Beach volleyball, swimming and yoga classes guided by experienced instructors rank among activities which are offered by Deloitte Czech Republic to its employees. Cycling along with running are number one at Deloitte. Deloitte’s employees simply love running and thanks to one of Deloitte’s partners, running is also becoming increasingly more popular among our clients. You already know the “running sushi” concept but have you heard of “running business lunches”?
Deloitte’s partner Tereza Kavan Klimešová has taken running to another level. She came up with an entirely new concept of client communication and meetings – going for a run instead of a business lunch with the client. This corresponds with the wellbeing trend, which is one of the top HR trends in the Czech Republic as indicated by the results of our survey.
A running diary of Tereza Kavan Klimešová or… Going for a run at lunch break
I thought to myself that I can always go for a business lunch with clients but how about doing something different? And then an idea crossed my mind – we could go for a run instead of a business lunch and that’s how the “running business lunch” concept developed. As a working mother of two young children, I was seeking a way to mental and physical well-being. I can achieve that by running.
All of this, however, has been pure coincidence, I started running two years ago. There was no sophisticated intention behind it, I simply wanted to lose baby weight. I would have never imagined that I could become addicted to running. The idea to apply this approach to my clients had been on my mind for a while before I realised it in practice as I needed some training myself. I did not want to be gasping for breath beside a client after every single word. Actually, initial concerns were on both sides. After all, to meet with a client in running tights is very informal and not everyone would feel comfortable. But it works perfectly.
What are the advantages? Both business and non-business matters may be discussed during the run in a relaxed and natural atmosphere. On top of that, a lot of people have busy schedules and the opportunity to combine business with running – that is a need to do something for yourself – is more than welcome. This opens possibilities of joint participation in various running events or combining running with charity. However, I still need to work this out in detail.
Running gradually opened a totally different world to me. I participated in a running race for the first time and experienced the feeling of winning a medal. Later, thanks to the facilities, including showers, which we have at Deloitte I realised that about half of the staff regularly goes for a run. The other one cycles which is, by the way, another popular activity among colleagues as well as clients – remember the annual cycling trip for employees and their clients organised by the Tax & Legal function.
I started to share my passion for running within my team. We started to participate in team relay races and regularly go running at lunch breaks. So far, our activities have culminated in a 345 km long relay run in Slovakia.
Another story about the same topic could be told by Michael Daugherty, a colleague from Deloitte USA who has been a manager in the Prague office since January 2017, working in the team led by Tereza Kavan Klimešová. Michael had more free time in Prague than in the USA and did not know how to spend it to good purpose. He started to attend yoga classes and then, on a friend’s advice, tried running. The initial short distances gradually lengthened and in the end, Michael developed a passion for running.
Michael, what do you get from running?
Running allows me to clear my head and not to think of anything else. I am very ambitious and running is an ideal sport for me. You can always push your goal a little further, such as running an extra kilometre or running a specific distance faster. I get satisfaction from constant improvement.
How many kilometres do you usually run?
I usually do shorter distances during the week, approximately 8 km, which is just enough to clear my head. At weekends, I usually do 12 – 16 km which is an excellent start for the coming week. I almost always run on my own as I really appreciate the time spent alone.
Have you also tried any races?
Yes, I participated in a half marathon this year as well as in a relay race in June along with colleagues from the Deloitte team focusing on personal taxation which I am a part of. It was great to spend some time with my colleagues outside the office. The half marathon was my goal I had been preparing for several months so at the end, I felt satisfaction that I managed it successfully. Both races were fun.
What are your favourite running routes in Prague?
I like to do shorter distances in the Stromovka park – the outer circuit is 5 km long which is fine. When I want to do a longer distance, I usually run along the Vltava river. I simply head south and quickly get outside the city centre. When you want to get back, you just turn around; or you can also run as far as Radotín and return by train.
Have we inspired you? Try it as well …Three cheers for running!
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