Hubs Ireland shared something that really struck me:
“You can be managing the Wi-Fi and the heating and also listening to someone talk about how lonely they feel working from home; and you have to hold both with care.”
That dual role — balancing the practical with the personal — is what makes this work so meaningful, and at times, so exhausting.
Stephen Carolan, from the National Hub Network, echoed a similar truth:
“It’s about humanising work again. The flexibility is great, but without community, it can get isolating fast.”
And Bernie Mitchell of The London Coworking Assembly added:
“It’s so much easier to solve challenges as collectives. Stop keeping all that stuff in your head, it can be a really lonely place!”
These are reminders that the real work of coworking leadership extends beyond delivering space; it includes creating emotional safety, community, and belonging — for members and operators alike.
What People Like Us Are Really Craving
Across coaching clients, podcast guests, and mastermind groups, the same needs continue to surface:
Space to lead with authenticity, without the constant pressure of strength
Conversations grounded in alignment and reality, not just growth or visibility
Support that recognises the whole person, not only the business owner
Relief from the pressure to always be “fine”
Moments to step back and recharge when leadership feels overwhelming
Belonging as a true foundation for long-term success
These are not extras; they are essentials for sustainable, hospitality-led workplace leadership.
What Supportive Space Really Looks Like
At The Hub Newry, we recently hosted a low-key member meet-up that evolved into something softer, more like a storytelling circle. No big agenda, just people talking honestly.
One member said:
“I didn’t realise how much I needed to talk to people who get it. It made me feel like I wasn’t the only one trying to figure this out.”
That is what support looks like — not over-produced, not over-orchestrated, simply human.
Whether it is through physical spaces like coworking hubs or one-to-one coaching conversations, leaders also need spaces where they can exhale, reflect, and be supported.
Sustaining Leadership in Flexible Work
As the coworking sector continues to mature, the emotional resilience of operators will be a key factor in delivering sustainable, community-led spaces that truly support the evolving needs of modern work.
If any of this resonates, or you would simply like to connect, I would love to hear from you.
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
With quiet encouragement,
Suzanne Murdock
Heart-Led Coach & Mentor for Micro Business Owners & Neighbourhood Coworking Leaders
Host of Powering Productivity Coworking