Why be in person when virtual is so convenient?

Start by thinking of the senses: touch, taste, sound, smell, sight.  Only sight, is accessed by a text or email. Only a small fraction of full communication is transmitted with virtual technology especially on a first meeting.

Despite the impression that the younger generations want to conduct both their business and personal lives remotely and virtually, that is in large part a mis-perception. What we have been hearing for quite a while is that they do want to meet in person and feel they get a much better sense of who a person is, what they are interested in, their work style, and their expectations. And all this comes sooner in person.

It is true that many people, especially coming out of their pandemic experiences of necessity, had lost a sense of ease being in person. They often feel awkward with people they do not know well or were just meeting for the first time. Much of this is a matter of discomfort outside of one’s comfort zone rather than a preference. This means mentoring or coaching is called for to remove the fear.

Even online dating has been losing interest although it can present more options. How do you evaluate the choices and the truth of what a new person writes or says? If you really want to get to know someone and share experiences, beyond telling stories,  you gain from being as close with them as possible.

Most ambitious people, including many introverts, know that the road to greater roles of responsibility and promotions requires in-person interaction at times, if not weekly with a team they want to lead into bigger achievements. It’s a magnificent multiplier.

The value can be “magnificent.” It is liberating to those of us who have felt the loss of some of our authenticity and connection during the pandemic and since. We witness the awkwardness and discomfort after being shut in and confined to virtual communication media since, though we realize it is better than no opportunity  and is convenient and saves time in the short- run. But often it is less productive and satisfying.

In summary, when determining  your choice of communication medium, consider:

– Difference in energy level and motivation

– More visible non-verbal communication

– Building relationships faster and deeper

– Combating loneliness when isolation is not by choice

I realize that in- person is not always an option, and some introverts will be hard to win over to this proposition. However,

Call to Action: if you or your colleagues want support in developing comfort outside your comfort zone or succeeding in hard conversations, let’s have a short call to clarify the problem and how you might solve it for greater confidence. pwhaserot@pdcounsel.com

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