I know, we’ve all gotten a bit lazy - and yes, let’s just blame it on COVID!
When the pandemic started, I was horrified at the thought of losing the ability to connect with people face-to-face. That connection was the essence of my business. Since the beginning, I’ve thrown myself out there, chatting with folks over coffee, drinks, or sometimes nothing at all, about careers, fundraising, nonprofits, and life in general. By 2012, I’d stopped counting after 3,000 coffees.
But as the pandemic went on, like everyone else, I adapted to new technologies. And I have to admit: I started loving the convenience of virtual calls. I was saving hours - no more driving hundreds of kilometres or hopping from coffee shop to coffee shop for back-to-back meetings. Eventually, I settled on meeting people in one spot depending on where I was, but even that felt exhausting compared to the ease of hopping on Zoom.
Virtual meetings have proven their worth in other areas too. For board meetings, committees, and task-oriented discussions, they’re a lifesaver. When socializing isn’t the priority, they’re efficient and practical.
And honestly? All that extra time during the pandemic felt like heaven. I could focus on strategic planning for my business and adapt to the constant changes the pandemic brought. But then came the moment we were allowed to go out again, and I realized something strange: I still wasn’t meeting people in person. Virtual calls had become the default, and that just didn’t sit right with me anymore.
By 2022, I decided it was time to reintroduce in-person meetings - slowly at first. Coffee and happy hour, preferably happy hour. 😉
Here’s why:
The other day, I caught up with someone I first met for coffee back in 2009. I even remembered the exact coffee shop we’d gone to. They were surprised, but to me, it was natural. If I’ve had a drink with you, I can probably tell you where even if 15 years ago. Go ahead, try me!
Zoom just doesn’t create those memories. There’s nothing to recall except maybe a funky screensaver or a cat wandering into the frame.
In-person meetings, though? They’re full of sensory experiences—smells, colours, textures—that create lasting impressions. These moments stick with us in a way a virtual call never could.
Don’t get me wrong - I’m still a firm believer in time management. I’ll never advocate wasting time on unnecessary meetings that could be replaced with a quick phone or Zoom call. But we can’t afford to lose the warmth and connection that come from real-life interactions.
In a society that’s already far too cold, let’s not sacrifice the time we need to build genuine relationships.