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Face-to-face communication is essential for driving businesses forward!
Technological advances over the last century or so have meant that newer, and in some cases easier, means of communication such as emails and Skype are now commonplace, whilst good old-fashioned face-to-face communication is fast becoming a thing of the past.
This is particularly the case in the corporate world as many businesses are failing to recognise the power that this form of communication can harness – not STB though!
Recently, some members of ourSTB project management team had the opportunityto attend a face-to-face meeting with one of our clients, eurocom Translation Services, in Vienna. Us ‘STBers’ found the entire experience to be mutually beneficial for a whole host of reasons which are outlined below.
Face-to-face meetings allow greater scope for all parties to become engaged and involved. There’s no more hiding in the corner or succumbing to the temptation of reading emails in secret! The go-to options for many, emails or conference calls, can often run the risk of being entirely misunderstood or misread by the recipient. I’m sure most of you will have encountered this in your business. Body language is a key component in communication for all face-to-face meetings, so holding these can also help minimise the risk of miscommunication. All of the guesswork is simply taken out of the equation.
In addition, in-person interactions are by far the best way to build on existing relationships as meeting attendees can hold detailed discussions and share ideas with one another at length – all in a relaxed environment where they wouldn’t necessarily find themselves with their client. This is turn creates a sense of camaraderie and nurtures feelings of trust and empathy – important concepts for continued business as well as client retention yet difficult to maintain solely using electronic means of communication.
When it comes to the idea of effectiveness, face-to-face interaction in a meeting is invaluable! If there have been any difficulties that need ironing out, a consensus can be reached much more quickly, resulting in a boost of efficiency. Rather than wasting time sending several emails back and forth, everything can be resolved simply by having one short conversation.
The next time you hold a virtual meeting via Skype or take part in a conference call from the convenience of your own office, think again! Several factors can of course come into play for many businesses, including expenses, time and distance but it may be worth considering scheduling a face-to-face meeting and assessing the potential long-term benefits such a meeting could provide.
If you have any questions about how to arrange a face-to-face meeting with any of our Project Managers and/or members of our Sales/Marketing team, we will be more than happy to answer them. Why not contact us today