[ScaleX Bite-Size] Michelle Johnston on Building Connection - "Stop Meeting in Windowless Rooms"
Release Date: 12/05/2025
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info_outlineWindowless conference rooms kill connection. PowerPoint presentations kill culture. Yet most SME leaders still meet this way, wondering why their teams feel disconnected and disengaged.
Dr Michelle Johnston reveals a better way: motion creates emotion, and the best meetings happen outside, walking shoulder to shoulder.
The Connection Walk Method:
Michelle took physicians on a one-hour leisurely walk along the Mississippi River. Every 10-15 minutes, they paired up shoulder to shoulder with different colleagues and asked:
- "What does success look like to you by the end of the year?"
- "What's most challenging to you right now?"
- "How can I help?"
The physicians admitted afterwards: "That was really powerful."
Why Windowless Conference Rooms Kill Culture:
One CEO was exhausted by Friday meetings where his team showed up in suits with PowerPoint slides, defending their jobs in a windowless conference room.
Michelle's advice? "Invite them to your office for coffee. Sit around for 45 minutes and ask: 'What can I do to help you?'"
The Meeting Hierarchy:
- Best: In-person, outdoors, walking shoulder to shoulder
- Better: Phone call whilst walking
- Good: Video call (last resort)
The medium shapes the depth of connection.
Why Motion Creates Emotion:
Bart Foster of Business Outside built his company on this principle: walking shoulder to shoulder creates different chemistry than sitting across a table. His mantra: "Get us out of windowless conference rooms."
The Questions Nobody Asks:
- What does success look like to you?
- What's most challenging right now?
- How can I help you?
Simple. Easy. Powerful. Underutilized.
Key Takeaways:
Get people out of their comfort zone to build connective tissue. Rethink how you're meeting—format matters as much as content. No one wants to be talked at anymore. Walking shoulder to shoulder for one hour can create connections that last years.
About Dr Michelle Johnston:
Management professor at Loyola University New Orleans and co-author with Marshall Goldsmith of "The Seismic Shift in You." She helps leaders create connection-driven cultures that boost engagement and results.
SCALEX™ AND SIMPLE SCALING:
📖 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🔗 ScaleX Elevate Community: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate 🔗 ScaleX Accelerator Programme: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme 🔗 Website: https://simplescaling.com 📧 Email: hello@simplescaling.com 📱 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling
ScaleX™ Insider is brought to you by Simple Scaling—creators of the ScaleX™ Accelerator Programme, a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus. 🔗 Learn more: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme
Connect with Dr Michelle Johnston: Website: MichelleKJohnston.com | Email: Michelle@MichelleKJohnston.com | Book: "The Seismic Shift in You"
#ConnectionWalks #MeetingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamBuilding #SMEGrowth