7 Tips for an Effective Walking Meeting

Walking meetings allow you to collaborate with colleagues while getting away from your desk and screen. Here are some tips to have a walking meeting.

Are you tired of endless meetings in your remote role? If you feel tied to your desk, staring at a grid of faces all day long, here's another option for you: the walking meeting.

Exactly as it sounds, a walking meeting allows you to connect with your colleagues or clients to discuss an agenda—just as you would in a face-to-face or video meeting. The only difference is you’ll be on the move and grabbing a breath of fresh air at the same time!

What Are the Health Benefits of a Walking Meeting?

So, what’s the point of a walking meeting? The health benefits, of course. It’s common knowledge that sitting at a desk all day is bad for both mind and body, but, sadly, sedentary jobs have increased by 83% since 1950.

Unfortunately, countless studies have discovered that sitting can increase the risk of serious conditions, including depression, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

James Levine, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, says, "Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death."

These are some pretty compelling reasons to stand up and get moving. But how can a walking meeting help?

• Circulation: Your blood flow will increase, promoting healthy circulation in more stagnant areas of the body.
• Mental health: The oxygen consumption and vitamin D you’ll get from a walk outside are known to improve mood and sleep quality, while reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Cardio exercise: Any pace of exercise will pump your heart and lower your blood pressure over time.
• Release those creative juices: The increased blood flow to the brain can improve creativity by 81-100%.
• Better concentration: Periodic movement throughout the day takes you out of your desk slump and renews your energy and focus.

7 Tips for Walking Meetings

Before remote working, walking meetings were as simple as grabbing a cup of coffee with a work colleague, going for a trot around the block, or even around The White House, a la “The West Wing.”

But virtual walking meetings offer just the same benefits as meeting in person—you just need to get organized. These tips will ensure your virtual walking meeting is as productive as any desk-based catch-up.

1. Stay Where the Connection Is Strong

Worried the signal strength may dip when you're out and about? It might be worth doing a practice run to anticipate any problems during your meeting.

And have a backup plan ready, like ducking inside to work from a coffee shop while borrowing their Wi-Fi. Alternatively, do short laps around your block, so you're never far from home if connectivity fails.

2. Wear the Best Headphones for Walking Meetings

Noisy traffic, dogs barking, and construction work are all common audio problems during remote meetings from a desk location. But these disruptions are exaggerated further when you’re out and about.

The solution? Wear noise-canceling headphones with a microphone built-in. These are some options you might want to consider:

• Sony WH-1000XM4
• Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
• Apple AirPods Pro

3. Choose the Right Walking Meeting

If you regularly attend video calls with a large team where you’re mostly listening and muted, these are the perfect opportunity for a walking meeting. But not all meetings are made for walking! When you’re expected to share your screen or give an important presentation, staying at your desk is better.

4. Use Walking Meetings for Team Bonding

Getting to know your remote team can be tough, especially if you’re new to the team. For organizations invested in their company culture, walking meetings can break down barriers and relax your team.

It’s as simple as scheduling a time for the walking meeting, grabbing a pair of sneakers (and maybe even your dog!), and sharing a chat with your colleagues. Discuss where you’re each based, where you’ve chosen to go for your walk, and what you see along the way.

5. Opt for Voice Calls Instead of Video Calls

Video isn’t usually the best format for a walking meeting unless it’s an informal conversation. Why? First, it can be distracting for the desk-based participants of the meeting. Second, this is a safety risk if you’re walking with your iPhone on show.

Choose the audio call function as an alternative if you’re booked into a Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime call. Alert your team or a superior, so they’re aware you’re walking and won’t request that you switch your camera on.

6. Set a Meeting Agenda

No one wants to be caught off-guard, so receiving or setting a meeting agenda ahead of time will allow you to prepare for the call. This might mean digging out crucial details such as progress stats or a project update to share with your team. You’ll also use a meeting agenda to decide if walking is an option for this catch-up.

7. Download a Walking Meetings App

As walking meetings become more popular, apps are springing up to help workers collaborate productively on the move. One great option to download is Beenote which connects with Google Calendar to keep you organized.

This app offers the following benefits for walking meeting participants:

• Document your meeting: Use Beenote to record your meeting and go back over the material once you're back at your desk.
• Photo and file attachments: Quickly attach a screenshot, image, or document to the meeting notes.
• Spontaneous meetings: Log an unplanned meeting from any location if you’re caught off-guard.
• Task manager: Create a team or personal tasks within the app.

Try out Beenote for a 14-day trial—a monthly subscription costs from $10.40, but you’ll get two months for free if you pay annually.

Book Your Virtual Walking Meeting

Are you tired of feeling sluggish and unmotivated from taking too many desk meetings? It’s time to mix things up and get outdoors. It’s also good for your health. When you’re next scheduling meetings in Calendly, it’s as easy as choosing which of your calls are destined to be a walk and talk!