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<a href=”https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/networking/”><img src=”https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/job-networking.png” alt=”Face to Face Networking” width=”500″ border=”0″ /></a><br />Source: <a href=”https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/”>GreatBusinessSchools.org</a>

As the digital workforce continues to grow

■ 83% of employees work remotely at least part of the day.

■ 70% of young professionals believe “It is unnecessary to go to the office.”

■ 45% U.S. workforce has a job suitable for full-time or part-time telecommuting.

■ 39% socialize more online than in person

■ 20% prefer digital communication over any other.

■ 10% of US conversations take place through the Internet

Business collaboration tools get more complex and reach more people

■ phone->conference call->email->IM->Video calling->shared screens->enterprise social media

However, nothing is more effective than in-person interaction

■ Face-to-face conversations tend to be more positive, and perceived as more credible, in comparison with online.

● Nonverbal – it’s not what you say but how you say it

○ Only 7% is communicated through actual words, 38% through the way the words are spoken and 55% through our facial expressions

○ Business tells, perception of sincerity is affected by nonverbal cues

○ If communication is mostly nonverbal, is video the solution?

■ Meetings:

● 58% report traveling less for work

● 59% report using technology more for remote business meetings

● 84% report preferring meeting in-person.

○ 85% – Build stronger, more meaningful business relationships

○ 77% – Ability to read body language and facial expressions

○ 75% – More social interaction, ability to bond with co-workers/clients

○ 49% – Allow for more complex strategic thinking

○ 44% – Better environment for tough, timely decision-making

○ Increased Idea Quantity

Networking Success

■ People who got most results from their networking efforts participate more in “face-to-face” casual contact networks

■ 72% of those surveyed said they were influenced by looks and handshake

■ A Business card is a physical connection to make both a first and lasting impression

● Most important situations for physically attending

○ 93% negotiating with people from different languages/cultural backgrounds.

○ (82%) negotiating important contracts

○ (81%)interviewing senior staff for key positions

○ (69%)understanding important customers

○ Attending shows mutual acknowledgment, respect, and action.

Is it worth a plane ticket? Face to Face ROI

○ 95%: Survey respondents who say face-to-face meetings are essential for long-term business relationships

■ $12.50: Value companies gain for every U.S. dollar they invest in business travel

■ 40%: Prospects converted to new customers through face-to-face meetings

■ 28%: Current business that would be lost without face-to-face meetings

■ 17%: Profit the average company would lose if it eliminated all business travel

■ 3: Years it would take for profits to recover

● Finding a New Job

Effectiveness in finding new employment

■ Traditional Networking: 46%

■ Internet Job Boards: 25%

■ Agency/Recruiter: 14%

■ Direct Approach: 7%

■ Other: 7%

■ Newspaper / Periodical: 1%

“At least 70%, if not 80%, of jobs are not published, yet most people are spending 70 or 80% of their time surfing the net versus getting out there, talking to employers.” –Matt Youngquist, the president of Career Horizons

Sources:

http://business.time.com/2012/03/13/theise-of-theemote-worker-or-how-to-work-from-home-without-getting-fired/

http://business.time.com/2012/04/27/why-face-to-face-networking-trumps-social-networking/

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-04-29/facebook-face-to-face/54629816/1

http://ubiquity.acm.org/article.cfm?id=2043156

http://www.forbes.com/forbesinsights/Business_Meetings_FaceToFace/

http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/media/207200/MeetologyLabIMEX-FinalReport.pdf

http://businessnetworking.com/onlinenetworkslag/

http://us.moo.com/radio/UKradiopr.pdf

http://www.aci-na.org/static/entransit/HBRAS_ExecSumm_BA.pdf

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133474431/a-successful-job-search-its-all-about-networking