Walking-Talking Meetings

Whether you are a single parent running your own business or just running your own business, time is short and multi-tasking is necessary. Walk the dog, get exercise, and meet using the same amount of time to achieve three things. It just doesn’t get better. If you don’t have a dog, then two out of three is still good.

Things to make walking and talking work better: 

1. When I walk the dog it tends to be on serious trails. Not everyone is ready for that. Someone not used to rugged terrain spends more energy trying to navigate it than concentrating on what they are saying. This applies to fitness level. It helps to know whether sweating is a welcome thing on a walking meeting. If not, pick a flatter trail.
2. The funny thing about focus is that you miss most of what is going on around you. If you are both intensely focused on what the ideas you are trading then make sure one of you knows the trail inside out or you are both paying attention to where you are going. Otherwise your focus will shift to finding the trail that leads back to the car or where you will set up camp for the night. If you are using urban trails, the same holds true but for different reasons. Keeping one eye on the horizon and one eye on the steering wheel is another way of saying notice what is going on around you while staying present in the conversation.
3. Remain watchful, present and focused. All important leadership skills that walk-talk meeting demand you to practice.
4. Many walk-talk meetings are great opportunities for catching up, trading stories and then determining how to support each person’s work. It is up to both parties to ensure that both bases have been covered unless you agree to do otherwise. Remaining mindful of fair air time is important.
5. When we finish an indoor meeting we typically check on points of agreement and then cover next steps. Similarly, when you finish your walk, make sure you cover what happens next as a next step.

Many people assume the only serious conversations must take place within the confines of four walls. In reality, the most creative moments take place outside of it especially in the abundant domain of nature. Remember Einstein observed the concept of relativity on a subway. Other thought leaders have taken their guidance from dreams.

Becoming more present with the world at large and with me takes place when I walk alone. If I am able to carry out a walk and not think (most of the time), then I have opened myself to receiving greater guidance far more accurate than what I could cook up with my mind. This is when the walks becoming walking meditations or a walking meeting with yourself. Leave your mind in the parking lot. 

My thanks to Barbara Densmore at www.workingsmarter.ca for instigating this blogspot.