Face to Face Still Best for Using Your Communication Skills

Communication Skills: The Case for Face-to-Face

Summary: Videoconferences, webinars, you name it; All sorts of new channels or media have emerged recently. Still, sitting down, face to face, may still be the best bet when the outcome matters.

Sure, you can find many efficient new ways to communicate with others.

But are they as effective as they are efficient? Especially when you could win or lose in a big way? In these cases, choosing the right medium for the message can be the most critical communication skill . As a rule of thumb, we might say that the more critical the message, the more reason for face-to-face talk.

That’s because face-to-face offers many benefits that aren’t otherwise available to us, benefits such as being able to see body language, listen to voice tones, and observe eye movements. And that’s just the receiving side.

On the sending side of the communication ledger, face-to-face offers us an opportunity to easily add an emotional layer to our words, to enjoy the benefits of close physical proximity, and to get immediate feedback.

Next, we’ll examine each of these benefits in more detail, starting with body language. When we can see the body language of others, we get a glimpse into what the other person really thinks or feels; his or her body language may give us a more accurate reading than the words that come back to us.

Similarly, hearing a voice in person sends or receives a much richer version of the message. You will understand the other person better, and when you speak, you’ll be able to nuance your message with emphasis, or lack of it.

We know, too, that eye movements contribute to understanding, as we watch for factors such as direct eye contact, duration of the contact, and so on. Is the message you’re getting from the eyes consistent with the words you’re hearing?

An emotional layer leads to bonding, whether to a lesser or greater degree. Even something as simple as drinking coffee together creates an emotional link that can help the flow of communication.

Close physical proximity, such as being in the same room, allows us to see, and perhaps control or compensate for, the environment. For example, if we meet in a room with lots of glass, the other person may be distracted by people walking by.

Immediate feedback matters in important meetings, feedback such as body language and tone of voice. As we get that feedback, we can immediately and continually adjust the tone or content of our message to match the situation. Over time, we also have an opportunity of improving communication skills .

Put all of these factors together, and you begin to see the effectiveness of face to face communication may be of more value than the efficiency of new communication channels.

Of course, given the higher costs of face-to-face communication, it may not always be feasible. But, if the message is important, then it’s worth considering.