“Be more of yourself, and less of everybody else!” – Dan Schawbel
I had a meeting – my first scheduled walking meeting.
The organizer just wrote, “Walk at 10:30 AM – Freedom Park.”
No written agenda, no coffee served, no “death by PowerPoint,” just fresh air, exercise, and conversation.
“When I have a walking meeting, I feel like I can open up more regardless of who I’m speaking with. Not only do I come up with more creative ideas but after the meeting, I feel like I accomplished both relationship building and exercise,”
-Dan Schawbel, the speaker, author, and Managing Partner of Millennial Branding.
It was a great choice. Our meeting was productive, good exercise and provided plenty of Vitamin D.
I need to do more meetings – walking. They are:
- More creative
- Express more
- Enhance communication
- More relaxed
- Energizing for the rest of the work day
- Happier
- Healthier than sitting
- Lifesaving
Thirty minutes of walking each day can dramatic reduction the risk of dementia, breast and colon cancer, and heart disease.
No wonder everyone from Barack Obama to Mark Zuckerberg are doing walking meetings. How about you?
Can you think of ways to use these meetings in your business?
What walking meetings have you done? Were they productive? Can you list more advantages than those above? Any dis-advantages?
As always, the conversation starts here.
“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran
Epilogue
Seth Goldman, CEO of Honest Tea, thinks walking meetings get folks away from the distractions around the office.
What a wonderful idea! Healthier, not fattening (!), fresh air, energy-making. Do it!
Yes, it’s a good choice!
-Bruce
I would love the idea of a walking meeting with one other person because I think it might be hard to walk and have a meaningful discussion with more than one person. I like anything that gets me out doors and mostly it is gardening. However, if someone wants to have a walking meeting I would like to try it.
Barbara –
Yes, more than a couple of people might be more of a lecture and less of a discussion! Yet, either way, it’s outside and moving and that is the big plus for me.
You’ve always known how to plant seeds. You’re so right, walking accomplishes so much and gets those endorphins flowing!
Cynthia
Cynthia,
Thanks for joining the conversation. Yes, flowing endorphins are the best. ?
-Bruce
I think the Sanger Clinic used to have “Walking with the Doctors” meetings at Freedom Park.
There would be 4-5 doctors and you could walk with one and discuss anything pertaining to basic heart health. Now that is a healthy meeting. ❤️
MaryDavis –
That’s wonderful! Do you know if they still do it?
– Bruce
I doubt it. This was a couple of years ago. I haven’t seen it advertised. But it was nice seeing the doctors exercising, too. Practicing what they preach.
Too bad. That would be good to have again.
– Bruce
Walking is the best, to be outside and enjoy nature is another plus, and good talking can be done while walking. There is a group in Charlotte that walks once a week from one church to another. It came out of Meck Mins summer discussions about race relations.
Mary Lou –
Yes, walking is always better than sitting. We Walk Together is the group you are speaking of, I believe. Their FB page is: https://www.facebook.com/wewalktogetherclt/
Thanks for thinking of them.
– Bruce
Concerning “Walk with a Doc” meetings in Freedom Park. They are wonderful and so healthfully satisfying. These walks are once a month at 9 am and anyone including pets can join in. They will resume in February 2017. To get on the email list for notifications, contact coordinator of special projects at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute.
Helen –
Wow, thanks for this info. So not only do I get a good walk, a visit with the doc, but my companion, Louisa Dear, can join us. That’s a true win-win-win. I’ll get on the list.
Thanks for being part of the conversation.
– Bruce
Walk with a Doc, has given me great info…
Dr. Carlene Kingston, will be leading walks, beginning in April. The walks are planned for Independence Park, 300 Hawthorne Lane, in Charlotte. They are scheduled on the first Saturday of every month, April-October @ 9:30 AM.
Click here to sign up.
This doesn’t sound like Sanger Clinic. Their walks are always and only at Freedom Park.
Helen –
The Walk with a Doc staff in Ohio tell me only Novant Health is participating this year.
– Bruce