Choose between face-to-face and online meetings

Virtual meetings are great. Admit it, we’ve all learned to confer digitally pretty well, and sometimes they’re preferable and less of a hassle. But sometimes face-to-face meetings are better for our employees – and even more efficient.

Find out a few things about in-person vs. virtual gatherings. And don’t forget to record your work meetings.

• Face to face or online
• Who needs both?
• Examples of meetings
• Personal vs Virtual

If you often meet your team, you may wonder whether specific sessions are best conducted online or in person. Here are some steps to follow when choosing between face-to-face and virtual meetings.

• Think of the occasion.
• Get advice
• Depending on the content, choose the more inclusive.
• Make sure the host is ready.

1. Examine the nature of the meeting

Consider the meeting main goal before deciding on a virtual or personal format.

• Is it task or relationship oriented?
• Think: Is it essential to be there to check off a list?
• You can probably do this from home if you work remotely (or wherever).
• That’s a relationship-based encounter. One-on-one conversations with new employees are examples of this.
• Then it’s best to keep it personal. It’s easier to interpret body language and be present when no device separates you.

2. How will your people connect?

The Covid-19 epidemic has changed the way people connect personally. You must adhere to specific rules, even if a meeting is not strictly necessary. In-person meetings should take into account personal boundaries, such as team project discussions and seating space.

3. Consider the complexity of the meeting.

Complex challenges that require teamwork are often best addressed personally. For example, complex meetings include those for project planning, dispute resolution, and leadership development. On the other hand, skills training and committee briefings are often simple and better accomplished online.

4. Determine if a physical or virtual meeting is more inclusive.

Suppose you meet someone from another state or nation. Virtual meetings can create the illusion that you are in the same room. However, virtual meetings allow individuals to meet across borders in a variety of ways. For example, visual learners can watch through a split screen, while auditory learners can participate in the discourse.

5. Make sure the host is ready in advance.

The digital age has not made everyone equally tech-savvy. That could be you or the person organizing the meeting. Don’t be afraid to ask: Can the host host a successful virtual meeting? If not, returning to the conference table is usually the best choice. Make sure you’re the host, set up and ready to go – leadership should never be late.

Do you need both face-to-face and video meetings?

Whatever your team’s choice, a combination of both digital and face-to-face meetings will likely work best. Sure, you need to deal with complex, people-oriented topics in person, but everything else can be virtual. Yet both kinds of associations in meetings are essential. Why?

Certain topics need a personal examination.

Handling a problematic issue in person is much easier. Also, the video makes it hard to see what you’re talking about when you’re reviewing something tangible.

Virtual meetings are more customizable these days. Virtual meetings are suitable for everyone. You can go whether you are working from home, traveling or just not feeling well. Attending and participating online is easy no matter where you are.

Personal conversations allow you to interpret non-verbal cues.

A computer screen cannot always convey one’s emotions. In person, you can pick up gestures, facial emotions, and body language. Being in sync with all of that improves communication.

• Examples of in-person vs. virtual meetings
• Based on what you’ve read here, you could probably judge whether your recent encounters were better in person or virtual.
• Specific meetings are better in person than virtual.
• Now for a short cut: find out which powwows are more accessible to perform online than in person.

Here are some examples of conferences you should personally lead

First Encounters

It is ideal to meet in person for the first time. This way you understand each other’s wishes better. Think of the challenges of a video conference with potential interruptions and delays. Those are not problems in person.

Project ideas.

It’s often easier to look at the whole photo in person. When someone presents through a screen, you may be overlooking certain things. If you neglect such small details, you and the project team can get hot water.

Projects that need abstraction.

Some tasks include data analysis, which most people can perform on their own. You may need lengthy collaborative dialogues for initiatives that rely more on critical thinking than numerical analysis. It’s a lot easier when everyone is present.

Practice sessions.

You’ve probably heard people complain that they don’t feel connected to their devices. Online team building sessions can be taxing, so conduct them in person instead. Personal interactions make team building activities more fun, which are often quite hands-on.

Here are some examples of virtual sessions.

Customer meetings.

Once you’ve seen your customer in person, you can do virtual things with them. The option here is yours. Quick updates and general comments can be provided digitally, as well as project-specific discussions. Conversely, you can discuss plans to grow your relationship personally.

No getting up.

If your daily standup meetings are longer than 15 minutes, you’re doing it wrong. This brevity lends itself to virtual meetings. For example, your colleagues can share updates on a screen.

To check in

Individual team member check-ins are rarely official matters. While they may be longer than your normal stand ups, they are so casual that they can be done electronically just fine. Why choose in-person if you and the other person prefer virtual meetings?

Live or virtual meetings can be excellent.

It’s time to schedule your virtual or in-person meeting. This includes drawing up and sending an agenda. Also take notes from joint meetings and assign action items to employees in real time.

Featured Image Credits: Fauxels; Pexels; Thank you!

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