Has the digital age replaced the value of face -to-face interaction? No. While each person communicates using differing modalities, and digital communication is more frequent and in greater quantity that what we’ve experienced before, it is not a replacement for person-to-person interaction. Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but I value seeing the person I’m communicating with. Besides their written and spoken words, there is much additional information and context gained through visual non-verbal communication. Having attended many meetings virtually, it’s my experience that the experience richer, and the impact we have on one another different when meeting with someone in person, at least occasionally. One concept that came to mind is networking.
Networking has long been known to provide many important benefits:
- Career growth
- Expand your awareness of job opportunities and contacts to those jobs. Some statistics suggest 85% of jobs are filled by networking.
- Build genuine relationships, self-confidence and expand your areas of shared interests. These intangibles are the good things in life.
- Reconnect with old acquaintances who may have advice and encouragement.
- Access to industry knowledge beyond your current experience