By Jason Tratch, CEO Galex Group
Amazing problem solving & innovation come from increased blood flow & relaxed environments. Do it today, implement a mandatory "Walking Meeting" for all managers/leaders. Best practice examples:
– Start with minimum of once per week
– Does not have to be far or fancy, has to be outside the office
– Have an agenda and a clear start and end time
– Keep the number of people small
– Be aware of speed (slow down)
– All people carry a pen/paper or smart phone device (record notes, comments, issues, actions, decisions, ideas, etc.)
– Track it, ask for feedback and evolve
Then watch the benefits grow. Business, personal, health, etc.
At NexLev we ask all managers to do a weekly walking meeting. Can be a one-on-one, or can be a team meeting. Companies like Google and CEOs like Steve Jobs are tremendous advocates of these.
Why not, it just makes sense. Example:
– physiologically the human brain functions better when walking vs sitting
– sitting at a desk all day is bad for ergonomics
– best ideas are proven to not come from an office or a desk
– people are happier when doing things a little different (meetings at too often around a table)
– fresh air and being outside is more natural for humans
– etc.
I just had my walking meeting which was a phone call (so by myself). Here are a few pics of what I walked by:
These images directly impacted how I relaxed while trying to problem solve to a "win – win" solution. I wanted to stay out and during the call we took a yield-yield solution and turned it into a win-win (otherwise I would have accepted the yield-yield – a great investment of my time).
Take a look on the web to see all the supporting info for walking meetings. Here are a few links that are related:
Ted Talk – Take_a_walk
Ted Blog – five thinkers who swore by walking meetings
Forbes – walking meetings can save your life
Creativefarm – walking meetings benefits
This article was first posted on Jason Tratch's blog. Check out Jason's website here. Republished with permission from the author.