Walk and Talk Meetings
Seated meetings may be the thing of the past. At the 2013 TED conference, Silicon Valley executive Nilofer Merchant Ted Talk focuses on the health risks associated with long periods of sitting and how we can change our work environment from sedentary to active. According to Nilofer, people sit on average 9.3 hours a day, which is more than the average number of 7.7 hours a day we sleep. This type of physical inactivity can be directly linked to health issues such as breast cancer and heart disease. Nilofer’s solution to increase physical activity at the workplace are walking meetings also called walk and talk meetings.
Reasons Why Walking Meetings Are Better For You and Your Company
- Leaving the office for the outdoors can inspire new ideas and stimulate creativity – different environments = different inspirations (brainstorming).
- Your physical and mental well-being could be improved just by spending time outdoors; inhaling the fresh air and getting some light/sunshine, thereby increase thought processes and openness to communicate.
- Walking meetings also tend to be memorable, and helps participants get to know each other better.
- Like most physical activities, walking energizes and makes most people more alert, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, improves blood pressure and blood sugar levels, improves blood lipid profile, enhances mental well-being, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, breast and colon cancers, and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes, as well as maintains body weight and lowers the risk of obesity.
Tips to a Successful Walking Meeting
- Keep the group small: 2 to 3 participants will allow for ease of hearing of one another. Anything more than 3 may cause difficulties in hearing each other, while walking.
- Map out route beforehand so you can focus on the issue at hand.
- Limit smartphone use to keep participants focus on the topic. Keep meetings under 60 minutes to avoid exhaustion and to keep the participants attention.
- Choose the appropriate topic: walking meetings are more suitable for exploring an idea, building a shared purpose or just getting to know each other.
- Remind attendees to wear appropriate clothing: comfortable shoes, and the right clothing will go a long way in making the walking meeting a success…most people cannot walk comfortably in heels, and wearing a suit to a walking meeting could easily become disastrous either from sweating profusely or just mere lack of comfort which could be distracting.