5 Reasons Entrepreneurs Should Respect Face-to-Face Meetings
Technology can make face-to-face meetings feel pointless as an entrepreneur. Email, VoIP, online conferences - all are possible. It can feel like using a horse when you can take an Uber or drive. The experience is different, but it's often less efficient than just taking the car.
That difference, however, matters. There are a number of benefits to holding face-to-face meetings whenever possible, and there are times when taking a horse can actually let you beat the traffic. Here are five reasons you shouldn't discount the value of human interaction and respect the power of face-to-face meetings.
#1. Allows Interaction Beyond the Meeting
When you have online meetings, interaction is limited to the duration of the meeting. Once the meeting is done, you close the connection and move on with your day. There's no bonding beyond the agenda of the meeting, nor are there opportunities to connect and build relationships.
When you go to a face-to-face meeting, that isn't the case. It could be a business meeting, trade show convention or conference. Fact is, after the meeting is done, you can do things beyond the scope of the company. This gives you the opportunity to get to know people in your industry and leave a stronger impression of your brand and culture.
#2. Less Distractions
As an entrepreneur, a lot of your business can be done on your computer. From there, you can review emails and respond to client concerns. Unfortunately, it can also serve as a distraction. When attending virtual meetings, you'll likely be tempted to check your email, respond to instant messages or surf the internet to help complete needing online research work.
Face-to-face meetings are far less distracting. In a way, you and everyone else attending the meeting are forced to focus and give their undivided attention. Not doing so will be perceived as unprofessional and rude to your peers. This often makes group meetings faster and more productive because of the attendee’s undivided attention.
#3. Better Conversations
There will plenty of times when you have to hold your tongue as an entrepreneur. You can't just say what's on your mind, especially if it can be taken the wrong way. Virtual meetings tend to prevent people from reading you properly, resulting in less trust. It also limits one-on-one communication during the meeting. Traditional face-to-face meetings held inside a semi-private meeting area within a custom trade show booth space, is one of the best ways to forge long-lasting relationships with key decision maker and other important industry contacts. Many business professionals require periodic in-person meetings with their vendors, in order to maintain a level of trust with them.
Face-to-face meetings heighten feelings of certainty and allow everyone to get a better read on each other and the situation. It also allows for "off the record" conversations, which can lead to more buyer commitments and new business opportunities. Misunderstandings are lessened, as you can also communicate through body language.
#4. It's Outside of a Comfort Zone
Virtual meetings are sterile environments. Much is under your control, from the volume to what you're wearing off camera. You can make almost every virtual meeting your comfort zone, and while there's value to that, there's also value in leaving your comfort zone.
Discomfort can be invigorating. It becomes less about making yourself comfortable and more about basking in the aura of people who are as excited as you are. It forces you to make different decisions, which can help break you out of a rut.
#5. It Makes Networking Easier
Talking to a screen can save you time, but it comes at a cost. It's hard to network when people disconnect after the meeting's done. There's no time to talk about the rest of the business or network. You can effectively meet with more people, but those meetings are shallow and rarely result in a real connection. This is a problem, as networking has a huge impact on your success as an entrepreneur. The more people you know, the more opportunities you'll have.
In a face-to-face meeting, people can recognize emotions better. This can lead to a deeper connection, greater trust, and help you network. In addition, too much time spent behind a computer screen can hamper your ability to recognize emotions, which could cripple your networking efforts.
There is value in online communications and meetings. They're cheaper, quicker, and easier. For entrepreneurs on a tight budget, they're invaluable tools. However, whenever possible, opt for a face-to-face meeting. It may cost you a little more, but it offers benefits that a meeting behind a computer screen just can’t provide.
