{"id":4555,"date":"2026-06-29T14:29:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/?p=4555"},"modified":"2026-07-02T08:49:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T07:49:48","slug":"seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We increasingly work digitally: we communicate via Teams or chat and collaborate in shared documents. It\u2019s efficient, but it also makes collaboration feel more distant. You know what your colleagues are working on, but less about who they are. The spontaneous chats disappear and it\u2019s no longer a given you can put a face to a name. However, it\u2019s precisely those informal connections that make the difference and create genuine connection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting in person isn\u2019t about nostalgia, it\u2019s an investment in collaboration. We spoke to a range of teams, from library staff and researchers to administrative teams. Everywhere, the message was the same: seeing each other pays off.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why seeing each other really works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration is about more than just the work itself. It\u2019s also about how people feel within a team<\/strong>: are they comfortable asking questions, do they talk to one another and do they feel involved?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face-to-face moments strengthen exactly that aspect. \u2018A team-building activity helps people be seen as individuals, not just as colleagues,\u2019 says Professor Sarah Van de Velde<\/a> (Centre for Population, Family and Health<\/a>). \u2018That creates makes collaboration<\/strong> easier.\u2019 This became particularly clear during the COVID period. \u2018At that time, it was difficult to maintain people\u2019s engagement. Yet that is crucial, especially in teams where colleagues rely on one another to make progress.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘A team-building activity helps people be seen as individuals, not just as colleagues.\u2019 – Professor Sarah Van de Velde <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When colleagues meet outside work, they develop greater understanding<\/strong> of one another. They get to know each other\u2019s backgrounds, sense of humour and sensitivities. Professor Sarah Van de Velde doesn\u2019t believe in the traditional image of the researcher working alone behind a desk. \u2018You need one another to grow stronger. A team-building activity helps strengthen that sense of belongin<\/strong>g. It also creates shared memories<\/strong>, and those are often what hold a team together.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The human aspect is equally important within SuPAR<\/a> (Faculty of Applied Engineering). Professor Wim Van den Bergh<\/a> puts it like this: \u2018Invest in the person<\/em> as well as the researcher<\/strong>. SuPAR is a close-knit group, not a collection of separate individuals.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Cocktail workshop at SuPAR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
On a terrace together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Yoga in the park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Barbecue time for the SuPAR team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From online meetings to genuine connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Digital communication often lacks spontaneity<\/strong>. \u2018Face-to-face meetings are often more productive and leave more room for spontaneous interaction,\u2019 says Professor Wim Van den Bergh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The library notices the difference too. \u2018We\u2019re one department, but we work across different locations and services. Many colleagues hardly ever see each other,\u2019 says Jennifer Van den Avijle<\/a> (Department of Library & Archives<\/a>). \u2018A team day is therefore an important opportunity to get to know one another and lower the threshold f<\/strong>or starting a conversation.\u2019 There\u2019s a clear idea behind the way the day is organised: \u2018The morning focuses on work-related topics, while in the afternoon colleagues choose from a range of activities<\/strong>, from cooking and painting to litter picking. That way, everyone can take part in something they feel comfortable with.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

And it shows: \u2018You can see that people get to know each other better and quickly learn whom to approach. The atmosphere becomes more relaxed<\/strong> and conversations flow more naturally.\u2019 As one library staff member puts it with a smile: \u2018After a team day, you once again know which face belongs to which name, who has what kind of pet, who enjoys which food or who can\u2019t hit a golf ball in a straight line. Afterwards, the distance between colleagues feels smaller, and even online meetings run more smoothly.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018A team day is an important opportunity to get to know one another and lower the threshold for starting a conversation.\u2019<\/em><\/strong> – Jennifer Van den Avijle<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same is true in larger research groups, such as those within the Department of Sociology<\/a>. After a team day, interactions become more informal and colleagues find it easier to approach one another. \u2018That\u2019s why we deliberately mix colleagues who don\u2019t know each other as well into new groups,\u2019 say Martine Vandervelden<\/a> and Elise \u2019t Hoen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A catalyst for connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team-building is one way of strengthening face-to-face connection, with organisers making sure activities are accessible to everyone<\/strong>. From kayaking and padel to city visits, quizzes and cooking together, the activities may differ, but the intention remains the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The goal is interaction between people, not individual performance<\/strong>,\u2019 says Werner Jacobs<\/a> (CFO, Finance Department<\/a>). \u2018The strength lies in sharing an experience together, and that can be something very simple.\u2019 Alongside activities such as boxing, badminton, yoga, walking and board games, the programme also included a work-related session explaining future plans<\/strong>. \u2018That, too, is important for building team cohesion<\/em>,\u2019 says Werner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

‘The goal is interaction, not individual performance. It\u2019s about what develops between people.\u2019<\/em> \u2013 Werner Jacobs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Great lunch at Bavet with the team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Yoga and meditaton to deconnect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
A bit of competition at the Finace Department.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Creating new connections by walking together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This year, Willem Vanneste<\/a> from the University Archives organised a team-building activity for the first time: a combination of a working visit, an excursion, lunch and drinks. \u2018It allows you to get to know each other in a different setting<\/strong>.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u2018It\u2019s nice to see another side of your colleagues<\/strong>: the quiet colleague turns out to be a brilliant quiz player, someone else reveals themselves as a born organiser, while another unexpectedly turns out to be very competitive. It also helps break down hierarchical barriers,\u2019 says Adinda Wens<\/a> (Finance Department).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experiences that stay with you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it\u2019s the unexpected moments that leave the strongest impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Outside the work environment, there\u2019s room for humour, competition and personal interaction. <\/strong>That contributes to collaboration and trust down the line,\u2019 says Sam Smit<\/a> (domain coordinator Diversity and Inclusion<\/a>). A concrete example? \u2018We went to play miniature golf and not everyone felt comfortable with that. But precisely because everyone showed their vulnerable side, it created a real sense of connection,\u2019 says Fadima Aroua<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

‘When colleagues show their vulnerable side, it creates a real sense of connection.\u2019 – Fadima Aroua<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Diversity and Inclusion team takes a thoughtful approach to this. Activities are discussed in advance and colleagues are given a say in the programme<\/strong>. \u2018By asking colleagues for their input beforehand and giving them a choice, you lower the threshold for participation.\u2019 The programme is carefully designed, ranging from an improvisation workshop to a queer museum tour. Practical barriers such as physical abilities, personal boundaries and home situations<\/strong> are also taken into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Queer museum tour for the Diversity and Inclusion Team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Improvisation workshop for the Diversity Team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Not a given for everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone enjoys team-building. Some colleagues simply don\u2019t like social activities, busy environments or lots of stimuli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Whatever you organise, there will always be people who choose not to take part,\u2019 says Professor Sarah Van de Velde. \u2018But the essence isn\u2019t the activity itself, it\u2019s spending time together. You can\u2019t force connection<\/strong>, but you can create the right conditions<\/strong> for it.\u2019 Time also plays a role. \u2018For Senior Academic Staff, work often remains the priority. They find it harder to switch off,\u2019 say the organisers of the Department of Sociology team day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

‘Whatever you organise, there will always be people who choose not to take part. But the essence isn\u2019t the activity itself, it\u2019s spending time together.\u2019 \u2013 Professor Sarah Van de Velde<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Practical considerations<\/strong> also matter. \u2018As we have service desks that require permanent staffing and colleagues spread across different campuses, it isn\u2019t always easy to bring everyone together,\u2019 says Jennifer Van den Avijle. That\u2019s why teams focus on offering choice and keeping activities accessible. \u2018Introverted colleagues<\/strong> in particular may experience barriers. You need to take that into account when choosing activities,\u2019 says Adinda Wens (Finance Department). \u2018To avoid that, we discuss the plans beforehand<\/strong>. If someone doesn\u2019t feel comfortable with an activity, we choose something else. It has to work for everyone,\u2019 says Willem Vanneste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing a meal brings people together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the greatest strength lies in something very simple: sharing a mea<\/strong>l. The conversation doesn\u2019t have to lead anywhere and, precisely because of that, there\u2019s space for genuine connection. \u2018You end up sitting next to someone new, discover a new cuisine and instantly have something to talk about. Before you know it, the conversation is flowing,\u2019 says one library staff member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
A cosy meal together with the Archive team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lunch during a city treasure hunt at SuPAR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Within SuPAR, where many international researchers <\/strong>work, colleagues celebrate Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Persian New Year together over food. Staff often bring dishes from home and share stories about their background. One of their most memorable moments? Chinese New Year, when colleagues not only brought traditional dishes but also sang, told stories and organised games. \u2018You not only get to know each other better, but also gain insight into one another\u2019s culture and traditions<\/strong>.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u2018Chinese New Year is always especially memorable because our Chinese colleagues sing, tell stories and organise games.\u2019<\/em> \u2013 Professor Wim Van den Bergh<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Chinese New Year: everyone brings food and tells stories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Exchanging food and stories at Chinese New Year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Small moments, big impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The impact of a team-building activity is often found in small changes<\/strong>: people are quicker to approach one another, giving feedback gets easier and collaboration becomes more natural. \u2018New colleagues<\/strong> settle in and feel part of the team more quickly,\u2019 says Professor Sarah Van de Velde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simple things s<\/strong>uch as sharing a meal, going for a walk, taking a coffee break, giving someone a small token of appreciation or having a drink after work all help connection continue to grow. Professor Wim Van den Bergh: \u2018Colleagues sometimes choose to work together in the same room, even though each of them has their own office. That, too, creates connection.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Connection attracts talent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A further positive effect is the group\u2019s external reputation<\/strong>. \u2018We\u2019re known internationally as a close-knit group. Many people want to experience that for themselves,\u2019 says Professor Wim Van den Bergh. \u2018Researchers also stay with us longer because they feel connected to the group. Even after they leave, we often stay in touch.\u2019 A strong internal culture<\/strong> therefore also enhances the group\u2019s reputation externally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaways<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The common thread running through all the conversations is clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Meeting in person strengthens trust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Informal moments make collaboration easier.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Team-building is a means, not an end.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Small initiatives can have a big impact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sometimes, simply make time for one another is enough.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Or, as Fadima sums it up: \u2018The greatest gain is a sense of warmth, connection and energy<\/strong>.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We increasingly work digitally: we communicate via Teams or chat and collaborate in shared documents. It\u2019s efficient, but it also makes collaboration feel more distant. You know what your colleagues are working on, but less about who they are. The spontaneous chats disappear and it\u2019s no longer a given you can put a face to a name. However, it\u2019s precisely those informal connections that make the difference and create genuine connection. Meeting in person isn\u2019t about nostalgia, it\u2019s an investment in collaboration. Pintra spoke to a range of teams, from library staff and researchers to administrative teams. Everywhere, the message was the same: seeing each other pays off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":4556,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[608],"tags":[512,548,564,649,399,651,650,648,328],"coauthors":[74],"class_list":["post-4555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-working-at-uantwerp","tag-collaboration","tag-connection","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-finance-team","tag-library","tag-sociology","tag-supar","tag-teambuilding","tag-wellbeing-survey"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSeeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person - Pintra (EN) Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person - Pintra (EN) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We increasingly work digitally: we communicate via Teams or chat and collaborate in shared documents. It\u2019s efficient, but it also makes collaboration feel more distant. You know what your colleagues are working on, but less about who they are. The spontaneous chats disappear and it\u2019s no longer a given you can put a face to a name. However, it\u2019s precisely those informal connections that make the difference and create genuine connection. Meeting in person isn\u2019t about nostalgia, it\u2019s an investment in collaboration. Pintra spoke to a range of teams, from library staff and researchers to administrative teams. Everywhere, the message was the same: seeing each other pays off.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pintra (EN) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-29T13:29:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-02T07:49:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Teambuilding-header-5.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ann Segers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ann Segers\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ann Segers\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e460d23b31a9243fd937c5a9c81e63ac\"},\"headline\":\"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-29T13:29:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-02T07:49:48+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1796,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Teambuilding-header-5.png\",\"keywords\":[\"collaboration\",\"connection\",\"Diversity and inclusion\",\"Finance team\",\"Library\",\"Sociology\",\"SuPAR\",\"Teambuilding\",\"wellbeing survey\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Working at UAntwerp\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/\",\"name\":\"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person - Pintra (EN) Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Teambuilding-header-5.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-29T13:29:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-02T07:49:48+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Teambuilding-header-5.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Teambuilding-header-5.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Pintra (EN) Blog\",\"description\":\"Pintra (EN) Blog\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Pintra (EN) Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/07\\\/cropped-UA-hor-1-en-neg-rgb.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/07\\\/cropped-UA-hor-1-en-neg-rgb.png\",\"width\":846,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"Pintra (EN) Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e460d23b31a9243fd937c5a9c81e63ac\",\"name\":\"Ann Segers\",\"description\":\"Expert in concise, strategic communication advice and content creation (internal & corporate), covering non-verbal, verbal and written communication. At the University of Antwerp, I am responsible for internal communication for staff and students. It\u2019s a role I truly enjoy and one in which I strive to live by my core values: passion, dedication, engagement and creativity. Passion: Making a difference in people\u2019s lives by showing them how both non-verbal and verbal communication can contribute to success Values: Authenticity \u2013 Creativity \u2013 Empathy \u2013 Respect \u2013 Openness \u2013 Engagement\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uantwerpen.be\\\/en\\\/staff\\\/ann-segers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/annekesegers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/annsegers\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.uantwerpen.be\\\/pintra-en\\\/author\\\/ann-segers\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person - Pintra (EN) Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person - Pintra (EN) Blog","og_description":"We increasingly work digitally: we communicate via Teams or chat and collaborate in shared documents. It\u2019s efficient, but it also makes collaboration feel more distant. You know what your colleagues are working on, but less about who they are. The spontaneous chats disappear and it\u2019s no longer a given you can put a face to a name. However, it\u2019s precisely those informal connections that make the difference and create genuine connection. Meeting in person isn\u2019t about nostalgia, it\u2019s an investment in collaboration. Pintra spoke to a range of teams, from library staff and researchers to administrative teams. Everywhere, the message was the same: seeing each other pays off.","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/","og_site_name":"Pintra (EN) Blog","article_published_time":"2026-06-29T13:29:47+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-02T07:49:48+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Teambuilding-header-5.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Ann Segers","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ann Segers","Estimated reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/"},"author":{"name":"Ann Segers","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#\/schema\/person\/e460d23b31a9243fd937c5a9c81e63ac"},"headline":"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person","datePublished":"2026-06-29T13:29:47+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-02T07:49:48+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/"},"wordCount":1796,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Teambuilding-header-5.png","keywords":["collaboration","connection","Diversity and inclusion","Finance team","Library","Sociology","SuPAR","Teambuilding","wellbeing survey"],"articleSection":["Working at UAntwerp"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/","name":"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person - Pintra (EN) Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Teambuilding-header-5.png","datePublished":"2026-06-29T13:29:47+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-02T07:49:48+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Teambuilding-header-5.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Teambuilding-header-5.png","width":1920,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/seeing-each-other-pays-off-about-the-power-of-meeting-in-person\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Seeing each other pays off: about the power of meeting in person"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/","name":"Pintra (EN) Blog","description":"Pintra (EN) Blog","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#organization","name":"Pintra (EN) Blog","url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cropped-UA-hor-1-en-neg-rgb.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cropped-UA-hor-1-en-neg-rgb.png","width":846,"height":250,"caption":"Pintra (EN) Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/#\/schema\/person\/e460d23b31a9243fd937c5a9c81e63ac","name":"Ann Segers","description":"Expert in concise, strategic communication advice and content creation (internal & corporate), covering non-verbal, verbal and written communication. At the University of Antwerp, I am responsible for internal communication for staff and students. It\u2019s a role I truly enjoy and one in which I strive to live by my core values: passion, dedication, engagement and creativity. Passion: Making a difference in people\u2019s lives by showing them how both non-verbal and verbal communication can contribute to success Values: Authenticity \u2013 Creativity \u2013 Empathy \u2013 Respect \u2013 Openness \u2013 Engagement","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.uantwerpen.be\/en\/staff\/ann-segers\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/annekesegers\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/annsegers\/"],"url":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/author\/ann-segers\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4555"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4620,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4555\/revisions\/4620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4555"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/pintra-en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=4555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}