Take the first step... by introducing walking meetings in your workplace

1. Information Type :
Company Name :
Information Owner :
Walking meetings and mental
wellbeing – “practical steps”
External
NTT DATA UK
Tom Winstanley

2. © 2019 NTT DATA UK 2
Simply put, it is a meeting where you go outside and conduct your meeting while walking.
There are various benefits, including the productivity and quality of the meeting itself,
relationship building and your health.
What is a Walking Meeting?

3. © 2019 NTT DATA UK 3
Have fun! Enjoy the experience of combining work with a bit of exercise and fresh air!
Guidelines for Walking Meetings
Have a destination - Consider a place of interest as part of the route, this
will give a rationale and incentive to the participants (e.g. a specific building
/ square / attraction)
But also wander…Research have shown that following a “random”
route stimulates new ideas generation even more!
Let your meeting invitee/attendee know ahead of time, so they can adjust
their dress-code, perhaps having changed shoes
Limit it to a maximum of 3 people
The Chopstick
Experiment
Researchers at National Taiwan
University asked students to think of
new uses for chopsticks either while
walking the perimeter of a large
rectangle or while wandering within it.
The free walkers outperformed the
linear thinkers.
Consider scribble down the things you want to discuss on a piece of paper before setting off.
During the meeting you can either write a reminder on your phone or use one of the tools suggested here.
You can also have a quick sit down once you have returned to the office, to confirm and record
decisions/actions/next steps

4. © 2019 NTT DATA UK 4
Increased efficiency on meeting closure: In meeting rooms there’s a temptation to run over
time. If your walking meeting route is coming to an end, it’s time to wrap up the best ideas.
Benefits of Walking Meetings
Clear the mind and energise: Physical movement
automatically reduces stress and clears the mind. Movement
encourages deeper breathing and breathing improves
circulation, which energises the body and brain.
Increase of creativity and engagement: A
Harvard Business Review research has 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.
Breaks down barriers and increases bonding between coworkers: Walking
side-by-side allow conversation to be more peer-to-peer and encourage a similar
bonding that can be experienced when coworkers travel together on business trips.
Increased focus and concentration: A changing physical environment
helps people focus on the priorities of the moment. They’ll concentrate on
where they are now rather than where they’ve just been or where they need
to be afterwards.
Prioritise: Walking and talking helps people
prioritise information – if they’re stopping to make a
note of something, it’d have to be worthwhile. Or,
better still, if it’s important, they’ll focus fully, commit it
to memory and action it promptly.
Better physical health: Movement encourages better
posture and reduces the risk of injuries that arise from a
sedentary lifestyle
HEALTH
EFFICIENCY
Additionally, the responses suggest that walking meetings support
cognitive engagement, or focus, on the job. This comes at no cost
for the company!

5. © 2019 NTT DATA UK 5
Tools to help you / Suggested routes Statik App
• Allows users to upload an agenda, tag other
attendees and record meetings, which can be
shared with just a few simple clicks.
• Users can also capture action items with a simple
shake of the phone.
• Counts steps and calories burned
• Includes a leaderboard to competing with colleagues
• Walkit is a tool which can be used to find walking meeting routes.
Using the post code of the start/end points and the duration you
choose, the tool will provide you with a route.
• You can also choose the pace at which you plan to walk (slow,
med, fast)
• It is also available on web, there is no app available, which limits
mobile use.

6. © 2019 NTT DATA UK 6
Share Your Experiences and Suggestions
St. Dunstan in the East Church Garden, 8 mins walks from REX!
On Twitter
#walkingmeetings…
Create an internal forum as part of your mental wellbeing programme
Share your experiences on whatever social media you are comfortable with:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/well-being-creativity-promoting-benefits-walking-tom-
winstanley/

7. © 2019 NTT DATA UK 7
TAKE
THE
FIRST
STEP