Online Meetings Vs Face-To-Face
Written by: Satpal Juttla
When it comes to meetings, online seems to be the way forward, but is it always the best option? The team at evokeu shared their thoughts.
The COVID-19 pandemic revolutionised the world of work with the closure of offices and a global pivot to remote working. There was a huge boom in the use of Microsoft Teams and Zoom as a means of communicating with colleagues and clients. The popularity of these platforms has continued beyond lockdown and is now a normal part of everyday life. But what are the pros and cons of online vs face-to-face meetings, especially for small to medium-sized business owners?
Less travel time
One of the biggest pros of online meetings over seeing each other in person is the travel time it saves. Whether you used to commute by car, train, bus or plane, there’s no denying that logging on is a lot quicker. Rather than having to plan a journey, navigate traffic and delays, and spend your hard-earned cash on tickets or fuel, you can instead join a call with minutes to spare. Online meetings not only free up your day and allow more time for completing work or spending time away from your desk to achieve a better work-life balance, but they’re also much kinder to the environment. Gain back some precious time and reduce your carbon footprint – online meetings could lighten your day.
Flexibility in meetings
As well as saving you time, online meetings also provide a level of flexibility that face-to-face meetings struggle to achieve. They’re quick to arrange and book in someone’s diary, as well as being easy to change if the time or date no longer suits. Both Microsoft Teams and Zoom now have apps available to download, which means that you no longer have to be tied to your desk to make a call. Online meetings provide the convenience of a phone call with the visual interaction of a face-to-face meeting.
Creativity
Although online meetings have plenty of benefits, there are occasions when face-to-face meetings are a must. Have you heard of the phrase Teams or Zoom fatigue? It’s when multiple online meetings become tiresome rather than productive. With the simplicity of booking an online meeting, it’s very easy for your diary to become clogged with one meeting after another. Before you know it, your online calls are no longer freeing and flexible, but a tie that is impacting your efficiency. To break up the monotony, it’s worth planning regular in-person meetings with your team to allow space for organic conversation to occur, which is vital for building a strong team. It can also be of value to organise kick-off meetings for new projects to be in a room instead of online, as you’ll find creativity flows effortlessly and you’ll engage with your clients more than you would if they were sat at their individual desks staring at a screen.
There’s clearly a lot that business owners can get from online meetings, particularly small to medium-sized businesses that have limited resources. But, as with all things, it’s about finding what works for you and your business. Balance is key, though, and sometimes mixing up your regular routine can spark ideas and encourage growth.
If you need a helping hand to make sure your website and socials are in top working order to act as your virtual business card when attending meetings, then look no further than evokeu’s expert team of graphic designers, web developers, project managers, brand strategists and copywriters to transform your visual identity.
If you’d like to find out more about Satpal and evokeu, please visit here. You can also follow Satpal on LinkedIn, where you’ll find the latest agency updates and further content to motivate you and your business.
Satpal Juttla is the Co-founder and Technical Director of boutique digital marketing and branding agency, evokeu. Satpal is an expert at web building and supports the skilled team with crafting superior sites, every time. Evokeu works with big and small brands across many sectors to help clients capture customer attention and create growth. Evokeu also has a vertical brand called Graphic Kitchen, which specialises in the hospitality sector.
