Face to Face Communication: Importance & Advantages at a Glance

The meaning of face-to-face communication can be quickly seen in its translation from English: Thereby a conversation face to face has some advantages.

This is why face-to-face communication is worthwhile

In times of digital progress, there is much to be said for exchanging ideas with other people via usable media – if only to save on travel. Nevertheless, face-to-face communication should not be underestimated:

• Face-to-face communication involves personal conversations in which at least two people are physically in one and the same place. The communicators therefore do not have any media such as mobile phones or computers connected between them in order to talk to each other.
• However, face-to-face communication is not synonymous with the often-mentioned “one-on-one conversation”. Numerous people can take part in the face-to-face conversation, for example in the form of meetings within a room, lectures or workshops that are not conducted by zoom.
• The interpersonal advantages of face-to-face communication are primarily better and less error-prone communication.
• Face-to-face interlocutors can respond directly to each other and react quickly to what the other person says, and they can also pick up on elements of non-verbal communication more easily.
• Body language such as facial expressions and gestures is often lost in mediated conversations, as is intonation, i.e. the emphasis on certain statements and words. This leads more easily to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
• In addition, it is easier to establish an emotional and interpersonal connection with the other person if the persons can communicate face to face and possibly also establish some kind of physical contact. Trust and credibility in particular are easier to establish in person.