100% In-Person Meetings: Is It Still Possible?

Since hybrid work has become the norm in most organizations, more and more teams are fully embracing the concept, even offering hybrid meetings where employees can choose to attend in person or remotely. This raises the question: is it still relevant (or even possible) to meet in person in 2024? We posed the question to professionals on LinkedIn.

Looking at the participants’ responses, it becomes clear that the preference for in-person meetings transcends industries. Among those (34%) who believe “it’s essential,” you’ll find marketers, HR professionals, factory managers, IT leaders…

However, it’s also evident that in-person meetings can no longer be taken for granted, as 46% of respondents now see them as a welcome “bonus.” On the other hand, it should be noted that a significant group of workers is now quite resistant to in-person meetings, with 20% viewing them as unfair to remote workers.

Good Reasons to Meet Face-to-Face

As to whether this type of meeting is still possible, the answer is obviously “yes,” although it sometimes requires a bit of insistence, effort, and goodwill from the parties involved. Pierrot Ferland, president of Spak, had just come out of an in-person meeting when he responded to the survey:

“Sometimes, it’s important to make the trip,” he insists. “At my clients’ offices, the first strategic meetings are always in person – it really helps establish the relationship. After that, virtual meetings are the norm. I’m a strong advocate for remote work, but sometimes it’s good to get out of the house.”

Solène Métayer, a neuroinclusion trainer, also sees advantages in face-to-face meetings:

“I notice more people who want to speak but don’t dare interrupt the big talkers,” she explains. “So, I take it upon myself to cut off the person who is speaking at that moment by asking the first person if they have something to add. In virtual meetings, it’s harder to notice nonverbal cues, so I can’t assume the role of facilitator as effectively.”

Leaders’ Strong Preference for In-Person Meetings

Notably, proponents of 100% in-person meetings are found among both managers and employees. The “U.S. Internal Meetings Impact Report 2024” provides interesting statistics on leaders’ interest in in-person meetings:

78% of the 250 leaders surveyed state that in-person meetings are “crucial” to the functioning of the company;
85% try to bring their employees together more often.

This might suggest that in-person meetings are far from being a thing of the past. We may even witness a swing back toward prioritizing in-person meetings and moving away from hybrid meetings where everyone chooses their preferred mode of connection.

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