Face-to-face meeting is better for business

In this modern age of technology any individual can communicate with anyone else within the matter of seconds thanks to cellphones and internet. Many Bangladeshi businessmen utilize this opportunity to communicate with their partners and clients via technology rather than meeting them face to face. But is it really the best way to go for a successful business?

Some of the most successful corporate houses of Bangladesh were established in an era where face to face meeting was the only option for communication with clients and other associates. Even after several decades those companies are still going strong. The key factor behind this incredible success is just one simple fact- face to face meeting.

The impact of social media and technology is obvious in this age. But here are some major reasons why face to face communication beats any other method for a successful business:

A face is better than a thousand voices

In the recent past there has been an upsurge of online stores in Bangladesh. These stores offer groceries, apparels, electronics etc. for a reasonable price and in some cases the delivery cost is entirely free. People still prefer to go to Agora, Shwapno or Meena Bazaar to do their grocery shopping or a shopping mall for apparels. This is because people like to be able to touch and see the product they are purchasing before they decide to go for it. It is always easier to explain the needs to people upfront rather than trying to explain it over the phone.

Give ample time for explanation

It is a very common occurrence for telecommunication based businesses to make mistakes in order forms. It is quite natural to make mistakes by listening to an order over the phone. In Bangladesh, people pronounce the same words in ten different ways so the client might order something and the person taking the order might hear something else. This would never happen during a face to face meeting. The client would be able to point to the exact thing he/she is looking for.

Impact of expressions

During a face to face meeting both sides can see each other’s facial expressions, speech tones and gestures. These small things can be a major factor to get an understanding of each other’s sincerity. Face to face meeting is the only way to really know who you are dealing with.

Decision making

Nothing can beat face to face meetings when it comes to decision making. It is always easier to gather around the team of clients/executives and plan for the company’s future. Face to face meetings can go on for hours without worrying about load shedding, network disturbance and call costs.

Building a community

Face to face meetings allow businessmen to expand their networks into new realms. And in this modern competitive time, networking is one of the strongest tools any entrepreneur can have. Having a large network allows more opportunity for business deals and the more people you know, the more people will know about your business.

This is undeniably the age of internet and social networking. But it can never undermine the importance of face to face communication. Both methods should be aligned perfectly in order to have a successful business. Top businessmen in Bangladesh are on the top for many reasons, being efficient in face to face meeting is one of those.

The article was first published on Bangladesh, economy, businessmen blog.