Walkshop don't workshop!
Remote working has given us more options when it comes to designing how we work. Gone are the days where we had 2 options for working: sit at your desk or gather in the boardroom. Now we have a wealth of options that consider both space and technology. But better yet, we should be able to strategically pick the right option based on the task and headspace needed.
Yet despite this it is all too easy to default back to old habits. Whilst hybrid working has been on the increase have we simply swapped one desk for another? A board room for a teams call?
We spent decades learning the rhythm of the office, but the big shift to remote working is still in its infancy in comparison. Good habits created in the early days of the pandemic may already become old news as we revert back to what we knew before. But we need to continually focus on the opportunities it provides to create a new way of working, not simply replicating what we used to do in an office via tech.
And if there’s one approach that I wholeheartedly endorse it’s the walkshop.
No not a typo, the walkshop. Put simply it’s where we focus on a work opportunity whilst out walking. This is not simply a way to cram in extra cardio into the workday (although that is a happy bonus), this is a scientifically proven way to open up our minds to think of new solutions stimulated by both the exercise and environment.
In fact, the more I think about it, why did we ever think a desk was a good idea for problem solving? Why would we think the space where we channel our focus on executing tasks would be the same as the space were we think creatively? Why would sitting sedately get those ‘creative juices’ flowing?
And science agrees:
A 2015 study by Plambech and Konijnendjik van den Bosch showed that being exposed to nature enhanced creative thinking and plays a role in the preparation and incubation stages of idea generation.
Biochemistry sparked inspiration for many innovations. Burrs on plants provided the foundation for the first Velcro. The kingfishers revolutionised the design of a quieter bullet train. The architectural structure of the Gherkin in London’s is modelled after the diagonal vertical structure of the Venus marine sponge.
A Harvard Business Review article from 2024 speaks of the benefits of exercise on the brain. “Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in people who don’t”.
The Public Library of Science created a study exploring creative problem solving. Those who were able to immerse themselves in nature for a period of 4 days were found to be able to boost their scores on a creative problem-solving test by as much as 50%.
A study by Mualem et al on the effect of movement on cognitive performance concluded that at least 10 minutes of walking had a significant effect on mathematical problem-solving skills in students.
Psychology Today cites nature as a healthy source of brain stimulants. Sights, sounds and even smells help to build “the cognitive constructs necessary for sustained intellectual development,” and dimmish boundaries creating an un-barriered environment to think and problem solve.
In a study on memory conducted by the University of Michigan participants were split into 2 groups. Both groups sat the same memory test but were then asked to go for a walk in different locations. The first group went to an arboretum, whereas group 2 went to the city. On their return they repeated the test and those who went to the city saw no change in their results. Those who had spent their walk in the arboretum improved their score by +20% demonstrating the impact of nature.
The University of Essex found that people who chose to exercise outdoors for just 5 minutes saw an increase in self-confidence and a lift in their spirits.
I could go on, but you’ll see my point. There are key themes around getting outside and how this helps our creativity, problem-solving skills and general wellbeing. But if we know this, why aren’t we combining outdoor exercise and work conversations more?
The answer could be as simple as needing to break an old habit to make a new one. We need to role model to others that this is an option. Rather than book a room, arrange to meet in reception and find a suitable route to walk. Choose a pace that matches the topic: a slow meander can demonstrate patience and detail whereas a swifter walk can prompt a call to action. But either way it’s likely to stand out as a different interaction -and whenever we encounter novelty our brains are more likely to recall the experience.
But what about virtual meetings? Not all calls can be replaced with walkshopping, but a good place to start is a 121. Not a project update where screensharing may be of benefit, but a 121 where you want to share thoughts and feelings, perhaps even wellbeing, and open up conversation beyond transactional, task-based updates. Calls where you want solutions and ideas to flow can also benefit from this approach. So, switching to walkshopping when you want others to problem solve can also be a smart move. Whilst of course visuals can be helpful to illustrate a point, we can be guilty of over-relying on PowerPoint decks and creating an illusion of communication (both for what we communicate and what we hear!). Investing in listening skills is a must for all leaders, and without the option of video these skills might just super-charge allowing us to pick up on what someone is really saying.
But if all this feels a step too far, it can also be used mid-call/meeting. You can rely on classic presentation and discussion to set the direction in a group setting then encourage individual problem solving through a 15-30minute walkshop break. Everyone heads out, their minds whirring with ideas, then returns to the meeting ready to share thought-through ideas. A collective decision is still made at the end, but everyone has had the time to think and decide how they feel about this topic for themselves. This can be particularly useful for introverts, who may find their thought process interrupted by the more dominant members of the group who chip in with their ideas readily.
We will still need our offices, and our desks and our laptops, but now is the time to embrace the variety of working options available to us. Walkshopping is not just healthy for our body and soul, it is also a powerful tool to really get us thinking.
