I agree, and that means that sometimes that kind of communication is indispensable. Zoom/Phone don't quite replicate that experience - they require focused att

I agree, and that means that sometimes that kind of communication is indispensable. Zoom/Phone don't quite replicate that experience - they require focused attention. In person, your attention can "wander" while you are still focused on the conversation. Look how many people maintain eye contact in a cafe while having a conversation. Not many right? But do the same thing on Zoom/Skype/$VideoChat. "Hey, are you paying attention?" When really, wandering eyes are indicative (usually) of deep thought. I have a heuristic when synchronous communication (phone, video chat) is necessary: When something is: a) complex, or b) has a significant likelihood of misunderstanding (which is just a more specific version of (a). Actual face to face... that's got to be for things that are socially critical. Breakups. Hard messages to people who are close. First meetings with the biggest client of your life. Important deals, if they take more than "Happy? Yep." Etc. Stuff where the physical impression makes or breaks the experience.