Unlocking Leadership Potential: The Power of Nature-Based Coaching
Key Points:
Nature-based coaching enhances leadership and team performance through connection with the natural environment.
Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Recovery Theory (SRT) explain the cognitive and emotional benefits of nature-based coaching.
Techniques such as walk-and-talk sessions, seasonal walks, and using natural metaphors foster breakthroughs.
Both individual and team leadership coaching benefit from this practice, promoting creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Introduction:
Over 25 years ago, I went through my first outdoors leadership development activity as part of a multi-month cohort leadership development program. I spent several days with a team of my peers exploring the wilderness on and around Stone Mountain, Georgia. Over the course of those days, we had highly structured outdoor events, team focused activities, one-on-one coaching sessions with our assigned coach, and informal gatherings in nature…. all designed to open each of us up to new possibilities as leaders.
I remember when I realized how different each of us were in this setting than when we were around a board room table. I was especially aware of how my own thinking was different and what possibilities that thinking opened for me. I have spent the decades since experimenting with coaching in nature… as a leader and as an executive leadership coach.
Since then, I have led countless individuals and teams through coaching and activities in nature (hiking in Garden of the Gods, traversing the Highline in NYC, strolls through various national parks, coaching while sitting next to a green wall deep in a secure building, holding team discussions in an office atrium garden in the dead of winter, etc.). What follows sprang from my firsthand experiences and my fascination with the impact nature (in all its variety) can have on the depth and quality of conversations, the creativity and productivity of teams, and the dynamics of everyday team discussions.
Article:
In a world where we spend most of our time indoors, often behind screens, the idea of moving coaching sessions outdoors may seem unconventional. Yet, the benefits of nature-based coaching—where individual and team coaching sessions take place in natural environments—are increasingly being recognized by both coaches and organizational leaders. Nature has a unique ability to restore cognitive capacity, enhance creativity, and reduce stress, making it an ideal setting for leadership coaching.
Coaches and organizational leaders can harness the power of nature-based coaching to develop stronger, more resilient leaders and cohesive, high-performing teams… and access to natural space may be easier and more convenient than you think.
The Science Behind Nature-Based Coaching
The benefits of being in nature have long been studied in fields such as psychology and environmental science. Two key theories provide a strong foundation for understanding how nature-based coaching can unlock leadership potential:
Attention Restoration Theory (ART): Developed by Kaplan and Kaplan (1989), ART suggests that natural environments allow the brain to recover from mental fatigue. Nature engages the mind in “soft fascination,” which restores cognitive capacities, allowing individuals to think more clearly, make better decisions, and be more creative. These are critical skills for leaders navigating complex business challenges.
Stress Recovery Theory (SRT): This theory, developed by Ulrich (1984), proposes that natural environments help reduce stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and emotional recovery. For leaders who face high levels of stress, nature-based coaching provides a way to reset, regain emotional balance, and approach challenges with renewed clarity.
How Nature-Based Coaching Differs from Traditional Coaching
Unlike traditional coaching, which typically takes place indoors—often in an office or virtual setting—nature-based coaching brings clients into open, natural environments. Whether it's traversing a trail, walking through a forest, sitting beside a river, engaging in a team hike, or even finding a green space within an urban environment, the change of scenery can lead to profound shifts in thinking and emotional awareness.
As Lesley Roberts notes in Coaching Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Partnering with Nature in Your Coaching Conversations, nature becomes an active participant in the conversation. The environment encourages clients to think differently, reflect more deeply, and connect with their inner selves.
And research supports that even short intervals of contact with nature is enough to alter how we feel and think. While not everyone has access to the wilds of a forest near them, the size of the natural space needed to receive the benefits of nature-based coaching can vary, and research suggests that even small green spaces in cities or indoor green environments can offer significant benefits.
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology (2015) showed that exposure to small urban green spaces still promotes stress recovery and improved mood, even when compared to larger wilderness areas. The key is the presence of natural elements like plants, trees, and water features, which help individuals feel connected to nature and facilitate cognitive restoration. For coaches and clients in cities, finding accessible green spaces - whether small parks or gardens - can create an environment conducive to breakthroughs and deeper reflection.
Examples of Small Green Spaces for Coaching in Nature:
Urban Parks: A park bench under a tree or a walking path in a small park can be enough to achieve the benefits of nature-based coaching.
Community Gardens: These smaller, often urban green spaces allow for moments of reflection and restoration during a coaching session.
Rooftop Gardens: Many buildings in cities now have rooftop gardens or terraces, which offer greenery and a natural atmosphere despite being in densely populated areas.
The Benefits of Indoor Green Spaces
For situations where outdoor natural spaces are limited or unavailable, indoor green spaces can be an excellent alternative. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology (2019) found that indoor environments with abundant plant life and natural features can support mental well-being and cognitive function, making them an ideal setting for coaching when outdoor spaces are unavailable. While indoor spaces lack the immersive quality of larger outdoor environments, they can still trigger many of the same positive psychological responses through exposure to greenery and natural light.
Examples of Indoor Green Spaces for Coaching:
Atriums: Large indoor areas with plants, trees, and natural light can mimic outdoor spaces and create a calming environment for coaching.
Green Walls: Walls covered in living plants are becoming more common in corporate offices and can be used as a calming, nature-connected environment.
Conservatories: Indoor botanical gardens or conservatories offer lush environments year-round, even in climates where outdoor coaching is impractical.
Does Size Really Matter?
While larger, more immersive environments can provide a deeper sense of escape from urban or office life, the essential benefits of nature—stress reduction, improved focus, creativity, and emotional reflection—can still be experienced in smaller green spaces. The critical factor is the quality of the natural elements in the space, not necessarily the size. Even brief interactions with nature, such as walking through a park or sitting by a tree, can lead to positive outcomes.
The effectiveness of smaller green spaces or indoor environments may also depend on the mindset and goals of the coaching session. In sessions that require deeper reflection or strategic thinking, a larger, more secluded environment may be ideal. For more casual or focused coaching sessions, smaller urban parks or even indoor green spaces can provide the necessary elements to support the coaching process.
Nature-Based Coaching Techniques for Individual and Team Leadership
There are several ways that coaches and leaders can incorporate nature-based coaching into their practices. Here are some of the most effective techniques:
Walk and Talk Sessions: Walking alongside a coach, rather than sitting face-to-face, can create a more relaxed and open dynamic. Studies suggest that walking in natural settings helps clients process their thoughts more freely and reach conclusions faster.
Seasonal Sensory Walks: Using the senses to engage with nature—whether through the sound of leaves rustling or the smell of fresh pine—can help clients become more present and mindful. This technique is especially useful for clients who struggle with staying in the moment or focusing during coaching sessions.
Using Natural Metaphors: Nature provides endless metaphors that can help clients reflect on their leadership styles or organizational challenges. For example, a mountain might represent a seemingly insurmountable goal, while a river could symbolize the flow of teamwork.
Group Hikes for Strategic Planning: Team coaching in nature fosters collaboration and strategic thinking. Outdoor environments encourage open conversations and remove the hierarchical barriers often present in formal office settings. A team hike can also help promote trust, as team members work together to navigate the terrain.
Mindful Breathing in Natural Settings: Encouraging clients to practice mindfulness and breathing exercises in nature can help them manage stress and anxiety. The combination of fresh air and a calming environment makes these exercises particularly effective for leadership development.
Client Success Stories: Transformations Through Nature-Based Coaching
Strategic Breakthrough on a Forest Trail - A CEO who had been struggling with a major organizational restructuring found clarity during a walk through a wooded area. The act of walking through the trees reminded her of the process of navigating the complexities of her situation. By using the combination of deep questioning while exploring the forest trail, she had developed a clear, actionable plan for moving forward by the end of the session.
Team Collaboration on a Mountain Hike - A leadership team participated in a mountain hike as part of a strategic planning retreat. The natural environment encouraged open communication and the removal of silos. By the end of the hike, the team had not only developed a stronger bond but also devised a strategic plan that was more creative and forward-thinking than any previous session held indoors.
Leadership Clarity in an Urban Park - A mid-level manager struggling with decision fatigue and team communication challenges participated in a walk-and-talk coaching session in a small urban park. The combination of movement and exposure to nature, even in the confined green space, allowed him to reflect on his leadership style and the pressures he was feeling. During the session, he noticed how the natural surroundings—particularly the trees shedding their leaves—symbolized the need to let go of outdated practices. By the end of the session, he felt a renewed sense of clarity and decided to delegate tasks more effectively, improving his team's overall productivity and reducing his own stress.
Overcoming Burnout through Reflection by a River - A senior marketing executive facing burnout and stress joined me for a nature-based coaching session by a riverbank near her office. The movement of the water, along with the gentle sounds of the river flowing, helped her disconnect from what she described as the “unrelenting demands of work”. As we walked alongside the river, she reflected on the currents of the water, realizing that she had been "swimming against the current" in her professional life. This insight prompted her to re-evaluate her work-life balance and set boundaries at work to focus on activities that aligned with her values and energy. Within weeks, she noticed a significant improvement in her productivity and overall well-being.
Building Team Trust on a Forest Hike - A leadership team struggling with trust and communication participated in a team-building coaching session on a forest hike. As they navigated the trail together, they were encouraged to share their thoughts on current projects and challenges. The physical act of walking in sync through nature helped them break down barriers and foster open communication. Along the way, the team encountered natural obstacles like fallen branches and steep paths, which they had to navigate together, symbolizing the need for collaboration in the workplace. By the end of the hike, the team felt more connected and left the session with a renewed sense of trust and camaraderie.
Benefits for Organizational Leaders and Teams
For organizational leaders, nature-based coaching offers a way to engage teams in strategic, reflective, and team-building activities. By taking teams out of their usual environment, leaders can foster:
Enhanced creativity and problem-solving: The openness of natural environments encourages out-of-the-box thinking.
Stronger team dynamics: Nature-based team-building activities promote collaboration, trust, and communication.
Stress reduction and mental clarity: Engaging with nature helps teams reset and recharge, allowing them to approach challenges with fresh perspectives.
Incorporating Nature-Based Coaching into Your Leadership Practice
If you're a coach or leader looking to explore the benefits of nature-based coaching, here are some practical ways to get started:
Host regular team offsites in natural settings: Whether it’s a park, a beach, or a nature reserve, natural environments provide the perfect backdrop for strategic planning and team building.
Encourage walking meetings: Replace indoor meetings with walking meetings in a local green space to foster creativity and open communication.
Adapt to all seasons: Nature-based coaching isn’t just for sunny days. Incorporate seasonal elements or find weather protected or indoor green spaces to keep the practice going year-round.
Partner with a nature-based coach: For leaders new to this practice, hiring a coach experienced in nature-based techniques can help guide the process.
Conclusion
Nature-based coaching offers a powerful, research-backed approach to developing leadership potential and fostering team cohesion. Whether it's for individual coaching or team building, the benefits of integrating nature into the coaching process are clear: improved cognitive function, stress reduction, enhanced creativity, and stronger interpersonal connections.
As more organizations recognize the importance of well-being and creative problem-solving, nature-based coaching is emerging as a valuable tool for unlocking potential and driving success in leadership development.
About the Author
Peter L. West, the founder of West Coaching Network, brings to his clients over 30 years of experience as a senior executive, management consultant, facilitator, and leadership coach. Peter's diverse background includes experience across a range of fields, including information technology, telecommunications, customer and hospitality services, financial services, health care, human resources, independent and higher education, and non-profit management. Based in Washington, DC, he works extensively with C-Suite and Senior Executives in both public and private sector