Walking Meetings

Introduction
Most meetings are held F2F or electronically.
Some people are finding holding meetings when walking results in better meetings, especially when on the phone. It is claimed that you are more focused on what the other person is saying and better articulate the point you want to make, whether on the phone or walking with somebody in person
"...you tend to be fully focused on who you're talking to, what they're saying, at whatever point for trying to get across..."
Ranisha Clarke as quoted by Euan Black, 2023
However, seated meetings are more suitable were working through something structured like a report or a presentation. Additionally, seated meetings encourages converg ent thinking.
Walking meetings were best in other situations like discussing opportunities for collaboration, discussing work pressures for career aspirations, etc.
Since the pandemic with its increase in the use of online meetings, people are keen move on from online meetings..
Advantages of walking meetings
- it enhances creativity and divergent thinking:
"...a person's creative output increased by an average of 60% when walking..."
Stanford University as quoted by Euan Black, 2023
- if walking in nature, it improves your attention focus
"...it can enhance our attentional capabilities so that when we come back to the office, our brains are restored..."
Libby Sander as quoted by Euan Black, 2023
- reduces your stress and cortisone levels
- increases blood flow to the brain which can encourage productivity and reduce the risk of neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers
"...the idea that we are sitting at our desks for eight hours a day being productive just not realistic.....So if you need to generate ideas, if you want a different way of creating and problem-solving, then get outside..."
Libby Sander as quoted by Euan Black, 2023
- helps with the employee retention (as being outside is a more natural environment in which to interact and forge ties with our colleagues)
- breaks down organisational barriers (walking meeting conversations are less likely to reinforce the organisational hierarchy than conversations held across a desk/table or Internet)
Summary
"...we should go on a walk when we want to brainstorm ideas but sit down when we need to execute them...... walking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity..."
Stanford University as quoted by Euan Black, 2023
"...it's a way of getting rid of the desk, getting read of the video conference and actually having a direct connection. It's so much easier to ask those personal questions, to have that sort of serendipitous conversation..."
Jason Pelllegrino, 2023