Corporate Coaching Programmes

Are you looking for an innovative new tool in your coaching and wellbeing arsenal?  

Taking employees outside to deliver coaching and wellbeing programmes can bring immense benefits and achieve results quicker than working in the office. Connecting with nature is wonderful at breaking down barriers and opening us up to finding creative solutions to many of the issues we face.

Mind and Body Walking provides an wide variety of initiatives for corporations, involving the outdoors, which work well for individual coaching and team work projects.

The benefits of doing coaching and wellbeing programmes outside

The benefits of coaching and wellbeing programmes are well documented and understood. These benefits can be manifold when the experiences happen outside, in a safe, supportive environment. 

Traditional coaching usually takes places indoors, sat down, confined within the traditional four walls of an office. Outdoors coaching immediately brings the benefits of movement, nature and different dynamics of walking speed to the coaching relationship which opens the conversations up.

The benefits of outdoor coaching fall broadly within four main areas:

• Physical – movement and being able to change your pace as you walk opens up conversations, 
• Mental – the mental health benefits of being outside such as relaxing, reducing stress and slowing our brain down,
• Nature – the sights, smells and sounds of being connected to nature reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels and are immune boosting, and
• Creativity – other parts of the brain open up stimulating creativity and new ways of doing things.

For corporations these benefits translate into:

• tangible quality outputs with a positive return on investment, 
• a more resilient workforce with improved psychological and physical wellbeing,
• achieving results quicker than if the programme was delivered in the office, 
• a cascade of benefits through the organisation, and
• more candid conversations which reach the heart of issues much faster.

Additional points to consider with Outdoor Coaching and Wellbeing Programmes

Safety  There are additional risks with working outdoors which need mitigating for. The coaching team need to ensure that they have properly planned and prepared for these risks with a robust risk assessment, route and day plan. Many other factors need to be considered such as the physical capabilities of the individuals or group, the weather, the terrain, the kit, daylight hours and potential hazards. 

All coaches and walk leaders with Mind and Body Walking are qualified with the Mountain Training Association for the planned terrain. Comprehensive personal risk assessments are carried out with each person being required to complete one of our Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaires (PARQ). We do not leave the car park unless we are sure that everything is in place to keep the activity as safe as possible.

Privacy  It is important that the individuals and teams being coached feel that the environment is private. Our team take every care to ensure that conversations of a sensitive nature happen in safe and private areas where they will not be over heard.  We recce all routes and plan where each activity will happen ahead of time, choosing routes and locations where we will have space without being disturbed,

The Coaching / Therapy line  It is important to understand where the line is between Coaching and Therapy. We are fortunate to have Dr David Fong, an eminent Clinical Psychologist and Outdoor Coach on our team. He is there to advise and support. All of our team are at least Mental Health First Aiders and are trained to assess if someone is being “triggered” within one of our sessions. They know what to do in these instances and how to provide signposting for further support.

What are the barriers to outdoor coaching?

Outdoor coaching can be a unnerving concept for some people, but most barriers are relatively easily overcome by the benefits and a bit of planning and reassurance. The main issues are:

• The British Weather – most days can be accommodated easily with the right clothing. We often use the weather as a metaphor which can be incredibly useful. It is rare that we would cancel or postpone a day due to the weather. Safety is our prime consideration though.
• Equipment – this very much depends on where the coaching is going to take place. Most days in the UK do involve a bit of rain so waterproofs, warm hat, gloves and boots appropriate to the terrain we are walking on are important. We will check that you have enough kit for the duration of our walk and our instructors always carry essentials such as First Aid Kit, shelters, spare warm clothing, emergency food and drink supplies and map and compass. 
• Time to travel to a location – we work with clients to find the best locations and time for them. City parks are useful but we can also get benefit from a trip to the Peak District or Brecon Beacons. Planning and commitment in advance will solve this
• Physical capabilities – many people are worried that they may not be able to do the walks we suggest. We only plan walks which are well within the clients’ capabilities which includes accommodating for physical disability and wheelchair users too. We ensure our outdoor coaching is accessible to all.     

MInd and Body Walkings’ Corporate Programmes

Our Corporate Programme falls within 4 broad areas which are detailed below and on their linked pages. However, we do spend time listening to our clients’ requirements and if we feel that a different type of project would be best served to meet your needs we will suggest that. Many clients’ benefit from a bespoke suite of programmes which are completely tailored to specific needs.

121 Coaching Programmes – tailored coaching for individuals to help them to achieve their potential in their career or personal life. 

Team and Group Coaching –  supporting teams to become high performing.

Innovation Walks – using nature and coaching to unleash creativity, stimulating innovation and problem solving. 

Wellbeing Walks – when the team needs rejuvenating, give them a boost with the power of nature.