We are coming to the end of a whirlwind calendar of seven recruitment conferences in five weeks, from the USA to France, Vietnam, and New Zealand. While the logistics were sometimes tricky, and the travel schedule exhausting, we love seeing our members come away with renewed enthusiasm for their desks. We’re definitely biased about live events. It turns out we’re not alone – there are some big benefits to derive from attending face-to-face meetings.
- Live speakers can more effectively capture your attention. Yes, digital events can include live polling, chat-based Q&A and other features to command your attention. But professional speakers can change the energy of an audience. Emotions are contagious. Storytelling is captivating. Live Q&A sessions lead to deeper dialogues and sidebar conversations. In a live environment, it’s easier to gauge what is working and what isn’t, and adjust accordingly. During a digital presentation, the speaker can’t see, can’t read your nonverbal cues, and can’t truly interact with you.
- Focus and engagement are better in a live setting. Have you ever attended virtual recruitment conferences? How about webinars? Or conference calls? How much of your time did you actually spend checking and responding to email, or catching up on Facebook? It’s really easy to disengage from webinars and conference calls. Video meetings are better, but it’s still pretty easy to zone out. So if you’re not focused on what is being said (or who is saying it), can you truly be engaged with the content? Are you connecting it to your actual process? Of course people multi-task in live settings as well, but it’s harder to get away with it. The odds of participating (and remembering!) are better in a face-to-face environment.
- Face time builds trust and empathy. There is something eye contact and a warm handshake that cannot be replicated via phone call or other electronic platform. Spending time in person with colleagues and business partners builds empathy. Empathy, of course, is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. When people believe you care about them, they are more willing to trust you. When trust has been established, conversations are more open and more information is shared. For recruiters who participate in split placements, trust and openness are crucial for success.
Check out a few recruitment conferences. Take a look at the investment versus the potential return, and choose something that fits your needs. You’re bound to learn a few new tips to improve your business, and you might even come away with some new friends. What other benefits have you found from attending face-to-face events? Please share below!
