Valuing the Trip

Key Insights on Meeting Modes

While virtual meetings work adequately for many scenarios, the gap between "adequate" and "optimal" varies significantly depending on the meeting's purpose. The decision to meet in-person or virtually should weigh the meeting's importance against the logistical friction of gathering face-to-face—rather than defaulting to one mode over the other.

Findings from a tClara survey of 522 U.S.-based business leaders (including 95 C-suite respondents) reveal that meeting mode preferences are highly goal-dependent:

• 43% of leaders rate in-person as the better mode across 26 meeting goals.
• 35% prefer virtual meetings for specific objectives.
• 22% say the mode barely matters—the choice depends on the goal.

When In-Person Meetings Excel

In-person is the preferred mode for 22 of the 26 goals surveyed, particularly for:

• Building trust and teamwork.
• Persuading or selling.
• Solving important problems.

When Virtual Meetings Are Preferred

Virtual meetings are favored for goals such as:

• Gathering diverse opinions.
• Sharing updates.
• Using people's time efficiently.

Risks of Virtual Meetings

Leaders perceive virtual meetings as nearly twice as likely to produce negative outcomes compared to in-person meetings (47% vs. 25%), highlighting that convenience can carry real risks.

Leadership Perspectives on Hybrid Work

• 70% of leaders believe a deliberate blend of virtual and in-person work enables them to perform at their best.
• C-suite respondents value in-person meetings more than other leaders (53% vs. 41%).