Connecting in Person, Again

For us, getting back to normal means getting back to making meaningful connections everywhere (and every chance we can). 

The hug. The handshake. The undivided attention of being face to face, in person, without distractions to nurture authentic and meaningful connections. 

Not so long ago, this was the bread and butter of business – networking with like-minded professionals to find common ground and a path to mutual benefit. Going to conferences, meeting in the same room or popping into coffee shops between meetings. 

So much about human connection has changed in just the past few years.

Of course, many of us did everything we could to stay connected. However, the pandemic made it more socially acceptable to retreat into our homes with our pandemic pets and our Zoom-casual attire (at least from the waist-down). 

Making Meaningful Connections

A core principle of Noble Studios is that if we want to be better every day, we need to make meaningful connections with each other and with others in our community and industry. 

Whether it’s meeting with colleagues, attending networking events or simply grabbing coffee with a friend, taking the time to connect with others in person can provide a range of benefits that virtual communication cannot. 

Building strong business relationships and networking can open the door to new opportunities and provide valuable access to industry insights, best practices and connections. These insights and connections can lead to innovation and positive growth for all parties involved, making it a win-win situation. 

Beyond the professional benefits, these relationships can turn into innovation, positive growth, fulfillment and purpose for everyone involved. 

By prioritizing meaningful connections in our lives, we can expand our horizons, broaden our perspectives and become the best versions of ourselves, which is why Noble Studios turned this into one of our core principles. 

Hitting the Road

Empowered by the perks of connection, our team has been hitting the road to make meaningful connections again. Since the start of 2023, we’ve met as a leadership team and ventured out to meet with clients in the field and visit our teams worldwide. Noble’s CEO Jarrod Lopiccolo visited our Bristol, UK team. Jarrod and I went to San Francisco to meet with former and current clients and strategic partners.

Three Things We Learned From the Road

• Cultivating Confidence: We realized something pretty quickly while meeting with folks in person. Connecting face-to-face actually helps us build trust and get to know each other way better! We can read body language and catch those confidence-building nonverbal cues quicker, which makes working together a whole lot smoother.
• Better Communication: Face-to-face meetings also enable better communication. Conversations can be more fluid and organic, and you tend to share things you wouldn’t if constrained by a Zoom video. Additionally, in-person meetings allow for more spontaneity and creativity, which can lead to more innovative solutions.
• Stronger Relationships: Finally, in-person meetings can help build stronger relationships. By meeting in person, we can create a sense of camaraderie and teamwork that may not be possible through virtual communication. When people have  personal relationships with one another, they’re more likely to work collaboratively and achieve common goals.

Simple Ways to Create More Meaningful Connections

You don’t have to hit the road to find meaningful connections. Just looking at this week’s meetings, you’ll likely see some opportunities to reconnect with your network. 

1. Schedule Regular In-Person Meetings: Make an effort to organize regular face-to-face meetings with colleagues, clients and industry peers to strengthen relationships and foster personal and professional growth.
2. Prioritize Face-to-Face Communication: Whenever possible, choose in-person communication over virtual alternatives, especially for important discussions and decision-making processes, to improve cooperation and negotiation outcomes.
3. Develop Trust-Building Activities: Integrate trust-building exercises or activities into in-person meetings to encourage openness, collaboration and more effective working relationships.
4. Encourage Open Dialogue and Creativity: Create an environment that promotes open, fluid communication during in-person meetings, allowing for greater spontaneity, creativity and innovative problem-solving.
5. Invest in Team Building: Organize team-building events, workshops, or retreats that encourage in-person interaction to foster camaraderie and teamwork, leading to better collaboration and achieving common goals.

Let’s bring back the art of conversation and the joy of connecting face-to-face. It’s time to rediscover the magic that only in-person interactions can bring and ‘real’ clothes that get us out of our loungewear! 

Fast Company originally published this post from Kimberly Pedego on April 23, 2023.