As organizations rethink their long-term work options — such as work-from-home, in-office, and hybrid arrangements — larger departmental, divisional, and company-wide meetings are making a comeback. One of the biggest in-person meeting tips I can provide is to use a facilitator!
The return of larger in-person meetings and off-sites is a good thing. People want to see each other face-to-face (we’ve also seen an increase in attendance at conferences and trade shows). People involved in face-to-face meetings are able to communicate effectively at more levels (content, tone-of-voice, and body language) and it’s easier to pursue an important, but not-specifically-on-the-agenda discussion or idea. Also, informal conversations, including conversations that build trust and relationships, happen more spontaneously than in a virtual meeting.