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Group of people walking through woods
Outdoor coaching benefits: Why getting outside changes the conversation

This blog explores the outdoor coaching benefits I’ve seen first-hand during recent coaching walks.

There’s something about being outdoors that shifts how people think. You can feel it as soon as you step away from the office: the pace changes, the pressure drops, and conversations open up in a way they rarely do across a meeting table.  As an experienced Leadership and Executive Coach I am always looking for ways in which to improve my clients experiences and can see how coaching outdoor could be a real game changer.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been running trial outdoor coaching walks, and the feedback has been clear — being outside doesn’t just feel good, it genuinely changes the quality of thinking, confidence and connection. These are the outdoor coaching benefits that keep coming up again and again.

A benefit to outdoor coaching being in nature. Photo shows group of people walking through trees next to canal.

 

🌱 Why being outdoors helps people think better

UK research backs up many of the outdoor coaching benefits people experienced on the walks.

There’s strong UK evidence showing that nature and movement have a measurable impact on how we think and feel:

  • Clearer thinking: Studies from the University of Exeter’s BlueHealth and GreenMind programmes show that spending time in natural environments improves attention, working memory and cognitive restoration. People reported significantly better ability to concentrate after even short periods outdoors.
  • Better mood and reduced stress: Natural England’s People and Nature Survey found that 90% of adults say being in nature helps them relax, and over 80% say it improves their mood. Regular contact with green space is linked to lower stress, better emotional regulation and improved overall wellbeing.

In coaching terms: people access different parts of themselves outdoors. They slow down, open up, and think more freely.

 

🚶 What people said during the walks so far

The feedback from the trial sessions was honest, generous and incredibly useful. A few themes stood out.

1. Conversations felt more relaxed and more honest

One person said:

“Some of the things that were said I don’t think could be said in a static office environment… I felt like the whole experience was a more relaxed way of communicating.”

Walking side by side removes the intensity of eye contact and the “performance” of sitting opposite someone. People described feeling stretched, supported and able to say things they’d normally hold back, a clear outdoor coaching benefit.

2. Confidence increased through movement

Most people felt confident taking part, and several said the walking itself helped:

“There is no eye contact, so it’s less challenging… I have the best conversations with my 17‑year‑old in the car which is similar — side by side, looking forward.”

Movement creates psychological safety. It’s easier to talk when you’re not being “looked at”.

3. The dynamic of walking changed how people approached problems

One participant said:

“Understanding the dynamic of talking about problems when walking… that whole dynamic made it easier.”

People found themselves offering insights, asking braver questions, and exploring issues more openly than they would indoors.

4. Psychological safety was high, but familiarity helped

Because the group already knew each other, safety was strong. But people were honest about the difference strangers might make:

“Psychological safety was fine because we all know and trust each other. Don’t know how that would work with a stranger.”

This is where a short “netwalking” warm‑up can help, a gentle walk to settle nerves, build rapport and ease people into the conversation.

5. The structure worked, but clarity helps

The stop and reflect moments were valuable, though one person admitted:

“When we first stopped at that bridge I did have a stomach‑tightening ‘what the heck is this’ moment… but once we got into it, it was really cool.”

Clear expectations at the start help people relax into the flow.

6. The impact was strong and immediate

group of people paused on bridge reflecting on how the environment supports their thinking. Another benefit of outdoor coaching as this photo shows a moment of connection and focus.

Every participant said they were very likely to apply something from the session in the following week.

And the recommendation score? 10 out of 10.

One piece of feedback was particularly meaningful:

“I thought you were outstanding… You really demonstrated how good you were. I can see you taking this into big businesses and making a difference.”

 
 

 

🌤 What outdoor coaching offers that a meeting room doesn’t

These are some of the most consistent outdoor coaching benefits people described:

  • Perspective: Walking helps people step back from the daily grind.
  • Energy: Movement shifts stuck thinking.
  • Connection: People bond differently outdoors.
  • Honesty: Side by side conversations feel safer.
  • Focus: Nature helps the brain reset.
  • Momentum: Moving forward physically supports moving forward mentally.

It’s not “just a walk”, it’s a different environment that unlocks different thinking.

 

🌳 Who outdoor coaching works well for

A group of people stood looking at camera in woods. A benefit of coaching outdoors is walking side by side.Outdoor coaching is particularly powerful for:

  • leaders who feel overloaded or stuck
  • people preparing for a big conversation or decision
  • teams who need to reconnect or think differently
  • anyone who wants clarity, confidence or a reset
  • groups who normally meet around the same table every week and feel entrenched

One participant put it perfectly:

“Just walking together gives a different physical perspective that changes the mindset.”

 

🌼 How I run outdoor coaching

Each walk is designed to be simple, calm and purposeful:

  • a gentle pace
  • a clear focus or question
  • space to think, not just talk
  • moments to pause and reflect
  • a practical takeaway at the end

Outdoor coaching shouldn’t feel like a workshop. It should feel like a conversation that helps you breathe, think and move forward.

 

🌻 Final thought

Being outdoors changes how people think. It creates space for honesty, clarity and new ideas. The trial walks showed that people open up more, think differently and feel more confident when they’re moving.

Outdoor coaching isn’t a gimmick, it’s a shift in environment that unlocks a shift in mindset.

If you’re curious about the outdoor coaching benefits for yourself or your team, the simplest way to understand them is to experience a walk – there are several ways in which you can join;

  1. Join us for a public walk in Cheshire at Tatton Park on the morning of 7th October 2026 using link below.
  2. If you are an organisation wishing to run a guided coaching walk for your team or perhaps clients as a business development event, please get in touch
  3. If you are a Warrington Chamber member, we are working in partnership  with them to bring an afternoon guided coaching walk in Lymm Cheshire on 21st September 26, booking link below.
Click here for walk info

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