“Real World” Communication Benefits

In times where communication over long distances can easily be done via all sorts of practically instantaneous communication and where members of one project are scattered all over the planet, you should take every opportunity that arises to meet important people you work with in person.

There’s no replacement for spending an evening at a bar/restaurant/out with your (potential future) customer etc. People react and behave differently when they are “private” and you might be able to leave a way bigger impression in their memory than any professional behaviour over skype etc. would leave.

Also, never neglect the huge impact a conversation about private life or just about any non-project related topic can have as this helps tremendously to establish a personal bonding and is hardly ever done in “professional internet conversation”.