Month: March 2018

Archives for March 2018

Why in person meetings are still the most valuable

Business is conducted at light speed these days. Technology has enabled a wide range of communication possibilities like instant messaging, text, and video conferencing, and since most everybody has a mobile phone, there are few barriers to connecting. From the reception desk to the c-suite, people in business opt for the fastest way to connect when they need answers.

However, if you have been on either end of a cyber-miscommunication, you know how easy it is to misread or misrepresent what’s being said. If you can’t see a person’s face, you can’t read their body language. You just don’t know how they are really responding. An emoticon can only say so much, after all. This is why face-to-face communication in the age of technology is becoming even more important than it ever was.

It’s faster than you think it is

You might think that meeting in person is a slower way to go, but if you have to revisit that conversation again, or if you lose the deal entirely, expedience will be a non-issue. Meetings don’t have to be filled with platitudes and small talk. If you are clear on the meeting subject then you should be able to get down to business much faster. You will have the benefit of being able to gauge interest, responses, tone of voice, and body language, which all add up to a more meaningful connection.

In person meetings build trust

These days, we are used to dealing with online support, AI robots on the help desk, and exchanging emails back and forth – but if you’ve never met the person face-to-face, do they even exist? To be fair, there is often another person on the other end, but it’s very difficult to build a sense of trust or shared mission without that personal connection. This is why the world’s top companies still send their sales teams out to locations. Real people do business with real people, not machines. In some countries, like China, for instance, business decisions are made in person, not over a video feed. Their top businessmen and women need to establish trust and will not do business with anyone they have not met with in person.

Virtual meetings create barriers

Even if you’re using Google Hangouts or Skype for Business to conduct your weekly scrum, the technology creates a barrier you may not be aware of. Especially for meetings with multiple attendees or when conducting a company-wide meeting, individuals might find it easy to disengage, negating the very purpose of the meeting itself. Even for small groups, you may lose people if they aren’t an active part of the discussion or if they don’t feel anybody is paying attention to them. Meeting in person removes these barriers so that all stakeholders can engage in real-time.

Technology doesn’t empathize

Emotional connection is important. It’s a big reason why we connect with ideas, people, products, advertising, and media in general. But empathy is a two-way street. By meeting in person, you will be able to foster trust and empathy with the other person, which are by all accounts essential components of a successful business venture.

In conclusion, today’s technology provides us with many ways to connect, but in person meetings provide value above and beyond expedience. Use your tech to connect the dots on a day-to-day basis but save your more important discussions for when you can meet up in person.

Need to book a meeting in Weston, Florida? Lakeside Executive Suites has meeting rooms on-demand to accommodate all your needs. Book online today or call to find out more.

Coworking is for women too!

Coworking has been a growing trend to the way small and large businesses work. However, the landscape is largely male-dominated and that is a bit disheartening. Female business owners and entrepreneurs seem to be passing over this trend, which could represent a major opportunity to save money on office space, network, and build their businesses.

Coworking delivers what a conventional office space, home office or a coffee shop simply can’t:

– A flexible workspace with a variety of seating and desk options
– Access to the fastest internet available
– Use of high-tech office equipment such as printers, scanners, copiers, and audio-visual equipment
– A dedicated, professional business address
– A front-office team at your disposal
– Fresh hot and cold beverages all day long
– Regular networking events
– The opportunity to work near other entrepreneurs
– Access to meeting and conference rooms on-demand

Beyond these features, there are many other reasons coworking is for women too:

1. You will be happier

Most businesses owned by women are sole proprietorships. That means if you are among this group, you are working alone much of the time. One 2015 report found that 30 percent of sole proprietors were plagued by depression. With more human interaction, you will experience greater stimulation and avoid this common pitfall.

2. You will be more productive

Studies show that working with other people boosts productivity. In fact, 74 percent of coworkers tend to be more productive than non-coworkers, 86 percent have a bigger business network, 60 percent collaborate more on projects, and 30 percent report a gain in income.

3. You will have a place to belong

While many freelancers and business owners find space to work wherever they can, there will come a time when you need to portray a more professional image. Nothing says you mean business more than a physical business address and a coworking space can give you that, too. Getting out of your personal space has other advantages, too – no distractions from your personal life, and nobody to have to negotiate with if you need to have a meeting or you just don’t want to be disturbed.

4. You will have access to valuable input from like-minded others

Male or female, entrepreneurs have a few things in common: they are driven, they are visionary, and they are focused on doing things better. Most women start their own businesses to get away from corporate politics and drudgery but end up missing valuable input from colleagues. Coworking is a way to access that input without compromising the way you work. In fact, many coworking aficionados report that a great deal of their new business comes from people they meet while coworking.

Other potential benefits include finding mentorship, meeting people in complementary businesses who can help you with yours (such as graphic designers, web developers, consultants, and so on), and lastly, you will always have somebody to try out your pitch on – somebody that isn’t your spouse or your pets.

Lakeside Executive Suites offers coworking for women in Weston, Florida. While we are not a women-only coworking facility, our location will satisfy on many levels. Convenient, secure, comfortable, and affordable, this is the way business in Weston gets done. Call today to learn more or drop by for a tour.

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