I was working during the pandemic and had to go in everyday because I was in a lab setting, we were providing certificates that allowed us to commute to work when that was banned as well. Now, I am in a hybrid position where I work 2-3 days from home and go into the office the remaining days. From my experience (now working on projects with project managers as well), being in person it a little more efficient than online meetings. I feel like our project meetings in person are more productive, simply because people tend to be less distracted and more focused on the meeting schedule. I don't believe that online prjoect management should require new skills or knowledge because at the end of the day, all the projects that I have been a part of follow the same company procedure (especially in terms of documentation) and nothing changes for the project manager whether they are working on site or from home. In fact, I am currently working on a project where our R&D team is located in New Jersey but the project manager is in Brazil, and the work is still being done efficiently, it is up to the team to have effective communication and focus on the tasks at hand. 

I know your question is regarding working under a project manager that is primarily communicating online or in person, but I feel like hybrid work has revolutionized the industry in a sense where there is more work load balance for the employees, leading to an increase in production for those who have always had the motivation to get the work done.

Online PM:

Pros: Online PM is helpful. It lets people work together no matter where they are. It allows to save money by keeping people from having to me in person. It also has tools to help with real-time work together, sharing files, and keeping track of tasks, which makes work better. Cons: Networking might be hard online. It is tough to establish trust when most of the time you talk to people online.

In Person PM:

Pros: When you talk face-to-face, you get quick answers and it's clear. It helps in networking and forming good bonds and teamwork. Cons: It's not as free as online work, like with teams in lots of places. You have to pay more for things like travel and meetings. It's hard to plan meetings for teams all over the world, too. Even without tech skills, you still need to be good at leading, chat, and keeping things in order. Without problems, you need to run good meetings, solve issues and maintain a healthy workplace environment.

As stated in previous posts, I believe there are pros and cons to both in-person and online project management. While it is more convenient and cheaper to have an online project manager, communication is certainly not as effective in an online setting. Personally, there have been many online meetings where I have zoned out or not been nearly as focused as I would normally be during an in-person meeting. Face-to-face conversations are almost always more effective in terms of communication and communication is the key to project management. While it is possible to have effective project management in an online setting, I believe it may take a lot of practice and fine-tuning to figure out how to effectively create a "team" environment that can effectively communicate with each other.

It's an interesting question. First of all, I agree with others that both media have some pros and cons. In my opinion, an in-person meeting is most effective. Communication in online meetings sometimes becomes challenging. 

However, I want to add some new points. Online meetings can be made effective too. To make online meetings effective new skills and a good internet connection are required. All the team members should be skilled in online meeting platforms. Additionally, they must be familiar with the devices and tools used in online meetings. 

Therefore, I think online meetings are not that effective now. However, I think in the future it will be a great medium. 

I feel like both kinds of settings have their own advantages but I would personally prefer to work remote. Working remote allows for more availability for groups to meet since you don't have to worry about commuting time and meeting times. This also allows the PM and the rest of the group comfortable in their meetings. Another good thing about remote work is that you have a better balance in your life, and don't have to stress about getting to work and having more time outside of work. In regards to the company itself, having a remote PM means you do not have to worry about providing an office space or paying any commuting costs for the most part. However, working in person also has its own benefits. Working in person allows for a better relationship and understanding of the people you are working with. You also save some time by not having to wait for emails back from the group from each member. While working remote you may not have an attachment to the people you are working with since at the end most people just leave meetings and go on with their day. Regardless, I still would prefer to work from home.

Depending on the needs of the project and team chemistry, working under a project manager who communicates mostly via email or in person may be preferred. While in-person communication generates better personal connections, clarity, quick feedback, and potential for team development, online communication offers flexibility, accessibility, efficiency, and adaptability to distant work trends. It could be necessary to learn new skills in order to adjust to online project management, such as team management, cybersecurity, efficient distant communication, and virtual collaboration technologies. All things considered, each strategy has benefits, and the decision is based on the particular requirements and team dynamics.

My personal preference would be to have the ability to do both as I would prefer face-to-face communication but also like the flexibility of the virtual world.

I feel like a PM has to work on-site to be a good PM. Working under a project manager who communicates primarily in-person can foster stronger interpersonal connections and facilitate more immediate feedback and problem-solving. In-person interactions also enables clearer communication, non-verbal cues, and a deeper sense of camaraderie among team members. This can be particularly beneficial for building trust, resolving conflicts, and promoting collaboration within the team. I do not see how the same effect can be done virtually so I support that PMs should be in-person.