Walk and talk... and maybe play

There is an increasing trend to have “walking meetings” in corporate life. Is it merely to get some fresh air, or is there a greater benefit?

Walking meetings are pleasant for sure – unless it is raining cats and dogs – sideways. These kind of walks are simply; meetings that take place outside, instead of in a boardroom, a coffee shop or an office.

So, what is the deal? Many of us surely sit too much at work. “Sedentary work” means that most of what we do involves our butts firmly planted in a too comfortable chair. There is an obvious health benefit in moving about once in a while.

But there is more to it. Research shows that our brain is stimulated by movement (Prof. Charles Hillman). He proved that as little as 20 minutes of walking has a significant and positive impact on brain activity and cognitive functions.

In 2015, an article was published in HarwardBusiness Review on this topic. This article referred to a small scale study measuring creativity and engagement amongst 150 working adults in the US. The ones participating in “Walk & Talks” showed that they had a 5,25 percent more likelihood of reporting to be more creative than the rest. Comparable numbers when it comes to engagement was 8,5 percent. The figures might not seem that impressive, but considering that the cost is zero – there is only a benefit.

There are also some social factors to consider. Walking meetings can also be done alone – but most people refers to these simply as “walks” while on the phone.

The same things can be said about walking meetings with others. We take ourselves out of the space we spend many of our hours. We unplug!

We also change the dynamic of the meeting. We break the hierarchical bonds – the manager walks side-by-side with the employee. The job applicant walks side by side with the recruiter. This may change an uncomfortable meeting to a good one. There is often a significant bonding process happening when we do activities together, whether it is playing, creating or simply walking.

So next time you plan a sit down with a customer, a colleague or a supplier – don’t! Take a walk instead.

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