From Remote to In-Person: 3 Key Benefits I've Rediscovered

After spending the last seven years working remotely, managing everything through virtual meetings, emails, and phone calls, I became quite comfortable with the routine. In fact, I traveled a lot during those years, racking up plenty of miles and even reaching Platinum status. Being a road warrior—away from home and family two to three times per month—became part of my life. But as I’ve shifted toward more in-person interactions locally while building my business, I’ve been reminded of the benefits of connecting with clients face-to-face without the constant travel. It’s brought back a sense of balance, energy, and focus I didn’t fully appreciate during my remote years.

Here are three benefits of in-person client meetings that I was reminded of as I made this transition.

Energized Environment: The Power of Face-to-Face Client Meetings

One of the first things I noticed when I started meeting clients in person again was the renewed sense of energy and focus that came with it. During my remote years, I became accustomed to managing relationships through virtual meetings, but there’s something more engaging about sitting across from someone, reading their body language, and having a real-time conversation.

While I used to be on the road regularly, meeting clients face-to-face now feels less like an exhausting routine and more like a productive, energizing experience. I no longer need to travel across states to make meaningful connections; instead, I can meet locally and still gain the same (if not better) benefits from those interactions. In-person meetings allow for more meaningful, fluid conversations, helping me build rapport with clients that feels more genuine. It’s also refreshing to experience a boost in focus and productivity after these meetings, something that used to get lost in the exhaustion of constant travel.

Social and Professional Connection: Building Stronger Relationships

I hadn’t realized how much I missed the connection that comes with face-to-face interactions until I started meeting clients in person again. Virtual communication worked, but I was reminded how much easier it is to build trust and rapport when you’re sitting across from someone. Being physically present creates a different level of engagement.

These meetings have helped me build stronger, more personal relationships with my clients. In-person conversations tend to flow more naturally, and clients seem more comfortable sharing their thoughts and challenges in a face-to-face setting. The more personal, informal moments before or after a meeting also help create stronger bonds that don’t come as easily in a virtual environment.

While I’m still early in developing these relationships through in-person meetings, I’ve already seen how much more connected I feel to my clients, which has added a new level of meaning and satisfaction to my work. The best part? I don’t have to spend hours on planes and nights away from my family to build these connections.

Health and Well-Being: The Positive Impact of Being Around People

Working remotely certainly had its perks, but I’d forgotten how isolating it could sometimes feel. As I’ve started meeting with clients in person again—whether it’s at a coffee shop, their office, or a shared workspace—I’ve noticed a positive shift in my mental well-being. There’s something refreshing about engaging with others face-to-face, and I’ve felt more motivated and connected to my work as a result.

Mentally, it’s been a great change. Those in-person interactions bring a sense of energy and social connection that I didn’t realize I was missing while working remotely. It’s easier to feel engaged and part of something bigger when you’re physically interacting with people, even in a professional setting. While I’m still in the early stages of this transition, it’s already clear how much these in-person connections have positively impacted my work mindset.

Physically, the change has been refreshing, too. Getting out of the house to meet clients, moving around more, and having a change of scenery have helped me feel more energized and focused. There’s also the benefit of “switching off” after a meeting—it’s easier to mentally reset after an in-person interaction, and I’ve found it helps me maintain a better work-life balance. Plus, I no longer have to juggle travel logistics, which means more time at home with family, and less time on the road.

A Recommendation for Companies: Organizing Geographies for Client-Facing Teams

While my shift to local in-person meetings has brought balance back into my work life, I recognize that not every company can have client-facing staff located in every local territory. If that’s the case, I recommend organizing territories into specific geographic regions where your team can visit multiple clients without the burden of extensive travel. By doing so, you can still reap the benefits of face-to-face interaction while reducing the strain of long-distance travel, helping your team build strong relationships without sacrificing work-life balance.

Conclusion: Rediscovering the Benefits of In-Person Client Interactions

While remote work offers undeniable flexibility, reintroducing in-person client interactions into my routine has reminded me of benefits I had overlooked. From the energy and motivation that come from face-to-face meetings to the stronger personal connections and positive impact on my well-being, these interactions have added a new dimension to my work.

As I continue building my local business, these in-person meetings have given me a renewed sense of focus and connection that I didn’t fully appreciate while working remotely. For anyone considering a similar shift, I encourage you to explore how in-person interactions can positively impact your own work experience. Sometimes, the benefits are ones you already knew but just needed to be reminded of.