In the digital age, a face-to-face meeting may now seem like a thing of the past - or at least, not nearly as common as Microsoft Teams and Zoom video calls. However, it can be just as important to meet someone in real life if done properly – and there are several key reasons why.
Research shows that building trust through meeting face-to-face is much more effective than relying on digital communication or video–especially when building new business relationships.
This definitely rings true in my experience and so every month I meet up with a variety of clients and candidates from all over the UK, usually in London. There are benefits for both candidates and clients in meeting your recruitment agency, which is why I always make the time for these catch-ups.
This has really made me think about the positives for our clients and candidates taking the time for a face-to-face meeting. While this may seem obvious, you'd be surprised at how many companies are still solely recruiting using online tools!
Relationship building with clients
Building loyalty and trust with clients is essential for any business. Loyal customers are more likely to keep coming back and will recommend your company to others.
A face-to-face meeting plays an important role in building this relationship, as it allows each party to understand one another better and develop an emotional connection.
Technology can help with communication but it leaves out key elements like body language, eye contact, and emotion which are necessary for establishing a strong bond.
Without these factors, a customer may end up feeling ignored or lost in what should be meaningful conversations about their needs.
By choosing not to rely on technology and video you can create an environment where customers feel valued and comfortable doing business with you over the long term.
Internal teams are more productive and focused
Organising productive face-to-face team meetings is necessary for teams to stay focused and productive.
Face-to-face communication allows for easier dialogue between team members, allowing them to exchange ideas and opinions more quickly and effectively. According to the statistics, in-person meetings are generally more effective than virtual ones, with an average of 13.36 ideas generated compared to 10.43 from a remote meeting.
We need to recognise that it is helpful to have face-to-face interaction rather than just relying on digital forms of contact - this helps the team keep track of development progress and maintain focus on the ultimate goal.
But how exactly do we make our internal meetings effective?
It is important for meeting leaders to set clear objectives, try to stick with itemised agendas or bullet points rather than lengthy conversations with everyone chipping in - this helps keep everyone focused on achieving goals efficiently and productively.
When problems arise, ensure that there is time allocated for discussion so any potential problems can be addressed immediately. Additionally, try and gather feedback after every session so that improvements can be implemented if necessary.
Finally, do not forget the importance of small talk during these physical meetings! Small talks help build relationships within the teams.
No technical problems!
In-person meetings are often the key to avoiding technical problems during important events. Meeting face-to-face allows for real-time dialogue and connection between participants, which can increase efficiency.
The conversation can remain focused on the task at hand. In addition, stronger relationships can be made during these meetings as there is no lag, display issues, poor internet connection issues, or other disruptions caused by a poor video quality.
Benefits of face-to-face meetings when hiring:
⭐ Benefits for candidates ⭐
It's so important for us to meet candidates in person so that we can represent you as best as we possibly can. We can really get to know our candidates this way and get a feel for which company would suit you best. Importantly, when feeding back to our clients we feel confident in how well we know our candidates and can provide deeper insight into your personality and experience.
People often open up a lot more when you meet in person, and you end up learning things about them that you wouldn't have on a phone call. A CV can't always show the depth of experience an individual has, especially for senior candidates!
⭐ Benefits for clients ⭐
For clients, it can be reassuring to meet your recruitment team in person. Recruitment agencies represent the hiring company and your culture - so it's really important that we understand who would be the best fit in your organisation. A face-to-face meeting is the best way to get a true feel for your business.
Meeting in person also allows for more effective communication and less room for misinterpretation. While a telephone or email briefing is completely fine, an in-person conversation on the ideal fit for the role and your exact expectations is typically more efficient and detailed.
⭐ Benefits when interviewing ⭐
When arranging the interview between client and candidate, it's always refreshing when the hiring manager wants to meet the candidate in person.
MS Teams and Zoom are really convenient for meetings, but it's well worth the extra effort to actually get the candidate into the office – especially when recruiting for a permanent role. Remember, you're investing in taking them on, so it makes sense to introduce them to the team and office environment ahead of hiring to ensure a good match. People can sometimes surprise you – the candidate you were unsure of on Teams might come across much better in person… and vice versa!
As many people continue to work remotely, it's never been easier for candidates to interview, and someone actively searching for new roles could easily fit 3-5 interviews in around their day job. The market is busy and as a client you need to stand out.
If you've taken a candidate out and introduced them to the team, who are they more likely to feel committed to and which offer will they accept?
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In summary, it's great to go back to basics! In a digital heavy world, sometimes all you need is a real conversation and a bit of human interaction!
I'm always happy to catch up, so if you are in the Microsoft Dynamics world, send me a message if you're available in the coming months and let's arrange a time to meet.
Nadia Knight, Recruitment Consultant D365 F&O
