Face-to-Face Communication & Why It’s Vital for Your Business
‘The digital age has changed the way we communicate, but it’s still face-to-face communication that makes a long-term impact.’‘
It’s so easy in this digital age to forget the importance of face-to-face communication. Everything is instant – we have SMS, email, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and social media all on our phones. Many of us also use project and work sharing platforms like Trello, Basecamp or Google so we can collaborate regardless of location in the world or whether we are working in a corporate office, at home or by the pool in a resort. It couldn’t be easier to communicate and many people are actually preferring non face-to-face communication and some, don’t even want to use phone calls!
But, even though the way we love our instant updates and messages to stay in touch, face-to-face offers many benefits for us professionally and personally that digital communication just can’t compete with. Here are our top benefits of face-to-face communication in business:
1. Build trust
A text message will never replace eye contact, a handshake or kiss on the cheek or a smile. Work is not always about saving time and being more efficient like a robot. A face-to-face meeting sets the foundation of getting to know someone, building on that relationship and forming trust. This is the basis of closing sales, forming partnerships and closing deals. You do business with people you like and trust. You can’t form a strong, authentic relationship from text messages and emails.
2. Non-verbal cues
Body language, facial expressions, reactions and giving undivided attention are all the benefits of face-to-face meetings. It is really easy to misunderstand and even take offence from quickly dashed off emails or messages even if the intention wasn’t to offend. It’s also very easy to multi-task (or try to!) if you aren’t actually in front of someone. If you are face-to-face you can tell straight away if you have offended the person you are meeting with and can remedy the situation immediately. Likewise, it’s much easier to build rapport.
3. More efficient
Everyone loves telling you these days how ‘busy they are’ (which I always think is meant to mean ‘how important they are!!). So, misguidedly, they are under the impression that sending an email is a quicker way to achieve solutions. Nothing could be further from the truth. If it takes 10 emails going backwards and forwards, perhaps over days if not weeks, then it would have just been more efficient to hold a meeting and finalise things immediately.
4. Collaboration
Getting your team together or a group of people involved in a joint project is more successful if everyone is together. Everyone will be more motivated to participate if they are all together. Dashing off quick emails, might get some of the group participating but probably not everyone. It can make the project more fun as well if everyone is face-to-face, which always makes for a more successful outcome.
5. Sensitive issues
Reprimanding a staff member, giving feedback, or addressing a breakdown in communication with a client, should all be done face-to-face. Trying to sort something out if there is already an issue via email or text message or messenger is a recipe for disaster. In a face-to-face meeting you can make eye contact and understand how the situation is unfolding and adapt accordingly.
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The way we communicate is changing. We don’t write letters any more, most cards we send are ecards and we can message or speak to anyone, anywhere in the world. Some businesses have their entire teams overseas and the work still gets done. But even though this is meant to help save us time, we seem to be more isolated and busier than ever before.
Face-to-face communication, particularly for business relationships, is very important and that will never change if you want your business to be successful. If a face-to-face meeting is impossible due to location or time frame, then try video calling which is the next best thing. You can still see who you are talking to and connect with them authentically. Try Skype, Facetime, Google Hangouts or one of the other services that offers video calls – you just need a good internet connection.
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Judith Shuttleworth
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