“Meetings” Without Meeting

July 20, 2010

When scheduling a meeting, keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be in-person to be personal.  With the advent of today’s communication technology, we can still see the shining faces of distant coworkers and clients crystal clear on our computer screen without actually having converge on a central location.  While meetings that don’t actually require people to meet may seem strange at first, the concept actually makes a lot of sense both economically and environmentally.  Perhaps the only excuse for resisting such modern day meeting alternatives is a simple nostalgia for a simpler time, but honestly, how much simpler could  it get?  Instead of going through the hassle of scheduling flights, booking hotel accommodations, reserving conference rooms and allotting yourself the time it takes to get from one location to another, participants can just turn on their computer from their home or office desk, log in to a chat or conference application and instantly exchange a back and forth of ideas and shoptalk with people from all over the country or globe.

Telephone, satellite and internet conferencing options have truly made the world we live in smaller and more accessible.  It makes reasonable sense to take advantage of the most up-to- date options possible.  While the hassle of coordinating and attending meetings and conventions can be inconvenient, the logistics of putting them into action can be costly.  Think of all the expenses an internet or telephone conference makes completely unnecessary.  Air travel is pricier than ever and your transportation budget does not end there.  Cabs and rental cars don’t come cheap, even if only used for short periods of time.  While hotel rooms can be reserved in blocks to cut down on total cost, not having to book one at all makes clearly the most fiscal sense.  Most importantly, meetings that take advantage of new age concepts and communication options help to preserve out natural resources by limiting the use of energy required to move people from city to city and by cutting down on the trash and waste that’s a byproduct of large gatherings.  Such innovation and forward thinking helps to ensure the long term health of planet Earth, while having a positive effect on your bottom line as well.

Filed under: Energy Conservation | Comments Off