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MOVING MAKES YOU RICHER

Writer's pictureJames Micklem

Walk The Work

In yesterday’s blog I talked about easy ways to cut meeting duration, then highlighted how using the time you get back could contribute massively to your fitness goals.


Today I want to challenge your 1:2:1s, but their location not their duration.


The Rise of the 1:2:1


With respect to population, the greatest success story to come out of the Covid era is the ‘1:2:1 Meeting’. They’ve increased over 500% since before the pandemic and they show no signs of slowing down. On the face of it this is bad news…but can you make that work in your favour?


Because of their sheer volume, if you can find a way to get a little value from each one, the personal benefit to you can be huge. Today I’ll explain how changing where you conduct your 1:2:1 meetings not only gets more out of them, but could also help you burn over a pound of fat every 3 weeks.


1:2:1 Meeting: ‘A regular check-in between two people to learn about the progress of work, share feedback and answer questions.’

Traditionally the 1:2:1 meeting was mostly limited to managers and their line reports. For other working relationships, there was the coffee machine, a tap on the shoulder or just a chair swivel.


That all changed with Covid. Stuck in our homes, the coffee machine catch-ups and corridor conversations, the ‘casual 1:2:1s’, became a thing of the past and were replaced by time on the calendar.


The average professional now spends 8.9% of their week in 1:2:1 meetings alone.

I’m definitely not going to suggest cutting out 1:2:1s. There’s no substitute for sitting in a room with someone and chatting, but as an alternative these scheduled versions are the next best thing. They are essential to productivity, morale and generally feeling like part of something.


BUT…while I agree that the casual chats did need to be formalised into 1:2:1 calendar invites for teams to stay connected…did they really need to bring the ‘traditional’ manager/line report 1:2:1 formality with them?


These are conversations that used to take place with peers, leaning against the coffee machine or sat at a table in the canteen…they used to be an excuse to leave the desk!




So why now, when we’re not in the office, do we stay glued to our desk to have them?


Look For Reasons To Leave Your Desk, Not To Stay


I propose that most, not all, 1:2:1 meetings could be taken while walking (weather permitting).


There are times when it just won’t be possible and you’ll know when that’s the case, but positively seek out the times you can. Challenge yourself to look for an opportunity to walk, not a reason not to sit!


Consider the knee-jerk ‘Yes but…’ reactions and possible counterarguments below:


Yes but…I might need to show the other person something… A 1:2:1 is often conversational and not technical, so you rarely need to work off a document. If you’re not convinced, can you attach it to the invite or look at it on your phone (better for PowerPoint/Word than Excel)?


Yes but…I need to be sure I can answer all of their questions… 1:2:1s are regular and recurring, so both parties are likely providing/receiving an update on something they’re already close to. If you need to check something, can you just get the email up?


Yes but…I won’t be able to think straight in an open spaceBeing outside and away from your desk can positively impact your creativity and give fresh perspective on problems you’re struggling with…maybe thinking ‘straight’ isn’t always best.


Harvard Business Review found those who participate in walking meetings are 5.25% more likely to report being creative in their jobs and 8.5% more likely to be engaged. It doesn’t sound much, but it’s free…all of us have seen our companies pay a lot more for a lot less.


Yes but…I won’t be able to focus on the conversation… Walking positively influences your central nervous response system, which is responsible for how you respond to stress, as well as calms your nerves, helps you sleep and boosts your alertness. A walk really could set you up for success in a challenging conversation.


Yes but…I’ve had a rubbish day and I just want to get to 5pm… By getting more blood to your brain, walking can reduce symptoms of depression and improve your overall mood. You’re more likely to have ‘yes’ conversations and bring energy and motivation.


Yes but…I must see their face… If you’re desperate to see the person’s face, then yes you may have to be at your laptop. If that’s the only reason you need to be at the laptop however…is the call definitely work related?


Yes but…I will get distracted if I’m away from my desk… The average office worker gets 121 emails a day and the average 1:2:1 meeting is 43 minutes long. You get more than 10 emails in a single sitting. Every time you get that notification in the bottom right (seriously consider turning it off!), you lose your train of thought and fail to give the other person your full attention.


In front of a computer screen is potentially the worst location you can attempt to have an effective one-to-one meeting.


The laptop is there to facilitate work. If you don’t need the laptop to do the work – it is just a vehicle for communication. Take your phone on a walk instead. If you are in an office…all of the above still apply…go on a walk with them!


In-person 1:1s helps remove hierarchy and encourages honesty by creating a more level playing field than a boardroom (or the Oval Office).





If you’re not convinced, do it once. Message who you’re meeting ahead of time to give it the best chance of success...that way they know what to expect and can wear appropriate footwear!


It’s not a big undertaking, you lose nothing (…you even do it for fun at the weekends!), and you just might just realise you’re onto something.


Conclusion


The arguments to say that walking 1:2:1 meetings would negatively impact productivity fall flat. Now let’s look at how much they could do for your health:


  • The average professional has 1.12 meetings a day at 43 minutes each, a total of 6 hours each working week.

  • To keep things realistic, I suggest that 4 out of those 6 hours are 1:2:1s that could be taken while walking.

  • In 4 hours of walking a person takes 24,000 steps and burns off 1,200 calories.

  • A pound of body fat contains 3,600 calories, meaning you would burn that off every three weeks.


If you chose to conduct some 1:2:1 meetings while walking, you could burn the equivalent of a pound of body fat in calories every three weeks.



Are you going to schedule at least one walking 1:1 this week?

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