Let’s be honest. I prefer events in the real world too. There is nothing like going to a convention, making new friends, having a cup of tea with someone and discovering similar interests while on break from the presentations. Food is usually served and depending on the accommodation booked, it can even feel like a little holiday because I see something else than my own four walls. But even before Coronavirus, there was several cases in which I would have preferred access to online conferences.
Monthly meetings at Corporate Headquarters. Flying once a month for a day all over the country to attend a meeting of 2 hours only seems glamorous to people that don’t understand the realities of business travel. Getting up at 4 am to catch a flight at 6:30 am is not glamourous. Nor is queueing at the airport. Flying an hour and a half and then getting into a rental car for another 45 minutes and being rushed because the flight was delayed, is stressful. Eventually one arrives at the destination and if the meeting has already started, there is not even time for a cup of coffee. Then sitting in meeting for a couple of hours, possibly going without lunch because the company doesn’t have a canteen, seeing the boss for a rushed meeting and saying hello to everyone one hasn’t seen over the last month is part of the routine. Some people are also very sensitive if you don’t visit them each time you come around. Then rushing back to the airport, handing in the rental car and finally arriving back home after 7 pm, makes one long work day.
International project and department meetings: Global companies have not only project teams whose members reside all over the world but also their managers often in different provinces, countries and continents. Most members of international teams never meet in person. And in most cases that is not necessary either. But… here comes the caveat: project teams work more effectively when the team members get along with each other. Email and telephone don’t convey body language and facial expressions and sometimes a small misunderstanding over the tone in a rushed email, can lead to a breakdown in communication. With a virtual conference I can at least see the other person and make a connection. Travelling around the world for business is great in theory. And yes there are some perks, like seeing a different country. But how much does one really see while on business trip? If you are travelling within the workweek, all you see will be the airport and the company you are travelling to plus a restaurant in the evening. In most cases you will be eating alone because you are travelling by yourself. How often have I thought, did I really need to fly all this way for this?
I haven’t even mentioned the costs of these meetings. Not only the costs to the company but also the cost to the environment while collecting frequent flyer miles. But most important to me is the cost of my time. And while I always try to fill the time on an airplane with catching up on my reading, half the time I am so exhausted that I fall asleep.
How I wished back then to be able to do this work online. Now it can be done.
Ultreia et suseia from AHEAD AND BEYOND
Eva