With business and conference events off the agenda due to Covid-19, face-to-face business-related networking and socialising across the majority of Asia has come to a grinding halt. At least for now, meeting people has been jolted into the virtual realm.
As one Hong Kong serial networker points out, while online networking eliminates the need to wear an N95 particulate respirator and constantly apply hand sanitiser, there is nothing quite like the feeling of navigating a busy room and establishing rapport with interesting people.
Committed networkers
Before the physical world of networking – whether it was attending a conference, a breakfast seminar, a midday business luncheon or an evening cocktail – pivoted to remote, the enthusiasm for face-to-face events, where an encounter could turn into a business opportunity or job prospect, was firmly ingrained in the Hong Kong business landscape.
As with most things involving people and technology, there are a range of preferences. There are those who favour a handshake (or, these days, an elbow-bump), conversations over lunch, the body language and small talk associated with face-to-face networking. Others, though, find digital interaction less awkward than an in-person encounter.
While traditional networking events may be put on hold, individuals and organisations are adjusting their approach to engaging with new contacts and maintaining professional connections. For example, ACCA Hong Kong held its first virtual chat meeting in August, hosted by outgoing chairman Kenneth Wong. The event embraced the idea that networking is about connecting people with people, and people with ideas, and enabled members to speak about their various Covid-related work experiences, while Wong spoke about the latest ACCA Hong Kong developments.
The combination of questionable singing abilities and small Hong Kong apartments gave neighbours an unexpected karaoke experience
Off-piste
The switch to digital platforms can make engaging with new contacts and established connections accessible and convenient. But looking beyond the now familiar virtual coffee gatherings, quizzes and ‘happy hour’, to more inventive networking activities, there is a risk of things not going to plan.
One Hong Kong firm decided to switch its popular end-of-month karaoke evening to a virtual format. While there was no notable diminishment in enthusiasm for the activity among co-workers, the combination of questionable singing abilities and small Hong Kong apartments gave neighbours an unexpected karaoke experience.
Employees in another firm who participated in a virtual dim-sum networking session found plucking the Cantonese delicacies from a cardboard food delivery carton a visual disappointment. That, plus the lack of the ubiquitous chatter and clatter of a dim-sum restaurant, sucked much of the fun out of the meal.
As business-related activities increasingly move online — a trend likely to continue even after the pandemic fades — the future of networking will most likely involve a mix of face-to-face and virtual interaction. Regardless of which form of networking activity is preferred, it may be advisable to keep renditions of karaoke favourites on hold, at least until purpose-built karaoke premises reopen.
