3 Benefits of In-Person Meetings...and Where To Have Them
Have you ever seen a family at a playground with two young kids…and each darts in a completely different direction leaving one or both parents scrambling to round them up? It’s similar trying to get remote team members into an in-person meeting nowadays.
Tuesday at 3 PM? Nope, Sally has a dentist appointment. Thursday at 10 AM? It’s career day at Tom’s son’s school. Friday at 5 PM? That’s just insanity if you ask us.
While getting everyone together may prove to be challenging, periodic in-person collaboration is important for businesses, especially those that are in creative industries and rely on brainstorming. Here are three reasons why at least a quarterly in-person check-in can be beneficial:
Communication and alignment
In-person meetings and gatherings allow for instant feedback, in-depth conversation about alignment, and a more positive experience. Being in the same room as your team allows for nonverbal communication cues to be picked up as well. Video calls and emails can misconstrue the tone of a message, which can cause a rift between team members and/or management.
Genuine presence
Dialing into a call from Zoom may seem harmless, though we can speak from experience and want to ask, are you genuinely present? Odds are, you may be looking at the camera, but your mind may be wandering to the other tabs you have open or your phone that’s conveniently out of the screen.
In-person gatherings evoke a feeling of genuine presence. Everyone is attending for the same reason, there’s camaraderie, you’re physically and emotionally present, and the atmosphere reflects that.
Better decision making
Being together means fewer distractions, more collaboration and ideas being thrown around, and better outcomes. Deciding on KPIs, goals, and strategy is easier when everyone brings their piece of the puzzle to the table.
Unfortunately, according to Digital.com, about 69% of businesses have given up some or all of their office space. While cost-effective, it requires more critical thinking when getting teams together. Co-working spaces are affordable, accessible options with many offering day rates or just conference room rentals (per hour and/or daily).
Employees will be able to take advantage of amenities that they may not have at home or were offered at their previous office.
Aside from spacious conference rooms that feature state-of-the-art technology, guests at co-working spaces may be treated to:
Complimentary coffee, tea, and fruit-infused water
Full-service gym or boutique fitness classes
Showers, lockers, and changing rooms
Open co-working space
Free wi-fi and printing
Like-minded community
With an abundance of coworking space options available in the US, a quick Google search can help you find the best accommodations so you can start to crush those 2023 goals.