In a recent interview for the Guardian, Ben Fogle expressed the belief that ten days in a tent in the wilderness is enough to change the outlook and management style of any businessman or woman for the better.

HE IS WRONG

Here are 3 reasons why.

# 1: I am not burnt out yet

I have a ton of stuff to get done. And so my attention needs to stay focussed on this. Action, action, action. Going outdoors, walking, camping, whatever. It’s just going to distract me with lots of sensory stimulation. And all those metaphors that will creep up and knock me on the head, tug at my heart, and mess with my spirit. Just too much opportunity for me to start seeing things differently. I have already told you what I need. Focus, focus, focus!

It’s a bit warm in here isn’t it? Or is it just me?

# 2: I don’t want any dodgy things happening to my body’s biochemistry

All this movement through natural landscapes allows spooky stuff to happen, not least a lightening of mood, and openness to fresh ideas. Have you any idea how much havoc this could play with the plans we have in place and need to execute on with an unrelenting focus? Isn’t there already enough change going on!

And another thing. I don’t need a Natural Health Service for body, heart, mind and spirit. I’m very happy with the National Health Service, thank you.

# 3: Great thinking needs comfortable surroundings

What could be better than the comfort and predictability of a hotel conference suite for creative dialogue anchored in unforgettable experiences? And all those brilliant evenings at the bar. Awesome value for money!

When I think back over the last 10 years, I can remember lots of great moments, turning points, business winning insights…… Actually, I am not sure really that I do. Hey ho. It’s about today anyway. I’ve told you before. Focus, focus, focus.

DON”T GET SUCKERED IN!

Of course, you may not be swayed by my reasoning. And maybe you’re going to give the outdoors a go regardless? Folly if you ask me!

And maybe you’re going to involve your colleagues.

Here are seven allegedly great reasons that you will probably draw on to persuade them.

I hope they don’t get suckered in.

Keep on doing what you have always done, and you’ll always get what you’ve always got

That’s what you want. Right?

Dave Stewart

Managing Director

The Fresh Air Learning Company

This is the first in a series of short blogs that add meat to our teaser paper “13 Reasons Why Your Team Probably Isn’t Very Good …”

Reason 1: An assumption of magic!

Your organisation spends big money on individuals, infrastructure, IT and change programmes.

But what attention is being paid to teams? And how stellar do they need to be?

We often come across a prevailing assumption that good stuff will somehow happen by good people just turning up.

It’s almost an assumption that magic will happen.

Of course the whole “team” concept is problematic. It is a generic term that masks different types of team, each type optimised for different times and contexts.

It can also be seductive. Teams are cool and aspirational.

And they can be full of egos. Not just the toxic kind of ego, but the straightforward and well-meaning, “I have been leading teams for 20 years. We don’t need any external support. I have it covered. But thanks for asking.”

So, who in your organisation is asking these questions?

• What is a team?
• What types are there?
• What do we need around here?
• How do we team at our very best? On a consistent basis?
• How do we stay sharp and relevant?

Back to the magic. You can do nothing and hope that good people working together will deliver good results. Yes, that can work. “Ordinary” is a safe goal to aim for.

But what is possible when you pay real attention to the philosophy and practice of teams? What happens when you move beyond the generic, beyond the cool and aspirational, beyond the masks and egos? What happens when you see teams as hubs of creativity and learning, and engines of consistently successful delivery? What happens when you invest in this belief?

Way beyond ordinary is possible!

Future blogs in this series based on “13 Reasons Why Your Team Probably Isn’t vey Good…..” will provide some tips on how to invest in your teams to help them operate at their very best on a consistent basis.

“If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.”

You may recognise the truth of this. And you probably already value a walk to clear your thoughts. But how many formed teams embrace the outdoors as a competitive source of fresh thinking, richer connections, and collective resolve?

Here are 7 great reasons to go outdoors together.

Experience

Very few executives have told us they do their best thinking in the office! Aesthetically pleasing natural environments have long been held to offer a range of therapeutic effects. A natural health service for the body, heart, mind and spirit!

Biochemistry

Our body biochemistry changes as we move through natural landscapes. Blood pressure drops, mood lightens, and self-esteem rises. We become more open to fresh ideas.

Burn-out Recovery

We have two systems of attention. One, “directed attention” is used to solve problems. This focused faculty appears to have limited capacity, and without rest can lead to “burn out”. The second, “involuntary attention” is used to maintain awareness of our environment and does not seem to deplete. Stimuli-rich natural environments can strongly engage this second form of attention so creating an opportunity for our directed attention to rest and recover.

Boundary Removal

Many of the boundaries normally encountered in the workplace limit creativity and relationship building. They do not exist in the outdoors. This can create a sense of freedom, trigger significant shifts in perspective, and enrich the nature of our conversations with one another.

Inspiring Metaphor

The outdoors is super-rich in metaphor which, with expert facilitation, can be a source of inspirational thinking, fresh meaning, revitalised relationships and a collective commitment to transformative action.

Story Creation

Powerful, lasting stories often arise from activities in the outdoors. Creatively organised and facilitated, these personally experienced and collectively constructed stories can become binding narratives for individuals, teams and organisations.

Cost Effective

Outdoor work can be highly cost-effective. Humble rural bases, communal living, simple food, and active participation in the outdoors can provide a deeper, longer lasting experience.

My phone rang.

“I’ve resigned!”

Andrew’s voice had a curiously “New Year, new me” kind of tone to it.

This is the fifth of six blogs in the mini-series about the exasperated executive and his difficult Christmas.

He had been sleeping badly. My questions had unsettled him. His walk along the beach had been a turning point.

“Dave. I’ve seen a light. Now having post-resignation doubts about whether it was THE light! The beach was great. But I need to walk and talk with others. An executive escape. A “hackathon” to clarify and simplify some of the confusing stuff running around in my head.”

We worked together and came up with this:

So what actually happened on Day 2? How does a creative walking lab, an inquiry-at-walking-pace work? Read next time when I will also summarise some of the questions and tools we used. Would be great to get your feedback on your use of them or similar ones.

A video too. Soon….

Andrew was about to admit something.

Something unsettling and game-changing.

We continue the story of the exasperated senior executive, Andrew. And how he ended up having a light bulb moment a few months later. On Day 2 of a Spring walking retreat in the Scottish Highlands.

He had been out walking. Alone.

A temporary relief from a pressured, largely indoors Christmas at the in-laws. New Year a couple of days away. And now out in the fresh air.  A near-deserted beach. Incredibly beautiful.

He called me on his mobile.

“Dave. I’m out walking. Windy as hell. But I tell you what. This wild place is making me think differently. I am not going to try and explain it because that is just the point!

“What I am noticing is that I am noticing! Really weird. Less explaining and more exploring. Does that makes sense? Bit like a rock guitarist working up some new riffs.”

“Unsettling as hell though.”

“This walk and your questions have really turned me inside out. All that stuff about activity versus achievement, and those boxes you asked me to colour in. Been eating away at me!”

“I am scared, and strangely relieved, because I think you have called my bluff as a leader. Or, you have helped me call my own bluff I should say!”

“Standing here looking out over this beach, hearing the seagulls, and feeling the wind on my face, I realise my normal horizons and senses are limited. In fact it is as if I spend all my time looking at my feet making sure my laces are tied and there is nothing on the floor to trip me up. I spend most of my time managing. Don’t I? That’s it. Isn’t it?”

“I need some help”

“A bit like sex. Alone works, but better with others.”

An unusual and encouraging flash of humour, I thought.

“Not sure I can develop this conversation with my executive team colleagues yet. It’s a trust thing I guess. Reputation. Fear. What if they’ve spotted this facade, and I am the last to realise it?”

I wished him a Happy New Year and said I would get back with some ideas.

To be continued…

Dave Stewart

Managing Director, The Fresh Air Learning Company

I haven’t yet met a business leader who doesn’t want space to think, bounce ideas off other people, find new energy, and get clear and confident about how to deal with one or more key issues.

Some achieve this leadership routine effortlessly. Some are simply drowning in operational management issues. Seemingly unaware of, or unable to engage effectively with complexity.

For sure, some form of sensing-thinking-decision-action cycle whirs away continuously.

But there is a frustration around how well complex situations are made sense of, the quality of reflection and creative dialogue required, and the nature of the decisions that ensue. Let alone poor implementation and learning.

And all the while the constant clunky knocking of a poor “big issue” process just grinds leaders down.

And a bow wave of poorly thought out and implemented decisions sucks the heart and spirit out of everyone.

Stuff gets less simple, less clear, less fun, more difficult, more complex, more knackering. And family life gets tougher too.

Some leaders have great personal coping mechanisms and networks, and some organisations use away days to create some top-team leadership space.

I am interested in the benefits of a different kind of space, one that delivers rest and recuperation as well as energy, clarity and resolve. And so I want to know how these short clauses resonate with you. I am also fascinated by what gets in the way of discharging a pretty basic requirement of self-care and wider leadership.

So, will you walk with me if…

• You are a business leader
• Looking for space to breathe
• To think, explore, to plan
• To laugh
• And invest some time
• To journey through wild landscape
• Full of beauty, full of stories
• Inspiring and energising
• A different resting place each night
• Comfortable, sometimes quirky
• Wine and wifi, if so desired.
• Themed conversations. You decide.
• Like-minded select companions and inspirational visitors
• Walking alone, or in company
• Mind, body, heart and spirit. All fired up.
• Safe and supported
• Space and pace to simplify and clarify
• And have some fun

What will stop you? What is needed to get a “yes!”?

Will you help me co-design and participate in a pilot in the UK?

Thanks.

Dave Stewart

Managing Director, The Fresh Air Learning Company

I need your thoughts on walking, wifi, wine and wildnerness.

Where and how do you do your best thinking?

I mean how wide, how deep, how reflective, how useful?

Alone?

Or in company, building successive insights through creative dialogue?

For me it is a blend of walking in wild places, with other people, over a number of days. But not so wild that I can’t access some wine and wifi in the evening, and not so “groupy” that I can’t walk alone with my thoughts if I want to.

Four Ws. Walking, Wifi, Wine, and Wilderness.

Five Ws, if I include With others.

Do you know what it takes for you to let go and think at your best?

How often do you let yourself do this?

Or are you a hamster wheel expert? Full of motion but no real movement? Full of activity but no real achievement?

Next week I am walking the top end of the West Highland Way. Bridge of Orchy to Fort William for those who are interested. Rich scenery, rich history, rich culture. Three days. A casual, easily doable pace.

Guaranteed to deliver. Motion and movement. Activity and achievement. Relaxation and inspiration. Connection and flow.

Connection through the squelch and crunch of boot on path, the cool caress of clean clear air, the songs of mountain streams and curlews, the aroma of a peat fire. Connection through walking and talking with others, on the move and later over food and wine. And a wider virtual connection with friends over wifi.

An immersive experience that fires up body, mind, heart and spirit.

It works for me. And those clients who carve out the time to step off the hamster wheel and into quite a different thnking space.

So, three questions:

• Do you know how to think?
• What are the ingredients – your five “W”s – that help you do this?
• How do you make this a regular part of your life?

As an end-piece, can you identify some of these special places?

Dave Stewart

Managing Director, The Fresh Air Learning Company