15 May Why Face to Face Communication is Still Vital

In a world so deeply interconnected through the internet, it’s easy to think that speaking face to face is an outdated method of doing business.

It’s true that email, voice and video calling have made themselves indispensable. But there’s still immense value in meeting face to face. Let’s take a look at why it’s still critical to success.

Stronger messaging

Digital methods of communication often remove the essentially human element of body language. 93% of communication is transmitted through body language and paralinguistic cues.

When we remove that from a conversation, it’s impossible to know how much we really lose.

Stronger outcomes

Communicating face to face often results in better outcomes for everyone involved. Here’s how:

• Investing time and money in traveling to meet clients or colleagues expresses that they are worth something. They understand they are valuable, and are more likely to feel committed to your goals.
• Building in person relationships with clients communicates appreciation and dedication, and fosters positive feelings (which can lead to favorable outcomes)
• Face to face meetings result in a higher chance employees will follow through with commitments and be held accountable. It’s far easier to decline or delay over email.
• Speaking face to face with someone raises the importance of the message in their minds. It’s harder to forget the content of a meeting than a message or email lost in a constantly updating inbox.

Higher efficiency

If you need information but it can wait, send an email. If you need information quickly, use the phone. But if you want to understand something and action it immediately, take a walk to your colleagues office and ask a question. A 5 minute debrief can yield much more information than a week of emailing back and forth.

It’s important to make the most of your face to face time. There are plenty of ways to do this.

Meetings

If you’re calling a meeting, be prepared ahead of time. Set a start and finish time so attendees feel their time is respected. Keep it short and to the point. If you want everyone to stay focused, try hosting the meeting with everyone standing instead of sitting!

Make sure you use meetings effectively. They can be difficult to organize if your company has a high number of staff or locations. In these cases digital communication can be used in the majority, but make the effort to meet in person on occasion (while having a purpose).

Collaborations

If you have a remote team working together on a project, strategic face to face time can see improved productivity and positive attitudes. Bring the team together at the beginning of the project at the very least. Digital communication can work well here, but if the project is long term, consider periodic meetings to maintain momentum.

Moments

It might seem inconsequential, but incidental meetings can also add value to your organization. Building rapport with staff while getting coffee or waiting in the lunch line can see results in different areas. Often the formal barriers are lowered, which can result in frank assessments, inside understandings and on the ground information.

While we’re on the subject of meetings, if your interested in advancing your brand, let’s get in touch. Visual Caffeine would love the chance to meet you and discuss how we can help move your business forward.