Walking Meetings: Why and How to Try One

With an estimated 11 million formal meetings a day in the US alone, it’s no wonder employees find it hard to keep up with their daily tasks while still living a healthy lifestyle. We’ve heard it all before: 30 minutes of activity a day equates to longer and happier lives.

The question is, why aren’t we doing more to build healthier practices into our workday? Don’t let those traditional fluorescent-lit conference rooms with hotel-style furniture stop you from running better meetings.

Greek philosophers from Socrates to Aristotle consistently used walking as a way to breed new ideas, improve mental health, and increase energy levels. And it’s science: walking raises oxygen flow in the body, which increases brain function for faster problem solving and sharper thinking. Tech leaders like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jack Dorsey have all been big proponents of the walking meeting, too.

Jack told Forbes magazine, “we encourage people to stay out in the open because we believe in serendipity — and people walking by each other teaching new things.”

Just being outside gives employees a chance to catch some vitamin D, take in fresh air, and stimulate their senses in a completely different way. That simple change of environment can increase a team’s creativity, decrease stress, and flatten the traditional meeting hierarchy. Everyone is engaged in the activity together and more willing to share ideas in a less intimidating setting.

To borrow from Dr. Leo Marvin (What About Bob?): start slow, take “baby steps.” If you add 30-minute walking meetings to your schedule just twice a week, you’d average an extra 4 miles of walking a week — 16 miles a month, and 192 miles a year. How’s that for staying active?

Start implementing walking meetings today:

• Suggest a stroll around the building with a coworker while you casually work through the objective at hand.
• Keep a comfortable pair of shoes handy for a more enjoyable experience.
• Use our mobile app to record newfound ideas and assign tasks on the go.

Have you tried walking meetings at your company?