In-person moments have become the new offsites, the new conference rooms, the new culture-building engine. And when used well, they can deepen trust, accelerate collaboration, and ignite creativity in ways that are hard to replicate on a screen.
So the question isn’t whether in-person moments still matter, because they do. The real question is: How do we make them count?
Why In-Person Moments Still Matter
They help build trust, fast. A virtual-first environment can be highly efficient, but it often lacks the nuance of human interaction. Body language, spontaneous conversation and shared laughter are micro-moments that build trust at a pace that Zoom can’t match. Once trust is established in person, it carries back into virtual work and strengthens collaboration.
They create shared experiences that fuel culture. Culture isn't a slide deck or a mission statement, or even an in-person party. Culture is a feeling, and feelings are sparked by experiences. In-person gatherings create shared memories that people refer to for months or years: a breakthrough brainstorm, a candid conversation, a shared meal so delicious that it bonded everyone on a new level. These touchpoints anchor culture in a virtual world.
They unlock creativity and problem-solving. Multidimensional environments like changing rooms, moving around, or writing on an actual board can boost divergent thinking. When teams come together physically, they interact differently. Ideas bounce faster. Energy rises. Complex problems get solved with more clarity and creativity.
They re-energize people. Possibly the most important piece to the puzzle: Remote work can be productive but isolating. In-person moments serve as a reset. It’s an energy injection that re-engages people with the Company’s mission and with each other.
How to Make In-Person Moments a Strategic Tool
Define the purpose clearly. Every in-person gathering should start with a well-defined purpose, and an understanding of what you hope to achieve. This is especially true for things that couldn’t be accomplished as effectively in a virtual setting. When you articulate this clearly, you not only justify the time and travel but also help teams arrive with the right mindset. A shared sense of purpose ensures the time together feels intentional, focused, and valuable.
Design experiences, not just schedules. Rather than defaulting to a standard agenda, think of the in-person gathering as an experience to be crafted. The room layout, the flow of activities, and the opportunities for interaction all shape how people engage. Consider how to best spark creativity, encourage conversation, and foster connection through thoughtful design. When you shape the environment around the outcome you want, the day becomes more immersive and impactful.
Mix structured time with informal time. While structured sessions help teams align, plan, or problem-solve, unstructured moments are where relationships deepen and ideas often surface organically. Build in pauses for things like coffee, conversation, and fresh air, that allow your team to connect as humans, not just colleagues. These natural interactions often become the most memorable and productive parts of the experience. For example, at our most recent annual company retreat, Connect, Code3 practice teams explored the Atlanta Botanical Garden through a collaborative scavenger hunt.
Highlight moments of connection. Emotional touchpoints that enhance the sense of belonging that’s hard to replicate online. Whether it’s a shared meal, an energizing group activity, or a simple moment of appreciation, you’re intentionally creating opportunities for people to connect on a deeper level, and reinforcing trust and strengthening team cohesion. These moments can leave people feeling more connected and energized. At Connect, we always carve out time for our Employee Resource Groups to have meeting time or a happy hour together.
Capture the energy and bring it back to virtual. The impact of an in-person gathering shouldn’t end when everyone heads home. Close the experience with clarity about decisions made, next steps, and how the momentum will carry back into your virtual day-to-day. The shared understanding and renewed energy will extend far beyond the time spent together.
How Code3 Creates Opportunities for Meaningful In-Person Moments
At Code3, we believe that in-person experiences are essential to strengthening our culture, deepening relationships, and fueling creative collaboration. While we operate in a virtual-first environment, we intentionally design opportunities throughout the year for our team, our clients, and our partners to connect face-to-face in ways that spark energy and drive impact.
Annual Code3 Connect
Once a year, the entire company comes together somewhere in the U.S. for our largest and most anticipated in-person gathering. This isn’t just a meeting, it’s an experience. We kick things off with a welcome celebration filled with great food, drinks, music, and our beloved superlative awards. The following day is all about connection and alignment. We hear from leadership, engage with inspiring keynote speakers, play fun (and competitive) Coder trivia, and dive into conversations about who we are as a company, and who we want to become. It’s a rare and invaluable chance to collaborate in real time, share ideas freely, and build deeper personal relationships that strengthen our work long after we return home.
Team Off-Sites
Throughout the year, individual teams meet in smaller groups to focus on their specific goals and dynamics. These off-sites often take place at our Cleveland office, where teammates roll up their sleeves together with brainstorming, problem-solving, and mapping out growth opportunities as a unified practice. Being in the same physical space helps teams reconnect to their purpose, understand what makes them “tick,” and identify the shifts needed to evolve and grow. These gatherings reinforce trust and clarity in ways that can be hard to achieve on a video call.
Client Meetings in Cleveland and Beyond
We also extend the value of in-person connection to our clients. Hosting them at our Cleveland headquarters creates a unique opportunity to sit across the table, dig into results, exchange ideas, and collaborate on bold new strategies. Beyond the work itself, we show clients the best of Cleveland. Whether that means catching a Guardians game, enjoying a dinner cruise along the river, or sharing a meal at one of the city’s local favorites, these experiences help foster stronger partnerships grounded in genuine rapport.
Industry Events
Industry gatherings like Amazon Unboxed, Cannes, and conferences across the country give Coders the chance to meet in person while showcasing the power and expertise of Code3. These events spark new ideas, strengthen relationships, and allow our team to collectively represent who we are in the broader marketplace. They’re energizing moments that reinforce our commitment to staying connected both within our team and across the industry.
The Big Picture
In a virtual-first world, in-person moments aren’t about returning to the old way of working, they’re about amplifying the best parts of being human. When designed intentionally, these moments can transform relationships, accelerate alignment, and spark creativity that carries far beyond the gathering itself.
In-person moments are no longer routine: they’re strategic, meaningful, and they’re incredibly powerful. Use them wisely.