Best of both worlds: online and face-to-face
My local bike shop is one of those businesses that thrived during pandemic lock down #1 in Melbourne. They had to employ a couple of extra bike mechanics to cope with demand.
I’m thrilled that more people are riding and hope they all keep it up. There are so many upsides to riding.
Car drivers who got a new bike during the pandemic, or dusted off their old one, can now have the best of both worlds.
It’s the same with online and face-to-face meetings. Think of online meetings as the bikes and face-to-face, the cars that most people are used to driving.
It’s not one or the other in our new working world. It can be the best of both.
To return to the transport analogy, bikes are better for your health and for the planet. They are cheaper to buy and run than a car. They get you door-to-door in cities and parking is always free. Over shorter distances bikes are quicker than cars.
This rings true for online meetings too. Venue, catering or accommodation costs are nil. A CEO recently told me that she doesn’t miss the travel, traffic delays and parking problems that go hand-in-hand with face-to-face meetings.
She added that well-managed meetings, “…create a more focussed conversation resulting in shorter meetings that free up time for other things. You can also exit more easily when business is done.”
That sounds like the same feeling a cyclist has. They can get moving whenever they are ready.
While cycling offers an intangible sense of ‘freedom’, there’s the downside of baking sun, driving rain and strong winds. Nice to have the option of a car then. The best of both worlds.
Efficiency of online meetings gets a tick from most people – as long as everything is working well – just like a well-serviced bike or car.
Here’s a few tell-tale signs that online meetings may be in need of a service.
😒 We are still frustrated with other’s unfamiliarity with online meeting platforms – (it’s never us!)
😒 We feel drained afterwards.
😒 We feel rushed and want more time to explore discussion points.
😒 We miss the human contact of face-to-face.
When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you get your online meetings humming:
Download my graphic e-book, Hum: double engagement and productivity of your next online meeting. It’s a visual guide with practical and easy-to-use tips and tricks. Reply with ‘HUM’ in the subject field I’ll send you a link to it this month.
Drop in to Get Humming my weekly group coaching session. Get your meetings and workshops sparking with tips from me and the group. Every Friday in my Zoom room from 1pm – 2pm. Drop in, leave when you like. Register here.
Work with me 1:1 to make your online meetings and workshops engaging and productive. Reply with the word “HUM” in the subject line. We’ll make a time to meet and see which of my programs would be a good fit for you.