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According to Meeting Professionals International’s spring survey, in-person meetings are rising. Ten percent of the survey respondents indicated that their business is already back to pre-pandemic attendance levels. Another 26% indicated they would be there by the end of 2022, and 64% by 2023. This is great news for organizations who desire the many advantages of meeting face-to-face. (1)

In-person meetings have always been and always will be essential to an organization’s success. It’s not just to ensure that team building, and a shared vision occurs, but that the status quo never is idle. People, not the processes, are vital to identifying new or missed opportunities, areas of improvement, and building organizational strength. 74% of business professionals agree that in-person meetings and business travel build organizational strength in a way virtual interactions cannot. (2)

As the remote workplace continues to increase, more workers value in-person meetings. 80% of employed Americans state that face-to-face interactions are essential to maintaining morale. And nearly 90% of workers indicate face-to-face meetings are critical for professional training. (3)

When people attend an in-person event, they can visit freely one-on-one. People have a heightened sense of trust when meeting face-to-face, and there is a human connection that cannot be replicated in a virtual arena.

Here are five reasons why in-person meetings will continue to be superior to hybrid and virtual events:

Reason # 1 – The Experience
The experiences of people who attend in-person meetings are the “secret sauce.” Immersive experiences are rising with dynamic speakers, engaging and interactive activities, and highly targeted programs. Many of these meetings have a variety of food options, including those for dietary needs, meat-free preferences, diverse needs, and health requirements. The work-life balance needs are also an integral part of the agenda. Rest, socialization, outside/fresh air, and self-care add to the positive experiences of the attendees.

Attendees will feel more relaxed knowing that the priority is on health and safety, just as it has been. Related protocols (sanitizing, cleaning, social distancing, ventilation systems, etc.) and safety considerations at the meeting venue are all part of standard practice. When selecting a location for a meeting, consideration is given to comfort, including lighting, seating, design, and ventilation. The experience provided is the “secret sauce” for the meeting and determines the success and interactions, connections, and memorable experiences for years.

Reason # 2 – Communication
While attendees’ experiences are the secret sauce, communication is the bread and butter. People don’t want to be in the office or at home staring at a computer screen. They prefer the personal interaction of being able to interact in breakout sessions, networking activities, over a beautiful meal, share in a memorable activity, and so forth. In-person communication helps to clarify goals. Body language, facial expressions, socialization, and eye contact allow people to see a person’s whole picture. They see an individual as well as their personality. Face-to-face minimizes misunderstandings or miscommunication because participants can see the other person and understand their intentions and true feelings. Most executives (84%) prefer in-person meetings strictly because it allows people to create stronger and more meaningful business relationships (4)

Reason # 3 – Trust & Meaningful Connections
Connection with others is vital for everyone’s mental and physical health. Social distancing has made it difficult to connect with other individuals. Connections demonstrate that you’ve made time and value the other person, giving authenticity to the interaction. Business relationships often have several very complex moving parts and getting all the details hashed out by business people in an email or over the phone is difficult. Meeting in person lets you touch on all the essential aspects of a business relationship. It serves to build trust and establishes stronger relationships for long-term connections. Most business people (95%) say face-to-face meetings are vital in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships. (5)

Reason #4 – Creative Thinking & Collaboration
Collaboration and creative thinking allow humans to break out of rigid thinking and consider other perspectives not considered previously. This collaboration is essential not only to society but also in individual lives. A talented facilitator can bring a culture of creative thinking into a workshop or group. Creative thinking might mean finding better communication methods, improving working practices, or developing and implementing new solutions at work. An in-person meeting allows for more constructive ideas than remote meetings. On average, remote meetings account for 10.43 new ideas, while in-person meetings see about 13.36 constructive ideas per meeting. (6)

Creative thinking is essential because it drives new ideas, encourages learning, and creates a safe space for experimentation and risk-taking. Businesses and individuals can succeed and grow when creativity and creative thinking are part of their work. Brainstorming becomes easier when people step outside their comfort zones, such as in a regular office environment or within the same group of familiar faces, and explore different surroundings with different people. Sharing concerns, troubleshooting, solution finding, and exploring new ideas with fewer distractions and interruptions improves concentration. Creative thinking creates a better balance between introverts and extroverts. Almost half of the people (49%) indicate that in-person meetings allow for more complex strategic thinking, and 44% say in-person is a better environment for tough, timely decision-making. (7)

Over half of the adults (59%) and 77% of business professionals also agree that in-person meetings and business travel foster collaboration in a way virtual meetings cannot. (8)

Reason # 5 – Fewer Technical Glitches
Technology is not always as helpful as it can and should be. Significant technological advances have facilitated virtual meetings within the last several years. However, virtual meetings come with issues, including confusion on how to share computer screens, mute and unmute the attendees, and how to deal with nonresponsive or absent participants caused by technical difficulties or even the dreaded crosstalk or ghost echo. Individuals, whether in the office or working remotely, may have distractions, including family obligations, doorbells ringing, phone calls, incoming emails, and a lot of other distractions that are not there when meeting in person. (9)

Despite the early complications pandemic brought to face-to-face social interaction, it has become clear that businesses can safely hold in-person meetings. There are benefits to an in-person meeting. The impulsive nature of virtual meetings may have value for meetings lasting under an hour, but in-person events are vital to interacting with others. Face-to-face will continue to be essential to building and maintaining long-term successful business relationships.

Are you looking to outsource your corporate meeting planning? Contact Gavel International to learn more about how working with us can streamline your process.

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SOURCES:

  1. Meetings Outlook for Spring 2022 – https://www.mpi.org/media/meetings-outlook
  2. https://www.ahla.com/press-release/survey-77-business-travelers-64-workers-say-return-business-travel-more-important
  3. https://www.ahla.com/press-release/survey-77-business-travelers-64-workers-say-return-business-travel-more-important
  4. https://images.forbes.com/forbesinsights/StudyPDFs/Business_Meetings_FaceToFace.pdf
  5. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4270138/Affinity_March2018%20V2/pdf/harvard-business-review.pdf
  6. https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/networking/
  7. https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/networking/
  8. https://www.ahla.com/press-release/survey-77-business-travelers-64-workers-say-return-business-travel-more-important
  9. https://carrworkplaces.com/blog/benefits-of-in-person-meetings/
Jim Bozzelli
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