When I was in university, I tried a variety of different tactics to study and attempt to retain information. Sure, I could just read the textbook provided, but I never found that to be engaging enough. YouTube wasn’t a thing while I was in school either, so I couldn’t watch a video on a topic. The best way I studied at university was doing what I call a Walk & Talk 1 on 1 conversation.
My friends and I would talk about the subjects with each other while walking around the campus. We found that this was the best way to study and retain information, giving us the ability to turn the content into more of a conversation. The more that we could talk and walk together before a big test, the better we did. When I became a leader in business, I saw value in walk and talks also working in that environment too.
1 on 1 Walk & Talks
One of the crucial responsibilities for managing a team is having 1 on 1 conversation with your employees. Between talking about day to day responsibilities, career-related conversations, or performance discussions, 1 on 1s is essential. Sitting across from each other in a boardroom can eventually become stale and repetitive. Sometimes you need to shake it up and have a walk and talk instead. If you don’t need to show anything on your laptop, taking a walk around the block together having a conversation can an incredibly effective way to connect. There are people in my career that I’ve worked with where they are a little more hesitant to open up and share. By talking and going for a walk, I’ve found that you can get some of these people to open up a little bit more because there is a lack of direct eye contact as you follow your route.
Self-Care as a Leader
Now the other piece with being a leader and embracing a walk and talk approach for 1 on 1 conversation is that it can be a form of self-care. As a leader, sometimes we’re just stuck in an endless series of meetings. While the effectiveness of those meetings is always in question, sometimes, it feels like you never really move much throughout the day. Sitting in a chair for hours on end isn’t very good for you either. By moving your 1 on 1s outside and going for walks, you get an opportunity to stretch your legs and get some exercise and fresh air.
Final Thought
Walking and talking can be a great way just to brainstorm ideas. You could use this method to discuss new ways to tackle something or allow team members to express frustration about something. Sometimes the walls within office buildings can be incredibly thin and so people don’t feel like they can truly be themselves. If you take them outside of the office environment, they might be more likely to express themselves more openly, doing so might help build a better relationship with them as well. So, if you’re looking to spice up your 1 on 1 conversation with your employees, try the walk and talk method.
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