How can we picture the “walk-and-talk” or your hiking day?
Helena: This year’s hiking day began for us with a meeting at the Göttingen site to go over the day’s schedule. Our trainers explained that while hiking, we would work on several tasks and discuss them with each other along the way. At the end of the meeting, we were given our first task and set off together with the trainers.
"Walk and Talk"
A “walk-and-talk” is a meeting that takes place during an outdoor walk. Typically, prepared tasks are discussed with alternating conversation partners. Moving outside the usual working environment creates a relaxed atmosphere, facilitates exchanges, and allows participants to adopt new perspectives more easily. Last but not least, it also strengthens team spirit.
What tasks did you receive?
Helena: The first task involved self-reflection on our training. We were asked to reflect on our strengths, i.e., why we are professionally and personally valuable to the team, and what we could still work on. We also discussed the personal relevance of the training for us. Afterwards, we shared our thoughts with a partner. Thanks to the open feedback culture and various training sessions, such as “Giving and receiving feedback,” it was easy for us to discuss this.
Due to the limited time, the biggest challenge was actually keeping our thoughts concise and not drifting off topic or going into too much detail.
Once we had completed our first task, we moved on to a new one with our colleagues. To get to know each other better, we were to share things that the other person didn’t know about us yet, such as a special hobby or the type of event we most enjoyed attending. One particularly surprising discovery was a colleague’s love for the pen-and-paper game “Dungeons & Dragons,” and that one of our trainers is a DJ in his free time.
Before moving on to the last task, we stopped off at Pagoda, a Chinese restaurant. Here, we were able to chat informally about everyday topics over a delicious meal and recharge for the return journey.
Our final task was to give personal feedback to our colleagues. To do this, we formed pairs and rotated until everyone had had the opportunity to talk to everyone else in the group. No specific questions were provided. Instead, the aim was to describe how we perceive each other, describe their effect on us, and then formulate a wish for the future. The feedback followed the 3A formula, which we had learned at the start of our training.
Three A formula
Three A formula or the 3A feedback model: 3A stands for the terms: awareness, action, aspiration. It’s a straightforward approach for providing feedback on someone’s behavior. The 3A model helps to improve the quality of feedback, avoid misunderstandings, and foster a culture of openness and mutual respect.
What is your conclusion on the walk-and-talk?
Helena: The walk-and-talk, or our hiking day, was a great opportunity to exchange ideas in depth with very specific tasks. Even if you often intend to get feedback in your everyday work, it usually remains a good intention. That’s why the hiking day was such a valuable experience for us – both for getting to know each other better and for personal growth.
Helena Deiters
Helena is a trainee in IT specializing in application development at the Göttingen office and started her second year of training in August 2025.
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