There is something that I just can’t resist about a whiteboard marker and that glistening white board on wheels.

I don’t know why, but whenever I am in proximity to it I am compelled to stand up and start writing, drawing, and putting my arguments and thoughts into the vast white space.

Funnily enough when there isn’t one around I don’t have any trouble at all in having a conversation without it. But put a whiteboard in the room and my approach to a workshop, meeting or simple conversation just goes out the window.

I’m not saying it is a bad thing at all. In fact I have many fond memories of being around a whiteboard.

Now a blackboard is a completely different story. These shadowy things from nightmares past bring back memories of meter rulers careening into grey shorts with high velocity, chalk dust in hair and the eerie scrape of fingernails that could make the gnarliest werewolf howl.

 My first memory of working with whiteboards was a manager in my 20s who called me into his office 5 or 6 times a day to have a coffee. (yes lots of coffee). I would watch him move around the board with excitement selling me his latest ideas and encouraging me to join in and throw my thoughts up in glistening blue, green, red or black. It must have been where it all started – including my caffeine addition.

I remember long days and nights preparing whiteboards for results presentations. Each meticulous key message written down on the screen or in most cases screens. I learned from one of the best communicators there is how to guide a speaker through the key messages to help answer the most pointed questions from investors, and to parry even the most well researched journalist.

Now I can’t wait to get a pen into my hands. I love working with people who get up from their seat to work to correct what is on the board, or put up their own alternative idea. I even interviewed someone over a whiteboard discussion (hic battle).

For those working on strategy with their team, or exploring the options to address an issue, there can be no better way can there? I’m trying out some super fun online tools through Miro at the moment that could be the answer for online collaboration. And until that happens for me … well you know where my heart lies.

In our age of Zoom, Teams and Skype we struggle to collaborate, to share. Or at least most of us do. We struggle to be heard sometimes or get attention. It is why many of us are returning to travel. We want to engage not just with our stakeholders and our customers, but our people, and our teams. We need to connect in a physical way.

I do think it has something to do with being both creative and physically active. Maybe I’m not earning more steps to my daily walking goal, but I can tell you a really good creative whiteboard session does get my heart rate up.

If only my apple watch would tell me so…