Why Taking A Walk Can Be A Powerful Leadership Tool

Business leaders are responsible for ensuring the company runs efficiently while balancing relationships with employees. Finding ways to show you value your team for who they are as humans, not just employees, is vital for maintaining excellent working relationships. Whether you are networking with a potential business partner, making deals and negotiations with other business leaders, or discussing work topics with employees, the location can make all the difference. Rather than a typical boardroom or closed-in office space, why not take the conversation on the go and take a walk? Here’s why taking a walk can be a powerful leadership tool and make conversations a more memorable experience. 

The Physical And Mental Health Benefits Of Taking A Walk

We already know walking has many physical and mental health benefits, particularly outside in nature. It also has cardiovascular benefits and helps to keep you mobile and agile. Stretching your muscles and getting the blood flowing can prevent and relieve back and hip pain. 

Studies show that taking a walk can help lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Walking can promote a calm and positive mood, as well. Add sunshine by stepping outside, and you will keep your serotonin levels up! It also helps increase your Vitamin D levels, which is important for your immune system, bones, and blood cells. Being outside in natural sunlight can also improve your sleep cycle, which helps you to feel better overall and increases your energy. 

Did you know that walking outside can also increase your focus and creativity? Sometimes you just need a change of scenery to help your brain create new thought patterns. It helps take your mind off the pressures and distractions you may encounter at your desk or office. 

Taking A Walk To Change Perspective

Have you ever walked outside in a forest and stopped to think about how large and majestic the trees are? The autumn season is the perfect time to do this, as the leaves change into bright and beautiful colors. Taking time out of your busy schedule to move outside of yourself and look at the beauty of the world around you allows you to tap into a sense of awe and wonder. 

Seeking out these moments of awe and wonder can help you to be a more effective leader, especially in the area of solving problems at work. It can add to your creativity and emotional perspective to your thought process. When you focus on these moments of awe and wonder, you are tapping into your amygdala, which is the brain’s limbic system that is often responsible for searching for threats. Threats can be defined as anything unusual or out of the ordinary in your environment. So when you switch your focus to finding these moments of awe that are out of your ordinary environment, you are redirecting your amygdala to focus on something bigger than your current challenge. 

Why Taking A Walk Is A Powerful Business Tool

Let’s say you, as a business leader, need to have a difficult conversation with an employee. The location and manner in which you have the conversation can make all the difference in fostering a heart-centered leadership role. Taking a walk outside, walking shoulder-to-shoulder, can help give the feeling of comradery rather than power. It creates a more relaxed atmosphere, free of facial signals that can be misinterpreted. It allows time to step away from the ordinary environment and gain perspective. Free from the noise of the office, you can take a stroll in a wooded area, a quiet street, or around the building. 

When suggesting to take a walk, be sure to set clear intentions. Leave nothing to misinterpretation. Make it clear that your goal is to help both parties discuss key business ideas, and that you are using the walk as a communication tool. Discuss how you will have these opportunities with others, so you do not signal anyone out. You can bring a small journal to keep notes in, so you don’t forget to discuss any important points. Write down anything you want to take away from this discussion time. And most of all, take time to focus on the person you are talking to and the beauty of your surroundings. 

In Conclusion

Taking a walk is good for the mind and good for the heart. It can bring a more creative perspective to your business and team. Taking a walk with a colleague provides a feeling of collaboration. 

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