Table of Contents

PRELIMS

• Foreword by Neil Reynolds, Mars Inc
• What you will find in this book

MAIN CONTENT

PART 1 – Setting the Scene

• About the author and introduction
• A brief orientation to coaching in general
• What is coaching outdoors?

& Coaching outdoors in the context of other types of coaching

Why has Coaching Outdoors become Topical?

• Why has being outdoors become so talked about now – a comment on society today
• Today’s business world
• Covid-19
• Peter Hawkins challenge

Benefits from Being Outdoors

• The evolutionary human connection with nature
• Benefits of being outside
• Positive effects of nature
• Research into walking outside and coaching and walking

PART 2 – Getting Started

Choosing the Right Location

The differences between extreme adventures, hill walking and a walk in the park

• City, rural, office grounds
• Where to go, what is appropriate and what isn’t?
• What practicalities need to be considered?
• Green space/blue space research
• ACTIVITY - Self-coaching walk

Contracting

• What’s different to indoors?
• What do I need to include?
• ACTIVITY - Practice with a client

Weather

• Where’s your comfort zone?
• Where’s your clients comfort zone?
• ACTIVITY – Self-exploration walk

Kit

• What to wear
• What to take
• ACTIVITY – Self-exploration walk/Reflection exercise

Psychological Safety

• Considerations
• How locations can support a variety of issues
• ACTIVITY – Plan for a client session & re-tweak contract if necessary

Give it a Go

• ACTIVITY – Prompt to give it a go in a client session & reflect

PART 3 – The Circle of Benefits

Benefits for the Coachee

• Space
• Perspective
• Creativity
• Presence
• Side by side

Benefits for the Coach

• Nature as Co-facilitator/The Evoked Companion
• Speed of connection
• Depth of conversation
• Presence
• Bravery

Benefits for the Organization

• Making the business case
• Overcoming resistance
• Wellbeing/Resilience
• A new way of working for faster results
• Longevity of impact
• It’s all about how you introduce it

Benefits for the Planet

• It all starts with our relationship with nature
• Personal responsibility
• Personal choice

PART 4 – Who am I to Coach Outdoors?

Your purpose

• ACTIVITY – Self-Coaching & Journaling

Your personal outdoor practice

• Model for time outdoors

Your outdoor coaching practice

• ACTIVITY – Elevator pitch

PART 5 – Nature as Co-Facilitator

Opportunities for The Coach – Making the most of the outside environment

• More than just taking the worksheet outside

Nature as a mirror

• Stories and examples
• ACTIVITY

Metaphor

• Stories and examples
• ACTIVITY

Constellations

• Stories and examples
• ACTIVITY

Seasons

• Stories and examples
• ACTIVITY

Give it a Go

• Trust your intuition
• ACTIVITY – Prompt to give it a go in a client session & reflect

PART 6 – Teams & Remote Work

Working Outdoors with Teams

• What is the difference to working with an individual?
• What to be aware of
• Opportunities for teams/team coaches
• Stories and examples

Working Remotely with Nature

• Over the phone
• Over computer
• (including examples, ideas and top tips)

PART 7 – Final Thoughts

The Future of Coaching Outdoors

Conclusion

• Coaching Outdoors is accessible and multi-beneficial for most and appropriate for many, brining benefits to both coach, client and organization.

END MATTER

Appendices

• Sample map of an outdoor space for coaching
• Check-list of things to inform client about
• Check-list of things to bring; coach and client
• List of ideas for working with nature indoors
• Risk Assessment form

Acknowledgements

References

Coaching Outdoors offers a journey of professional development, personal development and enriched wellbeing.

Coaching Outdoors supports practitioners to step outside and make the most of what nature can offer the coach, client, organisation and planet.
It contains essential practical advice and activities, together with engaging case studies and research – all laid out in an accessible and logical format.

Discover how to:

• Articulate the benefits of coaching outdoors from a place of experience
• Contract for psychological safety outdoors
• Find resources in nature
• Collaborate with nature as a coaching co-facilitator
• Engage with nature when working remotely with clients

Coaching Outdoors is the first handbook specifically on the value of coaching with nature. It is an invitation to leave the fast-paced, technology-focused world and reconnect with what really matters, in an environment where we were born to thrive.

LESLEY ROBERTS BEd, MSc is an executive coach and adventurer who has been coaching outdoors since 1999. Her academic research focused on how nature can support coach and client. After 16 years with Mars Inc she founded Brave Conversations, working with global teams and individuals to unlock their potential. In 2019 she founded Coaching Outdoors to bring the benefits of partnering with nature to as many people as possible.

‘A unique and valuable adjunct to coaching literature for coaches, line-man- agers and leaders.’
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark

‘There is growing evidence for the benefits of working in and with nature in the field of human development. This timely book offers a comprehensive guide to coaching outdoors, from contract through to completion. Packed with vignettes and suggestions, it supports the coach to invite nature to enhance their practice.’
Professor Charlotte Sills

‘This book is an expression of everything that is Lesley; a remarkable, dedicated woman. She is a challenging, provocative facilitator of growth and learning. A lover of nature and the outdoors with a brave heart whose capacity allows her to take others to their edge. She has unfolded all of this through her writing for you to unlock your potential to coach with nature.’
Sue Knight, NLP Master Trainer and Author of NLP at Work

‘If you even needed confirmation that coaching outdoors provided tangible, measurable outcomes, this book gives you just that, along with practical suggestions on “how to”. Great advice for coaches and organisations.’
Alysoun Sturt-Scobie, Human Resource Practitioner, Coach and Mediator

‘Coaching Outdoors is groundbreaking. It lands the whole outdoor coaching concept for coaches and line managers alike. The gravitas of what Coaching Outdoors can offer is found not only through the evidence and stories shared, but through the personal journey the reader takes when they engage in each of the beautifully crafted activities.’
Barry Chamberlain, CEO

‘Highly practical, well researched and beautifully written. Ideal for anyone wishing to take coaching conversations outdoors for the first time, or to deepen their existing outdoor coaching practice. The author’s depth of knowledge is clear and authentic. She role models coaching in what she offers to the reader.’
Sam Eddleston, Clear Focus Coaching & Development

‘Lesley demonstrates the compelling rationale for outdoor coaching through combining empirical evidence with personal experience and testimonials. The practical tips, advice and exercises make it a very useful resource for those wanting to take their coaching conversations outdoors. The book is authentic; I love the way Lesley’s energy and enthusiasm are translated into text – not easy to do! The sharing of personal experiences adds a further degree of texture.’
Professor Neil Guha, Nottingham University

‘A wonderful unique and thought-provoking resource for anyone interested in taking coaching conversations outdoors. Lesley writes with an engaging informality that speaks to the reader and makes this an easy read. Coaching Outdoors is packed with research, useful information, coaching methods and real-life examples. e layout is clear and accessible and it is so helpful to have many di erent strands gathered together in one place. si will be invaluable for so many people. It is exactly what has been needed in the outdoor coaching space.’
Hannah Vertigen, Coach, Clear Air Coaching

‘Coaching Outdoors is a wonderful toolkit of the best ideas, experiences and research I’ve come across to help us invite nature into our coaching conver- sations whilst also appreciating and nurturing our planet. It’s beautifully written by Lesley, whose passion and expertise in this area come through in the evocative and insightful vignettes, provocations and activities to support both the coach and coachee. Whether you are a professional coach, just starting on the coaching journey, a line manager or want to coach yourself, I highly recommend this book.’
Sam Clarke, Coach and Trainer, Believe in You Ltd

‘This book is rich and comprehensive, leaving no stone unturned. Lesley has a lovely easy readable style coupled with a great structure which is simple and easy to follow. She uses descriptions and stories which bring examples to life and really provoke the imagination.’
Helen Daniel, Coach