How to Balance What Technology Has to Offer Without Forgetting the Benefits of Face-to-Face CommunicationThe best way to communicate a message should be the one that facilitates reaching the ends we want to achieve.

ByCheri Beranek

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

With the help oftechnology, business leaders today are accomplishing what once took ten monthsin 10 days.创新是比以往更快地发生。巴勒斯坦权力机构ndemic instigated a rapid shift to digital tools, which have sped up processes, enabled more people to make better decisions and helped companies stay agile amidst greater uncertainty. To keep up, businesses have been racing to adopt new technologies.

In a rush to stay competitive, it can be easy to assume that new technology will improve everything. But communication is more complex. Modes ofcommunicationhave expanded, and our communication needs have changed. Social media and digital platformshave largely challengedface-to-face interactions as a dominant source of social connectedness. Communicating effectively now depends on more variables, and how we manage it can have vastly different outcomes. Effective communication boosts productivity, but poor communication can be disastrous.

As we move forward in aremote and hybrid world, there are ways that technology can facilitate healthy communication. Still, some situations will require the effectiveness of meeting face-to-face. The key is using all available tools and finding the right balance to meet each need.

Related:Face-to-Face Meetings are Important for SO Many Reasons

Face-to-face communication is more valuable than ever

Before COVID-19, most of us took the act ofmeeting in personfor granted. Since lockdowns and safety regulations forced offices and schools to close, in-person meetingsbecame rare.People worked at home, learned they liked it, and proved they could bemore productive.Now,most employeeswant to keep some degree of flexibility, and in-person interactions are unlikely to return to their pre-pandemic popularity.

But humans, as social beings, thrive in the right group environments. Connectedness to loved ones and peerspositively impactsour mental well-being, and face-to-face communication best fulfills those needs for social connectedness. In-person communication isusually the most effectivemethod of strengthening or repairing connections and developing relationships. Positive company culture hasbecome criticalto attracting and retaining talent, but building that is more complicated over digital means.

Leaders and employees can easily fall into the trap of only ever replying to emails and chats, neglecting face time with specific team members. In a recent survey, one of thetop reasonsemployees left remote or hybrid jobs was how disconnected they felt from the company. Most executive respondents agreed that their remote team members were at a disadvantage in culture and connections.

While each individual is responsible for employing the most effective communication method in a given situation, leaders can be more intentional about enabling team communication that keeps more people engaged.

Related:5 Things You Need to Bridge The Gap Between In-Person and Remote Meetings

The best method enhances communication

Effectiveness determines what type of digital tools to use forcommunicationand what situations warrant face-to-face or in-person discussions. Evenface-to-face, we need to consider the best way to communicate to achieve our desired ends and choose the method that would be most productive. For some, long periods of silence during a difficult meeting might make them uncomfortable and cause them to fill the space with lighthearted humor. Someone else might appreciate the silence for a moment to gather their thoughts.

Team members will have different communication preferences, so to best connect with our desired audience, leaders can be proactive in getting to know them. Be direct: Express how you want to receive communications and model the same behavior in communicating with others. Invite them to be direct in return about the kind of communication that works best with them. Then, be intentional. Pause and reflect on the most effective form of communication for the given person to improve the likelihood of controlling their reaction. Consider the message you want to send first and let the method follow.

To deliver messages that count, we must be prepared todeliver them.The extra lifting of having a meaningful in-person conversation can be a struggle. We might need to do extra work or seek additional input before meeting face-to-face. When I have a difficult message, I write it out in bullet points and, instead of rushing to send it through in a chat, save it and go back to review it the next day. If I still feel the same way about the message, I plan my approach to deliver it in the way most likely to resonate.

Often, we miss out on face time because we have little time to spare, and a chat is a much quicker way of communicating, even on the go, but some situations need to be more personal. An instant message is not usually the best solution for serious conversations, constructive coaching or an apology. Some situations warrant looking another person in the eyes and seeing how our message is received. The best way to communicate a message may not always be the one we're most comfortable with, but it should be the one that best facilitates reaching the ends we want to achieve.

Related:How Effective Employee Communication Boosts Productivity

Cheri Beranek

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

CEO of Clearfield

Cheri Beranek is the CEO of Clearfield and a 2021 Minnesota Business Hall of Fame inductee. Under her leadership, Clearfield has grown from a concept to a market cap of more than $500 million, providing optical-fiber management and connectivity solutions across North America.

Related Topics

Business News

Chef Gordon Ramsay Says There's a Simple Secret to Growing a Business. He'd Know—He Has 60 Restaurants.

The famed chef's newest restaurant venture, Ramsay's Kitchen, opens Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Business News

Who Is Ted Pick? Morgan Stanley's New CEO Has Been With the Company for 3 Decades

Ted Pick is replacing James Gorman, who has been CEO since 2010.

Business News

DJ Envy Associate Arrested For 'Ponzi-Like' Scheme, Defrauding Investors Out of 'Millions'

Cesar Pina, a long-standing business associate of DJ Envy, was arrested for one count of wire fraud due to his alleged involvement in an investment fraud scheme worth millions of dollars.

Legal

How Identical Twin Brothers Brought Down Drug Lord El Chapo's $2 Billion Empire

The incredible story of Jay and Pete Flores, who went from El Chapo's right-hand men to the informants who helped bring him down.

Science & Technology

10 Things CIOs are Prioritizing Today to Stay Ahead in 2024

The role of the CIO has become increasingly important as technology continues to shape the business world.