Ladies, it’s time that I am saying GOOD-BYE to meetings in pimped up conference rooms and minimal boutique cafes, the walking meeting is where it’s at, and now that it’s Spring, you need to get them in your work day ASAP. It’s officially creeped into VINA office culture, and we think you should embrace it, too!
Moving while working is the latest method implemented in workplaces to increase efficiency and creativity.
Ted Talk speaker Nilofer Merchant in 2013 gave a startling statistic: We’re sitting, on average, for 9.3 hours per day — far more than the 7.7 hours we spend sleeping. “Sitting is so incredibly prevalent, we don’t even question how much we’re doing it,” Merchant says, “In that way, sitting has become the smoking of our generation.”
“In that way, sitting has become the smoking of our generation.”
Being cooped up in the workspace can actually😵 suffocate 😵 your workflow which is why it is beneficial to get some fresh air outside. It can act as a mood booster, a good way to sneak in some exercise at work, and a great way to develop a more personal bond with your coworkers! YASSS.
Here are some things to think about when planning walking meetings:
PLAN OUT YOUR ROUTE
Your surroundings matter during walking meetings,finding nature will help you destress more than busy city walks, avoid places that are overcrowded and too busy. Also, choosing a good route includes plotting out the length of your walk, nobody wants to wrap a meeting a 45 min walk away from your office. Trust me on this one. I like walking meetings between 15 – 45 minutes. If you’re more goal focused, walking to a destination (like a coffee shop) also works. Taking weather conditions into account is also another helpful planning tip.☀️ And don’t forget your sunscreen if it’s super nice out. You gotta take care of that skin of yours! ☀️
YOU CAN’T WALK WITH US…
Unfortunately, walking meetings work best one-on-one. Logistically a squad situation becomes difficult to navigate while walking, because people in groups tend to naturally partner off… and if you’re an odd-numbered group, someone may end up being completely left out of the convo. Nobody wants to be that that person. Also, most places, and especially in busy cities, it’s difficult to walk even in trios without annoying other pedestrians. Don’t be those people blocking the whole sidewalk. K?
THIS IS NOT THE OLYMPICS
It’s important to note that walking meetings aren’t marathons with the end goal to work up a sweat. Being mindful of your partner’s walking pace is important walking meeting etiquette! Note to tall people: us shorties are used to doing double time to keep up, but if you slow down a little bit, it’s better for us both.
LEAVE YOUR NOTEBOOK BEHIND
It goes without saying (I hope) that you will have to leave both your paper notebook, and electronic notebook (or laptop as you young folk call it 😂). If it’s a conversation that you must capture, I’ll ask if I can turn on my voice recorder on my phone to record key points during the meeting.
SHOES MATTER – GIVE NOTICE
While I constantly wear kicks/sneakers, people wear different styles of footwear to work. So if you’d like to convert a meeting to a walking one, give fair notice on wearing proper footwear and maybe even a jacket depending on the weather outside! If you see your target co-walker is wearing heels that day, don’t put them in an awkward position and suggest a walk.
So there you have it, ladies! I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the middle of pitching my latest ideas and I feel my FitBit buzz, I get a special kind of #goaldigger feeling come over me.
We hope this helps you plan your next walking meeting! Weather permitting, it’s a great way to get out of the office for a few, get in some much-needed steps, and bond with your coworkers!
(Featured Image 📸: Wellness Today)
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