Video Conferencing 101

Video conferencing offers significant benefits over traditional in-person meetings. While teleconferencing lacks the visual interaction that lets attendees pick up on nonverbal communication like eye movements, hand gestures, or body language, video conferencing provides a “serve and return” verbal and nonverbal feedback loop that is critical to successful communication. Clear communication helps information get dispersed, people feel more recognized and seen, and teams can build better relationships.

Bridging Geographical Distances

When a marketing manager is in California, but the sales team is in London, it’s almost impossible to regularly meet in person. Video conferencing helps bridge geographical distances that would be hard to tackle otherwise. Video conferencing can replace weekly stand-ups, monthly all-hands, quarterly business reviews, and even annual kickoffs. Attendees can watch from the comfort of their homes, especially if the webcast time is late at night or early in the morning.

Face-to-Face Communication for Nonverbal Cues

According to research by Dr. Mehrabian, a whopping 93% of communication is nonverbal, which means the majority of our understanding comes from more than the actual words said. When the bulk of understanding and relationship building comes from facial movements, eye shifts, hand gestures, and body language, it’s hard to effectively communicate without these cues. While the tone of voice and inflection can do a lot to communicate intent, it’s easy to misread something with no nonverbal inputs.

Reduced Travel Costs

The average business trip costs roughly $1,300 per employee, and this can widely vary depending on location and time of year. Video conferencing requires zero travel, saving businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

Increased Flexibility for Employees

Employees are more likely to tune in and be engaged when they don’t have to worry about commuting or travel. If team members have a family emergency like a daycare closing or a sick spouse, they don’t have to stress about coming into the office for in-person meetings or attending a face-to-face training session.

Reduced Commuting Times

The average worker spends 52 minutes a day commuting, which is often thought of as a significant waste of time. Employees can spend more time working instead of sitting in the car or navigating public transportation. Video conferencing allows employees to connect and meet wherever they are without having to commute into the office.