THE IMPACT OF IN-PERSON GATHERINGS
Why, in today’s age, do we still find it necessary to gather in person? Digital technologies like video conferencing and live streaming have famously flattened the world, making it easier and cheaper to communicate, meet, and share information with partners, colleagues, and clients. Indeed, one study found that the average employee had 60% more remote meetings between 2020 and 2023 as the widespread adoption of video conferencing technology and changing business practices made meeting virtually with colleagues easier and more widely acceptable.
At Étage, we believe virtual meetings have a time and a place—with offices and colleagues across the US and around the world, we would not be able to function without them.
But we are also fierce advocates for what we call the Power of Here—the ability of in-person gatherings to inspire change that lasts long after attendees have left the room—a power that can only be found when we meet face-to-face.
Business leaders and academics who study the issue have long argued that in-person gatherings are more effective at building cohesive teams or more productive than virtual meetings. One study found that participants in virtual meetings were significantly less engaged—as measured by key biological processes—than those in face-to-face ones.
These findings aren’t surprising and are in accord with what we all intuitively know—think of the difference between attending a concert or sporting event live and watching it at home. But to us, this focus on the functional benefits of in-person meetings eludes their true power source.
In our experience planning, designing, and executing gatherings large and small—everything from large-scale, multi-day conferences and high-level summits to investor meetings and educational forums to product launches and technical industry talks—we have found that in-person events are best able to generate the Power of Here and inspire meaningful change in attendees.
When a group of people comes together, something incredible happens. Connections are forged, lessons are shared, and a community is built. Attendees get to know one another, discover what they have in common, and develop lasting relationships based on a shared identity or interest. Our clients see greater loyalty and engagement with the stakeholders that matter most to them—but the most important outcome is the shared purpose that this sense of community creates, the commitment to act that it engenders, and the change that it inspires long after attendees leave the venue.
Funding a scholarship for students from underprivileged communities, driving action on ocean conservation, or shifting industries toward more sustainable solutions–these are acts that are best achieved when a community bands together and leverages the Power of Here. A digital moment can resonate with a person, making them pause and think. But when a room of people all resonate together, barriers can be broken.
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