Seven Benefits of Taking Your Meeting for a Walk

As the business world becomes more fast-paced and demanding, leaders are constantly seeking ways to boost productivity and efficiency. One strategy that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the walking meeting. 

Walking meetings can serve many functions, not the least of which is getting participants up and out of their normal work environments. Instead of sitting in a conference room, cubicle, or even home office, participants get upright, stretch, and move their bodies while discussing important matters.  

In this blog, we'll explore many of the benefits of walking meetings. 

1. Boosts Creativity and Idea Generation 

Walking meetings can stimulate creativity and encourage idea generation. Walking increases blood flow to the brain, which can enhance cognitive function and help participants think more clearly. We all know that invigorating feeling of energy that comes with stretching our muscles. That feeling can be a catalyst to your next great idea. 

Additionally, the change of scenery can inspire fresh perspectives and new ideas. We all spend hours in our workspace. Making the meeting mobile means you’re quite literally seeing things differently – because they are different things! Inspiration can often be easier to find when you break the norm.  

2. Encourages Physical Activity 

There’s a reason some people say, “sitting is the new smoking.” Sedentary lifestyles have been linked to a variety of health problems, including obesity and heart disease. Walking meetings offer an opportunity for you and your team to get up and move, which can help improve everyone’s overall health and well-being.  

Regular physical activity can also improve energy levels and cognitive function, making it easier to stay focused and productive throughout the workday. 

3. Fosters Collaboration and Relationship-Building 

The energy we receive from physically moving around and seeing new things can often open the door for more creative discourse. Walking meetings provide a unique, and often more relaxed or informal environment that encourages collaboration and relationship-building among colleagues. The neutral, non-standard workspace can also make offering new ideas and giving or soliciting feedback less uncomfortable for some workers. 

Physical activity can also help to break down barriers and promote open communication, making it easier to build trust and work together effectively. As a shared experience, walking meetings can create positive bonds within your team that can lead to more efficient and creative collaboration within the meeting, as well as in future work projects. 

4. Increases Productivity and Efficiency 

Walking meetings can be a more efficient use of time than traditional meetings. Because participants are not sitting in a conference room, there are fewer distractions and interruptions. We’ve likely all been in a meeting and been tempted to check email, respond to a text message, or quickly scroll through news headlines or tweets. Getting participants away from these distractions allows them to focus on the meeting topic.   

5. Supports Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility 

Walking meetings can also support corporate social responsibility by reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional meetings. By conducting meetings outside, companies can reduce the energy consumption associated with heating, cooling, and lighting conference rooms. Often times, the fresh air can be an inspiration as well! 

Additionally, walking meetings can help to reduce the amount of paper waste generated by traditional meetings. While agendas or visual aids can often be useful, asking your team to think about the topic from another perspective while moving can be a useful way of breaking the mold and finding unique ideas and solutions. 

6. Increase Employee Satisfaction or Morale 

Walking meetings can provide a sense of accomplishment by combining physical activity with a productive work-related task. By accomplishing two things at once, team members can feel a sense of satisfaction and pride in their work. This feeling of accomplishment can help boost morale and provide a sense of motivation for future tasks. 

7. Reduces Stress 

Walking itself is proven to reduce stress levels, so making your meeting mobile can have similar results. Employees feeling less stress are not only often happier with their job, but the decreased strain can lead to higher levels of creativity, inspiration, and collaboration. 

A less-stressed workforce can have additional benefits, like fewer sick days, higher levels of efficiency, and a more positive and imaginative work culture. 

Walking meetings can provide a range of benefits for organizations of any size or industry. By boosting creativity and idea generation, encouraging physical activity, fostering collaboration and relationship-building, and increasing productivity and efficiency, walking meetings can be a useful way to shake up a standard workday and think outside the box. If you're looking for a new way to conduct meetings, consider taking a walk!