It turns out that cows react more positively to a live human voice than they do to a recording of that same voice. It might be a stretch to assume that humans react the same way but I’m willing to bet $1 that we do.
Personally, I derive a great sense of satisfaction when my wife an I host friends at our house for dinner around the fireplace. That sense is greatly diminished when those friends are on FaceTime (because of COVID). Same people, same conversation, same fireplace in the background. But what we hear and see is effectively a digital recording of the real thing, and we simply don’t react the same way.
If your company is planning its office space for the post-COVID era, consider that, 6 months from now, employees might have a stronger desire for in-person conversations than they have now. Make sure there is room for them.
The Ethical Leader 