Last week my wife and I weren't aligned. We'd had a tough week, exhausted from work and taking care of kids. We knew there was a lot on our minds, but found ourselves unable to get into the flow of problem-solving.

So we went outside and walked around for 15 minutes.

Everything suddenly felt different. We were able to talk openly about what was tough, figure out some solutions, and walked back in the house ready for the next challenge.

Walking isn't a problem-solving technique we always think of, but it should be.

Why Walking Meetings Work

Executives and product managers usually have a lot of meetings. Product managers are a hub between design, development, sales, marketing, and customers. All too often we get into a habit of taking every meeting sitting down.

While some meetings need a presentation or require a large group around a table, there's room for creativity in other meetings—especially 1:1s.

The Benefits

Fresh environment, fresh thinking. Some of my best work meetings have been walks. Your environment impacts your thoughts. Fresh air brings fresh ideas.

Research backs this up. Studies show that walking leads to more creative thinking and higher engagement.

Removes hierarchy. When you physically remove hierarchy (no one at the head of the table), it's easier to have a real conversation where participants contribute equally.

Builds alignment. Doing something together gets you aligned. When you do something at the same time as someone else, even if you aren't in agreement, you're aligned physically, which naturally makes it easier to align in other ways. That helps teams move fast.

Many empowering experiences use synchronized movements: from worship to raves, yoga class to sex. Physical synchronization can also make you more persuasive (mirroring is a powerful interview technique). Walking creates this synchronization in an appropriate way at work.

When Walking Meetings Work Best

Use walking meetings for:

  • 1-on-1 conversations
  • Problem-solving discussions
  • Getting aligned with a colleague
  • Building relationship and trust
  • Breaking through stuck thinking
  • Catching up on how things are going

Don't use walking meetings for:

  • Large groups (3+ people)
  • Screen-sharing or presentations
  • Detailed note-taking sessions
  • Bad weather (though some walk anyway)

How to Start

Most people haven't tried walking meetings. They say yes immediately once you suggest it.

If you're calling the meeting: "Want to walk and talk instead of sitting in a room?"

If someone else called it: "Would you be open to taking this outside? I think better when I walk."

During the walk: Keep it casual. No agenda pressure. Let conversation flow naturally.

Next time you need to have a real conversation, take a hike. Literally.