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5 Benefits of Walking Meetings

In every organization, people dread those long meetings in the conference rooms. To give a twist to these boring meetings, there has been a recent trend of Walking Meetings or “walk and talk”. It has been incorporated by many workplaces in recent times and is considered to be quite an efficient move for Employee Wellness.  

Walking meetings simply refers to a meeting that is done during a walk instead of the traditional way of sitting in a conference room or coffee shop. According to recent research, it is analyzed that walking leads to an increase in creative thinking. Another study shows that people are able to share honest communications with employees which results in more productivity.  

Benefits Of Walking Meetings

Improves The Health – On average, an employee at a corporate sits for about 9 hours a day which is almost 6 hours longer than one should sit. According to research, there are 40% chances of people to die within the next 15 years who sit for more than 6 hours a day. Walking meetings are a great initiative to boost the productivity and wellness of employees and keep them active. 30 minutes of walking also reduces the risk of cancers, heart diseases, and dementia. 

  • Increases Creativity 

    As per the records, it is said that walking increases creative thinking up to 60%. While holding meetings, creative thinking can actually result in more productive ideas. A change in the environment provides inspiration and the ability to solve problems better. According to a recent survey done on 150 employees, it is said that people participating in the walking meeting are more likely to feel 5.25% creative than before. And in addition to this, the walking meetings require no extra cost.  

  • Keeps Energized & Engaged

    According to a study done by Johnson & Johnson, approximately 90 members participating in walking meetings feel energized and engaged with colleagues. On the other hand, another study done by Clayton, Thomas & Smothers has come across a result that shows that 8.5% of people are more likely to feel engaged after walking meetings.

  • Encourages Better Communication

    Walking meetings are the best way to help people take a break from the constant usage of devices. While walking, the brain is more active and helps in having an engaging conversation with others.

  • Breaks Down Barriers

    Walking meetings initiates a great movement of breaking the barrier between a manager and their employees. In a different atmosphere away from the hierarchy of traditional meetings, employers can connect at a different level. This also helps the employees to ease out and give better results in less time. 

How To Conduct A Walking Meeting

  • Step 1: Define The Purpose Of The Meeting 

    The way of conducting the meeting might be different, but the managers and employees have to ensure that the work is done. For this, a well-planned agenda, purpose, and conclusion should be there just like a normal meeting.

  • Step 2: Know The Type Of Your Meeting 

    While planning a walking meeting, it is important to ensure that the agenda of the meeting is appropriate for walking. There are some meetings where people need specific equipment and have to do negotiations for which walking meeting might not be suitable. The walking meetings are usually suitable for brainstorming sessions and decision-making discussions.

  • Step 3: Decide The Size

    After fixing the agenda of the meeting, the next important step is to analyze the size of the meeting. The walking meetings are suitable for one-on-one meetings or meetings with less than 4 participants. 

  • Step 4: Prepare Accordingly For Group Meetings

    For group meetings, there are a few things you have to consider before planning a walking meeting. Firstly, ask the participants if they are willing to participate in a walking meeting. Keep the pace of the walk slow for everyone to join. Remind the people to wear comfortable clothing and also make sure to plan a route that will allow you to come back within the allotted time of the meeting. 

  • Step 5: Fix The Route

    While fixing the destination for the walking meeting, find a place where your employees will feel rejuvenated. Some of the places can be a park or a historical monument. Try to avoid places where there is too much crowd or shops where people might spend money on junk food.

  • Step 6: Assign Specific Roles 

    Planning a walking meeting takes more detail to attention and time management than a regular meeting. According to the University of California, to bring a fruitful result out of a walking meeting, it is important to assign roles to different members. There should be a leader who will be in charge of keeping the group focused on the agenda. A guide can help in keeping a track of the directions and provide alternative routes if necessary. And lastly, a scribe will be responsible to take down notes and keep a check on important topics to be discussed. 

  • Step 7: Lastly, Enjoy! 

    Without saying, walking meetings are supposed to be work-centric but also fun at the same time. Unlike sitting in a room, you get the chance to discuss your work outside which is an enjoyable experience in itself as well as for employee wellness. Try to make it more engaging and fun so that employees look forward to it and provide their best inputs in the discussion. 

With a little planning and coordination, a walking meeting can turn out to be quite a fruitful way to conduct meetings. So if you haven’t tried the new trend of walking meetings yet, start planning yours now! 

For more wellness program ideas, contact Avyukt Healthcare.

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March 1, 2021
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