Online or in person get togethers - what's best?

When should you get together online, and when in person? Some thoughts for best results, including a helpful magic formula, from Simon Hall...

slide showing speaker's questions

I just did my first in-person teaching for months, and wow...

It felt SO DARNED GOOD!

Which goes to show you how much we've lost in this awful pandemic, when the mere ordinary act of getting together face to face can be so uplifting. 

 

Sorry I can't show you the smiles on the faces of the group.

It was a corporate job and subject to the usual confidentiality clauses. 

But we all had a great and very effective time working on public speaking and presentations.

This part was one of the golden secrets of the art, using interactions to engage an audience. 

Anyway, the point of this blog is to outline some thoughts about when to get together online and when in person, based on my experiences over the last few months. 

 

The Online Advantage

Yes, you did read that right. There are occasions when it's better to meet online. 

The time and travel issues are the obvious ones. 

Why fly for miles, or drive for hours, for a brief meeting?

It's hardly kind to this beautiful planet of ours, or efficient use of everyone's time. 

 

But those are just the advantages that most people will easily identify. 

There's one more which you might notice if you've been to the same meeting pre and post virus, and observed the dynamics of its working. 

 

Standing Up For The Shy

Have you spotted how the less confident and forthcoming members of a group often find it easier to contribute online?

There are always more assertive personalities in any meeting, some who are excessively talkative (yes, you know the type), and also the impatient ones. 

All of which can make it difficult for those of a less robust disposition. 

But online seems to give them added confidence, which is a big plus. 

 

Whether it's because they don't fear the withering looks, being talked over, or down to, they seem to have more opportunities to contribute. 

Some of that is the chat function, I think. 

It seems easier to write thoughts, opinions or questions into the chat box than speaking out. 

A good chair can pick them up, which then gives the contributor extra confidence to keep coming forward. 

And that's beneficial for everyone - the more people being heard the better in my view. 

It's funny how the quietest voices can often bring the most wisdom.

Rather than those which never stop. Yes, once again you know the type!

 

The Importance Of In-Person

If there's one thing the last year and a bit has taught us, it's that there's no substitute for human company. 

Even in the business sense, that goes for meetings too. 

When deciding whether to get together in person, or online, there are a couple of key factors I'd consider.

 

The Momentousness Of The Meeting

Is this a mundane, everyday, ordinary get together, for updates or knocking around ideas?

If so, it's probably fine and even best online, for the reasons I mentioned earlier. 

Or is this a really important meeting?

Deciding on some big new spending, a major strategic decision, or coping with a crisis?

 

In which case, I'd think seriously about getting together in person. 

Sometimes you need to look at each other, sense the body language, really have the opportunity to explore, examine and analyse.

Which is all much more difficult online. 

 

That brings me to the "magic formula" I promised:

On the very ad hoc and unscientific Hall guideline scale, the more important the meeting the more likely it should be held in-person in my experience. 

 

The Knowledge Exchange

The other factor which tips the scales in favour of a face to face get together is the reason for the meeting. 

This is particularly the case with my pet subject, teaching and training. 

When I'm asked to give a lecture, or run a course, and we get to the mechanics of the discussion I tend to say:

   I can impart the information if we do it online, but in person I can really teach it.

 

Take the case of the public speaking and presentations course I've just run. 

Online, I could have provided all the same information.

But would the impact have been the same?

 

The Power Of In Person

One thing I pride myself on when teaching is watching the group.

And I mean really watching. 

When I make a point, do they get it?

I pause, look around, make sure, maybe ask a question, prompt a discussion, before we move on. 

 

When I set an exercise, do they properly understand what we're working on and are they engaged?

If they're struggling, in person working means I can slip around the room and have a quiet word in individual ears to try to help. 

 

But the most critical moment is when I ask for volunteers to share their thoughts. 

In every group, there are more and less confident personalities. 

That second of hesitation, as we wait to see who volunteers, is one of the biggest moments of the day. 

The shy ones will often briefly look up, give me half a glance, and I'm experienced enough now to know what that means:

I'd love to try, but I'm nervous and need you to help me.

 

Which, of course, I do. 

And that, for me, is the biggest, shiniest, by far the most important part of working face to face. 

I can give the wonderful, joyful, inestimable gift of confidence

Which is so, so, and even more so important. 

In my experience, if you convince someone they can do something they will generally be able to do it. 

 

In the public speaking course, there were a couple of people in the group who were less outgoing and started the day a little reticently.

But by end they were happily contributing to everything, and best of all...

They sought me out afterwards to say thank you, and left the room walking far taller than they had come in that morning. 

What they thought would be an ordeal had turned into a pleasure, and with lasting benefits too. 

I just LOVE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

It makes the work so worthwhile.

 

In summary, online can have advantages, and a hybrid way of working will probably be best for everyone in the years ahead.

But for the most important, most effective, most human moments...

There's no substitute for getting together in person. 

 

By the way, if you think I might be able to help you with my courses, workshops and lectures, you can see a list of them here.

Feel free to get in touch via the website if you'd like to talk further. 



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