Walking and business skills development go hand in hand

Most people are aware that an hour out walking will undoubtedly improve your health and well being. However, did you know that it will probably also give you an advantage in the work plan. With the current credit crunch and looming recession, we all would appreciate some help to keep our current job or find a new job. Some people will be seeking comfort from their Nintendo DS brain training games. But there is cheaper and more effective option. If you can spare the time to go out with a map and even better with friends, you will probably be honing your business skills without being aware of it. For a start if you go out walking and use an OS map you have exercised two immediate and important business skills:

· You can read and interpret information;

If you have a Nintendo DS and play Brain Training, you will already be aware that these types of challenges develop the Prefrontal cortex area of your brain. This area is concerned with developing your ability to take in and use abstract information e.g. pictures, numbers etc.

· You have basic project management skills to plan, monitor and control.

Now you have to put the map information to good effect. You have to decide where to go and how to get there. You need a plan. So that you don’t get lost you will have to review this plan periodically. This mean breaking the walk up into discreet bites with a milestone at the end. Usually, these milestones are landmarks. You need to calculate the time to travel the distance between the landmarks on the map and check this against the time measured by your watch. Yet you also need to take into account the terrain, as you travel faster on flat terrain in comparison to hilly terrain. Therefore, you need to make quick simple mathematical calculations. I can see you reaching for the Nintendo DS again. Plans change as does the weather. So you need the ability to adapt your plans as a project manager adapts when the budget or resource list is cut. So you have a plan , with a schedule and milestones and you can change they plans on the fly. Hay presto – you are a project manager in the making.


The ability to make valued judgement decisions based upon sound information is a key attribute for leadership and management in business. Leading a group on a walk, whether friends or family will greatly improve your social and communication skills. On a walk everyone has an opinion and someone at some point will tell you that you are going the wrong way, or worse that they are lost. It takes great leadership qualities to be able to contain the situation and restore confidence in the group that you have the ability to do your job. You need to be calm, confident and assertive. You also need to be able to be persuasive. When the weather turns bad you are also going to have to maintain these attributes under stress. The group will want the leader to be able to take prompt action to find warmth, safety and shelter, and they want an answer now. Changes in weather conditions may also require you to change your plans and act on your feet to come up with an alternative solution. The business world is constantly changing these days. Market forces require companies to make quick decisions. These companies will be seeking out individuals that also can embrace change and be proactive in leading change and taking action to ensure that there will be a positive outcome, irrespective of the obstacles along the way.

Finally, simply getting out doors will develop a sense of positive mental attitude. Research has shown that the sites and smells of the outdoors release the feel good hormones endorphins and serotonin which will improve your well-being, outlook on life and motivation.

The Sheffield 20 to 30s Walking Group are continually looking for individuals to take up Walk Leader positions. The group is prepared to put all willing individuals through their walk leader development programme from learning the basics of navigation, shadowing seasoned leaders to taking on your own walks. If you think that you are up to the challenge and want to improve your market potential in the work place get in contact with the group via their website sheffieldwalkinggroup.org.uk or respond to sheffieldwalkinggroup@hotmail.com

Bird of a feather flock together

Themed based activities such as walking typically attract like minded individuals who have similar interests and viewpoints on life. As a walk leader I regularly stumble upon members on a walk discussing current affairs, politics, astro physics, love and relationships. I firmly believe that the social aspect of a group is a huge marketing opportunity that every Publicity Officer needs to promote. People definitely join walking groups for the social interaction. So often I hear from new members that they were attracted by the social structure of organised walks. Many of these individuals were interested in walking before but found walking alone or having to decide where to go a barrier. Therefore, the opportunity of turning up to an organised event with other people where all the elements have already been decided is very appealing.

With Valentines Day approaching it is worth noting that the sociable aspect can often lead to finding a future partner. Meeting someone within a group of walkers is far less threatening than two people meeting on a blind date. The group dynamic of walking allows individuals to get to know each other casually and avoids the potential embarrassment of rejection. For the Sheffield 20 to 30s Walking Group this unassuming format has led to 5 marriages out of the group over the last 6 years. So it is fair to say that there is someone out there for everyone. You only have to look in the right place. So, if you are looking for someone who shares your love of walking and the outdoors where better to find them than in a walking group.