The benefits explained
If there is one thing the Corona Crisis has taught us, It is mainly that much can be done using digital tools. Of course the pandemic didn’t create virtual meetings, but it raised their popularity dramatically. We discovered it is not always necessary to meet in-person and we embraced new digital ways to meet, interact, form partnerships and conduct business. Last year gave rise to a very broad adoption of digital meeting platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Corona forced companies to re-consider; is it always really necessary for this to be meeting in-person? And in truth for some meetings the answer is no. Digital and in-person have become equal alternatives, both with their distinct advantages.
Digital meetings have their benefits. They can be cost effective and initiated at a moments notice. They allow participants from all over the world to join instantly. They can increase productivity for brief recurring meetings. Screens or files can easily be shared and documented by recording them.
Corona forced companies to re-consider; is it always really necessary for this to be meeting in-person? And in truth for some meetings the answer is no. Digital and in-person have become equal alternatives, both with their distinct advantages.
Digital meetings have their benefits. They can be cost effective and initiated at a moments notice. They allow participants from all over the world to join instantly. They can increase productivity for brief recurring meetings. Screens or files can easily be shared and documented by recording them.
The benefits of physical meetings
An interesting and recent study (see below) from greatbusinessschool.org showed that 95% of the respondents said face to face meetings are essential for building long term business relationships.
They are important for creating loyalty and trust.
In-person meetings generate more ideas. Around 13.36 ideas whereas virtual meetings only come up with 10.43. It is easier to mind-map and have in-depth discussions with complete focus of all participants.
Communicate goals and objectives more clearly. The flow of the conversation will be more natural. We can more easily read facial expressions and body language. In-person meetings are deemed more credible and beneficial than the ones done via technology. Teams will interpret action point and take-aways more accurately because they can properly communicate with each other during and between sessions.
Face to face meetings have more focus. There is no temptation to to scroll through social media or other multi-tasking activities like replying to emails or working on other topics. In-person meetings have more engagement because there is less opportunity to do anything else.
They are important for creating loyalty and trust.
In-person meetings generate more ideas. Around 13.36 ideas whereas virtual meetings only come up with 10.43. It is easier to mind-map and have in-depth discussions with complete focus of all participants.
Communicate goals and objectives more clearly. The flow of the conversation will be more natural. We can more easily read facial expressions and body language. In-person meetings are deemed more credible and beneficial than the ones done via technology. Teams will interpret action point and take-aways more accurately because they can properly communicate with each other during and between sessions.
Face to face meetings have more focus. There is no temptation to to scroll through social media or other multi-tasking activities like replying to emails or working on other topics. In-person meetings have more engagement because there is less opportunity to do anything else.
The survey
Source: Great Business Schools - https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/networking/