Regular
team or project meetings are one example of when it is okay to have people participating
virtually. With the time and cost
involved in travel today, this is a business reality to be expected.
Since each
company may have their own unique meetings that are well-suited to an online
format, I think I can provide greater value by telling you when NOT to conduct
a meeting virtually.
- First, when the key purpose of the meeting is to deal with a high-conflict situation. You need to have all of the key stakeholders in the room together to be able to read each other’s body language – since this is how we know if the words being said are being confirmed or refuted. No online meeting can replace face-to-face in these situations.
- Second, when the meeting purpose is to brainstorm solutions and action steps for a very tough problem. While virtual meeting technology has come a long way, it still can’t hold a candle to the creative energy that arises when you have a group of people in a room – with a skilled facilitator, of course! – collaborating to solve a critical business issue.
To help you
decide on virtual or not, seriously weigh the pros and cons of each
option. I know it’s not always under
your control whether the meeting will be in person or online, but at least
think about it.
Remember, post a comment or question by clicking on Comments ( ) below…and I look forward to answering it an upcoming blog!
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