The Value of In-person Collaboration for Strengthening Company Culture
The Necessity of In-Person Collaboration for Lasting Company Culture
Company culture isn't something you can cultivate over Zoom. If you're serious about building a cohesive workplace, you need to focus on what truly fosters connections.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Key Insights
- Loneliness is a pressing issue, with one in three U.S. adults reporting feelings of isolation, while about a quarter lack adequate social and emotional support, as per the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Teams are more effective when collaborating in person. Even in hybrid setups, various factors like timing, office locations, and time zones can hinder face-to-face interaction. Leaders should make it a priority to gather their teams periodically.
- Remote work can intensify feelings of disconnect. Whether your company operates fully online or has a hybrid approach, in-person gatherings are essential — think company retreats, conferences, or team-building events.
Reflecting on my two decades leading Jotform, there's one truth I've come to appreciate: The most memorable moments stem from when our entire team converged in person.
This revelation might be surprising coming from a programmer and introvert. You might assume I prefer solitude with my lines of code and a strong cup of coffee. You're mistaken.
A highlight of our cultural bond is what we call Jotformers Week. It’s a time when colleagues from nearly 20 countries assemble to connect, brainstorm, and review our achievements—no Zoom link necessary. Not only do these gatherings bring joy, but they also spark genuinely innovative ideas. We make sure to collect feedback from every attendee after these sessions — with a Jotform, naturally.
My endorsement of in-person engagement stems from a clear belief: teams thrive when they’re gathered in one space. However, even in companies where in-person work is standard, overlaps in schedules, different office sites, and conflicting time zones can limit interactions. This is why I argue for occasional team gatherings, which can be vital for maintaining and enhancing workplace cohesion.
The Importance of Face-to-Face Interaction
We are inherently social beings, and the current trends suggest we’re facing a crisis of connection. Online platforms and AI may give the illusion of community, yet they often exacerbate isolation. Current statistics indicate about one-third of U.S. adults feel lonely, with around 25% reporting a lack of sufficient social and emotional support.
For many, remote work has heightened these feelings of being disconnected. During the pandemic, while I appreciated the tools that allowed our team to work from home smoothly, I observed a decline in morale as dining tables turned into permanent workstations, blurring the lines between professional and personal time.
Surprisingly, work relationships significantly contribute to life satisfaction; a YouGov survey found that 76% of Americans have made friends at work. Yet, forging real connections over a Slack channel or through a Zoom "happy hour" often falls flat. Any participant of a remote morale-boosting video call can confirm that such engagements can feel more like a chore than a pleasure.
True relationships develop through spontaneous moments that are only possible in shared environments — the casual chats that occur post-meeting, the lunches at local eateries, and even the little annoyances like a stale coffee machine or construction noise outside. These are the experiences that stitch teams together.
Crafting Effective In-Person Gatherings
While I advocate for in-person interactions, I emphasize that these experiences must be meaningful and worthwhile. Cultivating a healthy office environment involves creating a space that fosters productivity rather than a sterile cubicle atmosphere that becomes a source of dread. The same principle applies to any gathering — what's the added value that can't be achieved virtually?
Over the years, a critical lesson for me has been the importance of mixing teams up during events. If attendees are only engaging with their direct teammates, it transforms into a mere relocation of the office. Cross-functional collaboration can yield impressive results, yet spontaneous conversations across departments often require some engineering. Strategic seating arrangements and team-oriented sessions facilitate broader dialogue.
While you want to maximize interaction during these meet-ups, it’s vital not to over-schedule. Always carve out time for those impromptu chats over coffee or for lunches that extend slightly beyond the planned hour. These organic interactions are what you should seek to nurture.
Zoom and Slack are valuable tools that can aid collaboration, but they shouldn't overshadow the need for face-to-face engagement. Numerous studies highlight that in-person exchanges foster not just goodwill and trust, but also ignite creativity and spur innovation. By prioritizing opportunities for physical gatherings, you lay the groundwork for stronger collaborations — both during team meetings and in the work performed from a distance.