7 Disadvantages of Virtual Meetings

During the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual meetings have played a vital role in helping companies continue with their daily business, without having to risk the health and safety of their employees.

Now that Covid secure measures have come into action and it is safer for many to return to the workplace, we’re taking a look at whether there is still a place for virtual meetings, or whether they have truly been replaced by the face-to-face meetings and conferences that more than 70% of people say they prefer. 

Read on for our full list of virtual meeting advantages and disadvantages. 

1 Difficult to get ideas across

For most of us, one of the biggest cons of virtual meetings is the communication issues they can cause. 

When compared to face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings are debilitating as they remove the capacity for us to read one another’s body language. Admittedly, they may be a step up from a phone call as we can view each others’ faces, but with 70-90% of all communication being nonverbal, we definitely miss what our colleagues fully mean when we cannot see their gesticulations.

Not only can this seriously disadvantage a company that might be trying to impress a new client, but it can also have an adverse effect on staff relations, potentially causing frictions simply due to communication errors. It can also be difficult for new staff to build a rapport with colleagues over a virtual meeting alone. In turn, this could potentially cost you, clients.

2 Cost of equipment

Although it might be cheaper to not have a permanent office space and instead ask everyone to work remotely, this model can actually prove more costly.

Opting to avoid your own office space instead puts the onus on your company to invest in reliable technology for all employees. Everyone will likely need their own laptop computer, internet access, and a suitable microphone and camera if these do not come built into the computers you purchase. Staff might even approach you enquiring about heating and electricity levies. 

Staff who live in rural locations may even struggle to access the internet of adequate bandwidth, depending on their job role. You could consider mobile broadband solutions in these instances, yet it is imperative to note that not all parts of the country have access to mobile phone signals either.

3 Networking is challenging 

Whereas networking at a live conference is one of the key reasons for attending, networking at a virtual conference or meeting can be much more difficult. 

Although virtual meeting platforms tend to offer the option to host breakout rooms where smaller groups of attendees can meet privately to work on a project, the capacity for networking during downtime in between presentations and workshops is virtually non-existent when compared to in-person events.

4 Can be harder to close deals

When trying to close a hard deal with a new or pre-existing client, the many nuances of different people’s sales techniques are almost impossible to convey successfully over a virtual meeting. 

Meetings come with varying rituals that we possibly take for granted. Removing the ability to shake hands or make quiet jokes with someone you’re meeting with can make it harder to create a connection with the person you’re trying to win over. 

5 Distracted staff

There is greater potential for your staff to be more distracted when working at home. Whether their washing machine might be making a noise, their doorbell might be ringing, and their pets or family members could be in need of attention, you also have limited power and ability to help get them back on task.

There may be times when some staff might not be able to attend meetings in person, but even in these circumstances, offering them the chance to attend virtually from a professional meeting space near their home can help. This will help ensure your staff are as productive as possible, providing them somewhere to work away from the distractions they might face at home.

6 Difficult to manage staff

With everyone on your team working remotely, if your staff are salaried you may wish to check that they are indeed working as per usual. .

It can be notoriously difficult to keep track of your team’s productivity if the only get-togethers you have are via virtual meetings. There are some ways you can combat this, however.

Firstly, you may wish to invest in employee monitoring software to help you check what your employees are doing and when. This is not a suitable solution for every company, however, and can potentially damage relations with your staff if they are not on board with having their actions monitored to this extent. 

The other option is to try and get as many members of your team together in an actual meeting space as often as possible. If your employees live geographically far apart, or you simply don’t own or rent your own premises, renting meeting space in a location that suits a majority is always an option.

7 Scheduling can be tricky

With many companies today employing staff that live in different countries, continents and therefore different time zones, finding a time that is convenient for everyone to meet can be difficult. In addition, you may need to be conscious of how local traditions, holidays and weekends can be different. The weekend in the United Arab Emirates for example runs from Friday to Saturday, whilst weekends in the United Kingdom are from Saturday to Sunday.

Working from home means your staff’s commitments may be different - they may have caring roles for young or elderly relatives that they cannot avoid and therefore need to work more flexibly. As a result, getting everyone together at the same time can be a challenge.

With a face-to-face meeting, however, this cannot happen. Getting everyone together at a convenient place, even if that means at an airport meeting room, is still the ideal way to get the best out of your team, in an environment where they can focus solely on bettering the company you all work for. 

Virtual meetings certainly serve a purpose and have proven a great way to help tide some organisations during national lockdowns. However, there is nothing like a face-to-face meeting for successful training sessions, board meetings or conferences. 

With lockdowns gradually easing, you may wish to consider hiring these spaces to get your team together to start making better connections, and ultimately more profit.