Go Take a Hike

The television show, The West Wing, was famous for its walk and talk scenes. But more than being dramatic, there is something to the function of moving while talking. Companies across all industries are implementing walking meetings for problem solving and collaborative discussions with great results. A Harvard Business Review study found that those who participate in walking meetings are 5.25% more likely to report being creative at their jobs than those who do not. Additionally, walking meeting participants are 8.5% more likely to report high levels of engagement. While these are not huge numbers, it shows that there is something to be said about the connection between movement and engagement.[Tweet "Walking meeting participants report high levels of engagement. #GovEventsBlog"]

Employees sitting on balance balls and using standing desks is becoming more and more common. Their rise in popularity is due to the fact that the human body was not made to sit for 8+ hours a day. It was made to move. The body functions better when it is engaged and that includes the brain. Learning is directly correlated to how much thinking you do. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the more you can move your body during the thinking process, the higher the retention and recall process is of your learning.[Tweet "The more you move during the thinking process, the higher the retention and recall. #GovEventsBlog"] This study reminded me of when I was a VP at a government reseller and I used to take my team members individually on "laps" around the building to discuss initiatives, ideas, etc. We always got a lot accomplished but I always chalked it up to a change in scenery and fresh air--now I see there was a physiological reason as well.

The link between learning and movement is also forcing change in our schools. K-12 and universities have been implementing "active learning" strategies for some time. This means that millennials have grown up with movement in the classroom and an expectation that they will do more than just sit in a chair all day.

Walking meetings also lead to better employee engagement by breaking down barriers between supervisor and subordinate or between coworkers. By taking the head of the table away, people feel a more level playing field and are more comfortable being candid.[Tweet "Walking meetings break down barriers between supervisor and subordinate. #GovEventsBlog"]

With the benefits of better learning, more creativity, and more effective networking it makes sense to work walking into conferences and events. So how do we work these small group walks into events that may host hundreds of people?

• Instead of coffee breaks, hold walk breaks. Give attendees several route options either within the conference facility or outside in the city. These routes could lead past landmarks or interesting features of the host city or be a simple loop. Motivate people to take the walks (not just the breaks) by creating a scavenger hunt or a pedometer competition.
• Get breakouts on the move. Whether in a keynote or in a smaller session, when you ask people to break up into groups to discuss a topic don't assign it by table. Make people get up, walk to find each other and then encourage them to keep walking as they hold their break out discussion.
• Break up your meeting. Think about renting adjacent spaces so people have to walk to get from session to session. Maybe keynotes are in a hotel with breakouts at a nearby conference facility or meals are in one location with the educational sessions in another.

We'd love to hear how you're incorporating walking into events and every day work life. [Tweet "How are you incorporating walking into events and every day work life? #GovEventsBlog"]Let us know what success you've seen with adding movement to your conversations in the comments.