Walk the Talk, Don’t Talk the Talk

Another meeting, another closed door, another chair to sit on. What do you notice before stepping into a meeting?  Are you fired up, is your energy depleting, are you dreading it, are you nervous, will you be heard? 

What if that meeting took place outdoors?  What impact would that have?  

Just imagine right now…stepping out onto the street with your colleague or your boss.  Do you feel your body physically moving?  The air changing? The temperature difference?  There is a shift in your energy.  Despite the distractions that there may be on the street, the conversation involves just the two of you. Notice children tend to be more open and communicative in a car then around a table at dinner, ever question why?  That is because they do not have eye contact with the parent who is driving.  Same with meetings.

The fact that there is little eye contact, as you watch where you walk, allows each of you to have more space to think, to be creative and to react at your own pace. When we breathe deeply, we create more space in our bodies, in our minds and more brain function. As a result, we become more efficient and are able to generate new ideas and thoughts.

The dynamics in relationships also change, as you both walk the same pace, at the same time.  You are equals.  There is no hierarchy or looking at each other across a desk or boardroom.

Lastly, by stepping out of offices, you simply get your heart pumping, your blood circulating and feeding your brain oxygen.  Golf is a prime example of such a combination and you “walk the talk and not talk the talk.”  In Russia, they offer another perspective, a type of traditional sauna called the “banya.”  Everyone sits together naked, equipped with a felt hat (against the intense heat) and a bundle of birch branches (used to whip yourself to ensure better blood circulation).  As the sweating begins, so does the talking. Depending on the levels of the talks, vodka accompanies the discussions and before you know it, you have reached an agreement with a towel wrapped around you, feeling re-energized and never forgetting this moment!

So what is holding you back from having you next meeting outdoors?  

Feel free to contact me through my website www.annajankovich.com or share an experience by emailing me at coaching@annajankovich.com

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