The importance of in-person time

At a corporate offsite two weeks ago I asked an attendee what they’d enjoyed the most about the two days they’d had together (other than my keynote, obviously!). They said, ‘I’ve worked here for nearly 9 months and this is the first time I’ve met some of my peers in-person’.

The pandemic provided us with the long-overdue opportunity to embrace virtual and flexible work, however, it has also created barriers to the importance of face time.

Face-to-face interaction remains the gold standard for human connection (the foundation for great working cultures) because our brains are wired for it. 

Ironically, a 2023 study of COVID-19 lockdowns revealed face-to-face communication was the strongest predictor of mental health, much more than physical activity, age, or digital alternatives. This continues to be the case.

The reason is simple: in-person interaction provides the full spectrum of communication cues e.g. tone, body language, facial expressions, physical presence and so on. These are all things that our brains need to build trust and genuine connection.

Digital communication, whilst useful, cannot replicate this richness. Austrian researchers led by Stefan Stieger, found that despite living in a highly technological world, ‘the numerous technological devices and services available cannot replace the mental health and well-being benefits of in-person communication.’

Princeton studies confirmed this, showing face-to-face interaction significantly predicted feelings of social connection in ways video calls and messaging simply didn't match. 

So whilst working virtually may have reduced office footprints and their associated operating costs, it’s still important for leaders to intentionally design regular face-to-face interactions where the connections between humans can flourish.

We are a highly social species, and whilst we can adapt to online modes, we lack the social flexibility to meet all our needs digitally. In-person time will always be time well spent.