Why Smart Executives Are Taking Their Coaching Sessions Outside
Originally published in 2014, this article has been updated and refreshed for 2025 to reflect current insights on leadership, personal development, and the evolving role of nature-based practices in our rapidly changing world.
Picture executive coaching and most of us still imagine leather chairs, boardrooms, or that classic therapist's office setup. It's a tired old stereotype, but one that reflects how most professional development still happens—indoors, static, removed from the world where we actually live and work.
For over 15 years now, Walking Coach® has been quietly revolutionising this approach, and finally, the rest of the world is catching up.
The Movement That's Moving Leaders
The evidence keeps mounting. We're sitting ourselves into poor health, spending more time planted in chairs than we do sleeping. Our sedentary work culture isn't just making us physically unwell—it's stifling our ability to think creatively and lead effectively.
A few years ago, Nifoler Merchant's influential TED talk on walking meetings captured something many executives were already sensing: that some of our best thinking happens when we're moving. While her message might not be brand new anymore, it's proven to have real staying power because the underlying truth remains unchanged.
Walking meetings aren't just healthier—they're often more creative, more honest, and surprisingly more productive than their boardroom counterparts.
Why Movement Unlocks Leadership Potential
There's something profound that happens when you step out of the office environment with its familiar power dynamics, interruptions, and ingrained patterns. In my own experience of working and walking with executives since 2002, I've witnessed time and again how the simple act of walking and being outside transforms the quality of coaching conversations.
Away from the conference room, hierarchies naturally flatten. Without the barrier of a desk between us, communication becomes more direct and authentic. The gentle rhythm of walking seems to unlock insights that remained stubbornly hidden in traditional settings.
This isn't just feel-good theory. Movement increases blood flow to the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for executive function—literally the part of your brain you rely on for strategic thinking, decision-making, and complex problem-solving.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Challenges
Walking as a tool for deep thinking isn't new. Throughout history, our greatest thinkers—from Aristotle to Darwin, from Thoreau to Einstein—have recognised walking as essential to their creative process. They understood intuitively what neuroscience now confirms: that movement and fresh air create optimal conditions for breakthrough thinking.
In our hyperconnected age, this becomes even more crucial. As Richard Louv argued in The Nature Principle, "The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need." For executives drowning in digital overwhelm, stepping into natural spaces isn't just refreshing—it's strategically smart.
What Actually Happens in a Walking Coaching Session
Sceptical executives often wonder if coaching can be as rigorous and focused outdoors as it is in an office. The answer is absolutely yes—often more so.
Walking sessions are just as structured and intentional as indoor coaching, but with added benefits that no boardroom can provide. The change of environment naturally shifts perspective. Physical movement helps process complex emotions and decisions. The absence of technology and familiar distractions allows for deeper concentration on what really matters.
I've watched senior leaders solve problems during a single walking session that had stumped them for months in traditional meetings. There's something about the combination of movement, fresh air, and skilled coaching that creates uniquely fertile ground for breakthrough insights.
The Compound Benefits of Regular Walking Practice
While even a single walking coaching session can be transformative, the real magic happens when walking becomes a regular part of how you approach challenges and development. Over time, clients consistently report:
Sharper decision-making: Regular walking literally rewires your brain for better executive function
Enhanced creativity: Solutions emerge naturally when you're not forcing them in a stuffy office
Improved emotional regulation: Physical movement helps process stress and maintain perspective
Stronger relationships: Walking side-by-side naturally builds trust and openness
Increased energy and presence: You return from sessions feeling recharged rather than drained
These aren't just nice-to-have perks for busy executives—they're competitive advantages that compound over time.
Ready to Take Your Leadership Development Outside?
If you're tired of coaching sessions that feel like just another meeting, if you're seeking more creative solutions to complex challenges, or if you simply recognise that your best thinking doesn't happen sitting still—it might be time to lace up your boots and take a walk.
The natural world offers a different kind of boardroom, one where fresh insights are as abundant as fresh air, and where movement creates momentum in both thinking and action.
Curious about how walking coaching could transform your leadership approach? Discover more about my coaching philosophy or get in touch to explore what's possible.
A Simple First Step
You don't need to revolutionise your entire approach overnight. Start small: try taking your next difficult phone call while walking, or suggest a walking meeting for your next brainstorming session. Notice how differently you think and communicate when you're moving.
The path to better leadership might literally be a path—one that leads away from the office and into the open air where your clearest thinking is waiting to emerge.