How the Future of Digital will Influence In-Person Gatherings

Your team has most likely has begun the conversation of the future of digital versus in-person gatherings.

A majority of these conversations have focused on the blessings and challenges of digital. Online gatherings provide efficiencies and conveniences. Zoom fatigue is real. We find ourselves in a season that we have to rely on digital, which brings a host of questions for the future, both positive and negative.

A neglected topic includes – what will in-person gatherings look like as we get back to a semblance of normalcy?

People often assume that I lean towards digital over in-person. I have found my extroverted side missing the coffee with people and seeing people in general.

Forecasting the future will not rank digital versus in-person. Instead, leaders and teams will ask which environment, digital or in-person, will benefit us the most for each opportunity.

In some ways, in-person gatherings will become even more critical in the future. I want to take a moment to outline how the future of digital will influence in-person gatherings:

Smaller groups with deeper interactions.

The moment an in-person gathering gets larger than four people, the dynamics change significantly. People who feel more comfortable talking will lean in more, and others comfortable listening will sit back. The in-person gatherings will become smaller to get deeper.

Serving over learning.

In-person gatherings create higher values of activity and serving. When it comes to learning or receiving content, people can find videos and podcasts online. As we think about physically gathering, it will become increasingly more critical of what we can do together.

You can’t replicate the same fun online.

Kan-Jam and cornhole just don’t hold up digitally. When people gather, fun will become a benefit to physical gatherings increasingly. Take hikes. Find time for the beach. See the sunset.

Unstructured in-person versus structured digital.

As I type this post, I have participated in three Zoom meetings today. Digital creates efficiencies. The future of in-person gatherings will provide less structure. Think about sitting on the porch or eating at the table together. True, you can FaceTime unstructured, but in-person gatherings will slow us down to spend time with each other.

How else do you think a digital future will influence in-person gatherings? Share in the comment section below.

Photo by Jed Villejo on Unsplash