As companies strive to adopt telework initiatives, teleconferencing has increased rapidly in recent years. The primary advantage of teleconferencing is clear – it enables business to conduct meetings with clients, colleagues and partners that are geographically dispersed. Whilst teleconferencing continues to gain momentum, meeting and making decisions over the phone is not always the answer.
Business owners and corporate managers might enjoy the geographical freedom and flexibility digital communication tools create but did you know that 47% of professionals admit to losing a contract or client because they failed to allow for enough face time?
With this in mind, take a look at some of the reasons why face to face meetings are as important as ever and will never become obsolete.
Body language
Body language and business has long been intrinsically associated. Smiles, eye contact, a firm handshake, good posture and the head held high, are just several body language gestures that convey a message of confidence, self-assurance and a ‘work with me and you won’t regret it’ attitude.
As Carol Kinsey Goman, a coach on leadership, body language and professional success, told Forbes:
“Body language plays a key role in effective leadership communication.”
Of course in teleconferencing body language doesn’t exist.
When communicating virtually all those subtle body language and facial gesture clues are lost, meaning it is less easy for people to make an evaluation and to judge other people’s skills and attitudes.
Millennials prefer face to face meetings
One might assume it’s the youngsters, those known as the Millennials, who are in favour of this modern form of business communication.
Not according to an infographic created by CT Business Travel and NeoMam Studios, which shows 80% of Millennials prefer face to face communication with colleagues.
More effective
Having an important meeting via a phone or video is super convenient, but is it as effective as meeting face to face?
We’re all guilty of it. Flippantly flicking through our Facebook feed whilst engaged in an important conference call or instant messaging meeting.
As the Time Management Ninja writes, the problem with teleconferences is that most people “aren’t there” and “without discipline they can be wildly ineffective.”
Phone conference participants/attendees, according to the report, are doing everything “but listening to what is happening on the call.”
As teleconferencing attendees’ lose concentration, background noise is inevitably generated, which can be wildly off-putting for others on the teleconference.
The CT Business Travel and NeoMam Studios infographic reiterates this point, finding that 69% of people admitted to browsing social media to pass the time during audio-only calls.
Gauge an understanding of a company’s personality and culture
As well as obliterating the emotion afforded in body language, virtual communication quashes our ability for people to witness a company’s personality and culture first-hand.
By attending a meeting in person, you can see what an organisation’s culture is like. Whether the company seems relaxed and friendly or whether it’s more structured and corporate.
Whereas teleconferencing is typically ‘strictly business’, face to face meetings allow for a business’ personality to shine, which is an important trait when you are thinking about doing business with or working for a company.
A meeting room says a lot about a company
As we wrote in our blog titled ‘5 meeting preparations to ensure a successful meeting’, “a room in which a meeting is held says a lot about a company.”
When you participate in a teleconferencing meeting you have no idea where the other participants are located. They could be ‘attending’ the meeting from a home office, a Starbucks café or a library for all you know.
By contrast, when you attend a meeting in person, you have the opportunity to be impressed by the location of the meeting.
A professional, well-facilitated, bright and well-designed meeting room talks volumes in portraying a company in a professional and quality light.
Hire a meeting room
If you’re a start-up or a small business you might be of the opinion, without a professional office location, you have little option other than to conduct meetings with clients, potential clients, contractors and colleagues via telecommunication tools.
The great news is you can hire a meeting room out. Naturally there is plenty to consider when hiring a meeting room, such as what are the facilities and what does the price include.
For advice on booking a meeting room, take a look at Carrwood Park’s blog on ’18 things you need to know before you book a meeting room.’
In conclusion, teleconferencing might enable us to communicate conveniently without geographical constraint. However being void of personality, body language, participant concentration and engagement, you should ask yourself just how effective a teleconferencing meeting really is?
For a quality and professional meeting room in Leeds that comprises of the latest facilities and excellent transport links, download the Carrwood Park meeting room brochure.
