The value of face-to-face meetings

NOW more than ever before, technology is making it easier to stay connected with your colleagues or clients in different offices, states or countries. Does this mean that face-to-face meetings and events are on the decline? Not in the slightest!

Four in five people recently surveyed by Meetings Mean Business believe they have attended an in-person meeting, conference or event that would have been less successful if conducted remotely.

Being face-to-face is one of the most effective forms of communicating and building relationships. It affords you the opportunity to nurture your relationships and engage those around you in a way that simply can’t be emulated online.

While certainly worthwhile, digital communication doesn’t always allow you to build as solid a level of trust between people. In person, you can physically shake the hand of the person you’re connecting with, you might share a laugh and go to get a coffee together. All of these things build up strong, personal communication which is at the centre of all positive outcomes.

Ultimately, the key to getting the most out of your events is to consider all avenues. With so many options available to us, we can choose the best way for us to communicate and build lasting relationships with our colleagues, clients or stakeholders. This may mean holding your event in-person, online or a hybrid of both.

Ryan Taylor is the partner at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre with AVPartners, which creates integrated event experiences through combining state of the art audiovisual technology, unrivalled expertise and a highly tailored approach.