Most
conversations seem to be carried on while people aren't moving. Instead, they are seated around a table, in a
restaurant booth, on
a park bench, at an office desk. Does
their being sedentary
affect the quality of communication?
Probably,
yes. For example, persons seated across
from one another
may be more confrontational. As well,
people seated may be more
"fixed" in their viewpoints, just as they are fixed in
their seats. Furthermore, where you sit
often signals who has
more power. The one at the head of the
table tends to be the chairperson
or the boss. Spacing and seating like
this are concerns of
the science of proxemics devised by anthropologist Edward T.
Hall and explained in his classic book, The Hidden Dimension.
What, if
any, might be the advantages of talking while walking?
1. When persons walk together,
side by side, they almost always walk
in rhythm, almost like a dance. When "in
sync," we humans
feel more similar and collaborative and thus more prone to common
understanding and agreement. That's a
plus.
2. Talking while walking
side-by-side has the effect of diffusing intensity
because we're not looking directly at each other. Because we must look
where we're stepping, our full attention can't be on the other person. This lessened attention can also be positive,
at least in certain situations.
3. When we are walking, we are not
only getting some exercise, but also
our bodies are releasing "good chemicals" - the endorphins that lift our mood.
(Physicians typically prescribe "take a
walk in the park" for patients who
suffer from depression.) As well, even gentle exercise like walking can have the
effect of raising the serotonin level in one's system, the result being an
enhancement of mood and reduction of anger and aggression. Certainly, talking
is more congenial when we're in a good mood.
4. Walking in nature can be
especially powerful in stimulating good feelings. Strolling through a rose garden, down a
lushly tree-lined path, or in a redwood forest gives us awesome beauty and
may induce a broader perspective on differences we may have with others.
5. For those who might think that
to talk about serious topics we must be seated, as at a conference table or in a
classroom, I'll remind you of Jesus and Buddha, teaching their
disciples while walking. And
of the "peripatetic school" of Aristotle and his own teacher, Plato, known for discussing big ideas
while walking around. In modern times, history describes significant
diplomatic negotiations that took place during "a walk in the woods."
6. Finally, I have often
observed "mall walking" by small groups of friends. (Here in Las Vegas, far too hot for walking
outside in the summertime, shopping malls allow these groups to walk for
exercise before stores open.) These groups are not only exercising,
butthey're
creating lively social events. Everyone's
walking, andmost walkers
are talking. And the socializing seems
to be more fun than
if they were sedentary in a coffee shop.
I hope this short article has given you some good reasons for "walking your talk." Doing so has some advantages.
