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Meeting Professional InternationaI’s (MPI) Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), observed on March 30, is the largest and most important event of the year for meeting professionals from around the world. This date on the calendar was designed to “highlight the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities” — which is more important than ever after years of keeping our distance!

This year, the GMID theme is #MeetingsMatter. Meetings sometimes get a bad reputation, but when they’re done right, they offer one of the most powerful connection points we have in the workplace. We all know the power of human connection can’t be fully digitized. But why is meeting in person important, especially now?

The Power of “In-Person”

Even in a world filled with virtual conferences and remote work, 76% of professionals prefer face to face meetings to calls or video chats. A calendar filled with virtual connections can be tedious, draining, and sometimes even unnecessary – but there’s a deeper desire behind the choice to connect in person. 

In a recent study from Oregon Health and Science University, participants who met up with family and friends at least three times a week had the lowest level of depressive symptoms (just 6.5%) after two years than those who had less frequent contact. Individuals who met up just once every few months or less frequently had an 11.5 percent chance of depressive symptoms. There is increasing evidence to show that in-person connection holds the same positive power in the workplace. 

Further research indicates that being in the same space is actually vital for those of us who want to connect with each other, both personally and professionally. Recent studies show that we interpret up to 70% of conversational meaning from body language and nonverbal cues, which are easy to miss or even out of frame in virtual settings. This goes to show that in the workplace, in-person meetings are a powerful tool in and of themselves — whether you’re gathering your employees for a staff check-in, hosting a conference for clients, or networking with others in your industry. 

Why Meetings Matter

These statistics show the importance of gathering together, and meetings are one of the most common ways we interact. Whether a 2 person person meeting or 2,000 person meeting, the truth remains the same: there is a unique power in human interaction. So why do meetings matter? 

Meetings remind people of their purpose. 

In the workplace, leaders can gather their teams to cast vision and remind them of the big picture. According to Forbes, remote work has made it easier for employees to detach from the office community and overarching vision. But keeping ultimate goals in mind is a powerful motivator for doing daily tasks with excellence. 

Meetings humanize everyone in the conversation.

If meetings are taking place to launch a new initiative, resolve a conflict, or provide an important update, hosting those conversations in-person can soften potential tension and convey the right tone. This is true in countless settings, from political peace talks to company mergers to individuals with interpersonal conflict in the office. 

Meetings build connections.

Just as we’ve discussed, nonverbal connection matters just as much as verbal communication — sometimes, it matters even more! According to The Washington Post, face-to-face requests at work are 34x more effective than emailed requests, and even a simple physical gesture like a handshake can sway negotiations and build rapport. From connecting with clients to building relationships within your own company, the power of face-to-face communication cannot be overstated. 

At Redstory, our mission to #CreateWhatMatters aligns perfectly with this year's Global Meetings Industry Day. We want to connect brands and people with experiences that focus on human impact, because we know that relationships are at the heart of everything we do. #MeetingsMatter, and not just for the sake of meeting. Instead, we want to use them to create moments of human connection and truly create what matters through engaging events and experiences. If you want to build events designed for human connection, reach out to us today.