As a consultancy, our business thrives on two key pillars: technical expertise and strong client relationships. While technical competence is essential, building and maintaining solid relationships can be more challenging, especially in today’s world of hybrid work.
Good client relationships can be hard to build and require constant maintenance.
Pre-Covid, we were accustomed to working five days a week on-site with our clients, side by side. Post-Covid, most businesses now require fewer days in the office, and accommodating remote work effectively has become even more important. While we fully support the hybrid model, it does come with its own logistical challenges—especially when it comes to organising in-person meetings.
Sure, virtual meetings can work for quick check-ins or routine stand-ups. But for larger, more complex discussions—particularly at the start of a project—nothing beats face-to-face interaction. Early in-person sessions are key in setting the tone for the entire project. They help build trust, ensure full engagement, and provide opportunities for meaningful collaboration. After all, in person, there’s no option to mute your mic or hide behind a screen!
That said, it can present logistical challenges when organising on-site working with client teams. There is always the question of – can this be done virtually?
A lot of the time the answer here is yes.
But these workshops also foster better communication. Virtual meetings often suffer from technical issues—poor connections, bad mics, and delays—which can hinder effective conversation. We’ve all had those awkward moments where people talk over each other, or worse, share the wrong screen (like that dinner recipe instead of the carry model you’ve spent all week working on).
In technically complex discussions, where clear communication is critical, these issues can derail progress. That’s why we continue to champion in-person meetings before and during every engagement. Face-to-face interaction ensures smoother communication, stronger relationships, and ultimately, better project outcomes.
