Nature as portal to leadership

During my first trail, in 2015, I described natural leadership for myself in a poem that I gave the title ‘Holding the Space’, a phrase that Boy van Droffelaar, one of the facilitators, used at one point.

Holding the space
An eagle left his tree perch, 
to fly to me
and circle around – three times,
floating on winds I could not see.
He beckoned: 
this is how leadership should be 

Leading like the eagle is leading from what I am, deep inside. Only that helps me lead the organisations I work for to achieve the impact they stand for. Leading myself in this way also keeps me connected to that ‘deep inside’. In this way I can also maintain what is needed to be a better husband, father, son, brother, etc. The eagle has an eye on everything important. He floats above the fray but is not detached. He dives down to Earth if needed and then does what is required. But he does not stay there. He is connected with his surroundings. But not caught up in them. He is. 

For me natural leadership is ubuntu. Sharing one’s humanity. When humanness is not shared organisations and communities derail. They lose impact or start having adverse impact. Sharing one’s humanity does not mean we all become tree huggers. It does not mean eternal harmony. What it does mean for me is constantly and honestly looking at who I am, what my motives are, and what my actions mean. It also means sharing that with others. That sharing, which can be done in many ways, is also essential. Organisations in which natural leadership is cherished and developed are more sustainable and have more impact. I have experienced that myself. If my motives were fuzzy or half-honest, if I did not dare admit that I was unsure, if I walked away from something I feared, things did not go as well as they might have. My best decisions where taken when I was connected to my natural leadership. 

I believe that you can only really connect with the other person if you really connect with yourself. If you do so, it also becomes clear that there is a huge potential in personal growth for every person. It's a great privilege to guide people and teams in the often long and winding road within. I guide peacefully but with energy, with humor and gravity. At all times always connected.

Natural leadership for me is also all about connection: with your self, with the other and with our source. 

For me going on trail for the first time in 2009 in Africa has made a big impact on my life. Real connection with my heart, nature meets nature. Taking nothing with me but myself I experienced deep feelings of belonging. In that big space I found my own space. After all these years I can still clearly remember very specific moments when questions where answered and I received true insights on how to follow my own path. I have been on several trails both as facilitator and participant and every time it has been a big present and a personal investment. I see the tremendous power nature has in mirroring our personal strengths and weaknesses so we get to know our self intensely. Becoming the leader of our own life and in doing so being able to lead others. Not by creating followers but in creating other leaders.

For me, Natural Leadership is knowing what my essence is and acting accordingly. By being natural, I am an instrument for transforming people and businesses into their true nature.

Natural Leadership means to me: acting from within and connecting with the core of myself. Connecting my head, heart and belly. Natural Leadership inspires me to connect with other people and with all living creatures on this planet. From this perspective I like to contribute to a better world.

Natural Leadership in the business environment helps us to focus on relevant issues in the here and now. We do not just live in a time that is experiencing changes; we live in a changing time, period. That new era demands, among others things, authenticity, dialogue, a balance in female and male values, respect for People, Planet and Profit and a place for the soul, which is the source of our real meaning, inspiration and innovation.

For me, Natural Leadership in my professional life means staying open to all experiences, using my positive nature to stay present even though a challenge seems to be too big, listening to people around me and above all staying connected and finding the opportunities right in front of me. In my personal life, Natural Leadership is about how I take care of myself, my family and especially how I live my life enjoying all the big and smaller things.

I firmly believe that Natural Leadership has great impact on our businesses and society. People who are connected to others and can tap into their personal world are – in my view- able to bring more to the professional arena. It’s where power meets compassion and understanding, where great things happen.

Nature is the purest form of existence.  It moves slowly, in seasons and is consistant and reliable. For me, Natural Leadership is the ability to connect with this purity and untangle life. The vagaries of nature make me feel alive, find strength and peace. It forces my consciousness to open and it unlocks the full potential of body and mind. Nature is my perfect mirror.

In this hectic, digital and urbanized world, as humans we have created a new enemy; our disability to stop thinking. To let our body and mind optimally function, we must slow down and bring consciousness back in our lives and organizations. Natural Leadership provides the connection with nature to bring back the essence. This is the opportunity to recalibrate life and find purpose.

Natural Leadership allows me to operate from a deeper consciousness through self-concept clarity and presence, i.e. attending others with pure intention.

Contemporary challenges, such as increasing pace of change, uncertainty, complexity and mistrust call for a shift in leaders’ mind-set, more than educating competences, i.e. skills, abilities (skill-set).  Yet, how leaders’ shift of mind-set, that is, (re-) discovering one's authentic roots or inner self, can possibly be achieved remains questionable.

Leadership transformation toward Natural Leadership is advocated as a desirable shift that responds to today’s leadership challenges. Especially spending time in nature could act as a trigger event that could foster authentic (natural) leadership.

“The study’s findings demonstrate that a nature-based training pro­gram can increase authentic (natural) leadership. Immersion in wilderness is possibly conducive to change in leadership style, and could be considered as a strategy for fostering leadership change.”

                                               (Journal of Leadership Studies; Van Droffelaar & Jacobs, 2018)

Natural Leadership means for me: connecting people with themselves and with each other through Nature. Oneness!
Natural Leadership is my passion and my inspiration, It should be the new standard in corporate life: leadership by connection!

Every time I am impressed by the wisdom that nature reflects us. Nature inspires me to connect with my heart, with my inner compass, which gives direction in taking the lead in work and private life. It invites me to be honest, show vulnerability and connect with my dreams. For me, natural leadership is about really seeing each other and acknowledging that everyone is part of a bigger picture. The uniqueness AND connectedness are so tangible.

In addition, there can be all kinds of issues that can’t be solved with our own beliefsystem. Nature helps to open up to answers that you haven’t thought of yourself or that you are already aware of as ‘soft whispers’. Natural leadership is about daring to be more quiet, enduring unanswered questions, opening your senses, so that the movement that is needed can present itself.

In my work I really enjoy to work with this kind of themes. I like to invite people to open up, develop sensitivity and trust on their inner kompas.

Natural Leadership means for me to be yourself and to live in connection with your environment.

Stop repeating. Learn and Start making new connections and finding future-proof solutions. I see people and organizations as living organisms that are constantly changing and connecting with their environment. It is time to use our creativity to redesign our way of working with Natural Leadership, and natural cycles are an 'obvious' starting point. We are, after all, part of Nature!

Natural leadership to me is a state of being. Being one with nature in all its beauty. Being yourself without hesitation or restriction. Being close to your feelings and tuned in on your surrounding, sensing the natural system which you are a part of. Professionally it helps to sense and seize emerging opportunities as they arise.

Natural leadership can have a great impact. In a business’s sense it helps to presence what an individual, team or organization needs. It helps you to sense forward, instead of looking back. In society it helps to have sustainable impact.

For me, Natural Leadership is a general feeling of operating from a continuously increasing level of consciousness. It is being present and reacting to situations out of curiosity and not out of fear. It is about taking time to reflect and to listen to my own inner voice. Acting with courage in uncertain situations and being comfortable with myself. It touches both my professional and personal life.

I believe that, when we allow Natural Leadership in our lives and business, we operate more on a basis of mutual understanding, respect, energy, enthusiasm, creativity, commitment and endurance and less on fear, judgement and cynicism. This allows business to prosper in an ever-changing world.

 To me Natural Leadership is to surrender to life. To keep my heart open, while life burns away what is not true. It requires courage and an open attitude to let life flow freely through me. For me nothing more liberating and impactful than that.

The trails in Africa have taught me the lessons of Nature. They have strengthened my professional life by enabling me to work on and make a contribution to issues that matter, given my competences and strengths. I have learnt that Natural Leadership re-connects business with society at large. It shows that businesses are also part of the ecosystem that we all belong to and are not isolated entities. It enables businesses to take responsibility for mitigating their negative impact on society and our planet. Natural Leadership can inspire businesses to create a positive impact whilst safeguarding their own sustainable future.’  

Elfrieke van Galen is an entrepreneur at TheRockGroup, specialising in sustainability and innovation through consultancy, venturing and education. She has held several non-executive positions in a diverse range of companies.

Natural leadership in my personal life and professional life is to me to become really ME. Nature is a wonderful mirror and learns you lessons that every action has a consequence. It’s all related.  Making use of all my senses leads to use the wisdom that’s inside and the lessons in nature have given me the confidence that this power is the engine and food how to lead my life.

Natural Leadership creates impact because it’s all about authenticity and believing. That’s not a technique about using leadership styles it’s about being  really you. Being the example, connecting with others, using the energy positively and facilitating. These ingredients lead to development, better performance, strengthening of company cultures and in the end a better world.

For me in November 2019, I learned the wilderness is the best possible mirror that helps met get in touch with my inner feeling, my intuition, the real me. The wilderness trail therefore is a truly unique experience. The first couple of days you let go of everything. In a very natural way awareness of your behaviour increases, and importantly of what holds your back. Your fears, what your are ashamed for, what your are uncertain about. Vulnerability in a group without ego’s is the best platform to get it all on the table, and most of all: to let go and leave it behind in the wilderness. The silence during long walks, the encounters with animals, writing (journaling), campfire dialogue and listening: they provide the path to really get to your inner feeling, to the source, who you really are. Ubuntu is the result: Being more in touch with yourself, being more connected with others. This goes hand in hand. It’s very powerful to next see your live unfold differently, unexpectedly. Let synchonicity do its work. A one week intervention … a stepping stone to more happiness, for the step towards more natural, authentic and therefore more successful leadership. My name is Robert Spieker, I am a partner with transformation specialist IG&H. For 25 years, I coach, challenge, develop leaderships teams towards higher business performance. Vulnerability, open-mindedness and compassion is what defines me as a facilitator and person. Do you want to make step? 

Nature facilitates the (re)connection with your inner wisdom, brings your
passion and purpose to the surface, so you can live your life to its full potential.

The trail itself is a great in-depth personal experience, joined by a few selected others, miraculously brought together on the same path. It is a profound journey which brings out your authenticity and a deep truth of knowing about what it is all about.

Natural leadership enables us to impact our businesses and lives, through the choices we make, in a valuable way, and to lead our community into a sustainable future.

Natural Leadership means to me to be in deep contact with myself. That sounds simple and in fact is not that difficult once you know how to stay away from all disturbing noises and to make my decisions in life based on the feeling in my gut (my basis). Both in my professional and/or personal life.

By making the connection to our deep self, we can make a contribution to the already changing social and business environment. Just by having faith in the purpose of life and process of synchronicity. 

Being out there in Africa, being one with Nature, I experienced the -inner- aspects of Leadership. Feeling on a deeper level helps me to stay connected with who I am during life as it changes day by day.  It brought me clarity about mind and being, and what authenticity really means. For me Natural Leadership is about being humble and taking responsibility for life in general. To use intuition, your own inner sources, is very powerful and peaceful at the same moment. 

Natural Leadership will have impact on our society and on the way we are doing mutual business with each other, by connecting with our true motivations, by building trust and respect, and by getting alignment about how to move forward in this changing world. By noticing the true nature of things, I think we are able to live from our heart and able to contribute to issues that really matter for ourselves and matter for others.

The concept of Natural Leadership makes me more aware of my presence in my professional and personal lives. It makes me both humble and proud to feel that I belong to something that we call the Universe. Walking in the wilderness - in silence and without my cell phone or tablet – gave me inspiration and energy, just by being there. Paying respect to Nature triggered feelings of respect for the environment, wildlife, human beings and ultimately myself. It’s the connection with Nature that gives scope for thoughts and feelings. And expressing those feelings in the safe environment of councils enhances my self-awareness. Listening at a deeper, natural level to someone’s story helps me serve my clients and my colleagues in my capacity as a lawyer and a business mediator. That attitude towards service provokes surprising sharing sessions with colleagues as well as lasting and inspiring friendships. And, last but not least: Natural Leadership makes me aware of the opportunities as a husband and as a father. Every day is a new day, and it is up to me to make that day.’
 
Natural Leadership creates an impact on our businesses and our society because it focuses on the connection with the deeper inner-self of leaders. Not only leaders in a traditional corporate environment but also leaders in settings like public organisations, sports clubs and families. Making a connection with Nature ultimately means: making a connection with yourself, with your own vulnerability, desires, concerns and opportunities, and showing the same to your colleagues. Not only by doing but also by simply being: ‘trust the process, the result will come’ is an important mantra. It’s a combination of public service and inspiring leadership – with Nature as the source and the storyteller. A participant of an FNL trail and CEO of a multinational once said: ‘It helped me to change our business from a rule-based company into a principle-based company.’

Our programmes are always facilitated by former participants, each one trained in our principles by our senior facilitators. With our local guides, they create the environment that enables you to experience and develop your Natural Leadership capabilities.

Natural leaderships means to me be connected en consious. Being connected with myself, my heart - intuition - head, feeling trust and be myself,. Being aware that everything is already there and feeling to be part of something bigger, nature. 
For me it also means a true connection with others, sincere, warm, relaxed, and conscious.

To me, natural leadership in organisations means to be connected with yourself, be authentic and truly connect with others.  Real listening en being aware will help in decision making and focus in order to create a positive impact on business and society.

Natural Leadership means that I’m in touch with who I am. I acknowledge and accept my strengths and vulnerabilities and am not afraid to show and use both. By listening to all my senses, including my intuition, I’m able to connect to myself and the people around me, in my personal as well as in my professional life. This connection helps me to stay close to myself and my own needs and helps others to be open and aware about themselves as well.

I believe that Natural Leaders, who feel connected to both themselves and to the world around them, can help create a healthier, happier world. Natural Leadership improves awareness, autonomy and a sense of connection and belonging. Therefore, it helps our businesses and society to take care of personal fulfilment and responsibility for a more sustainable world.

The FNL trail in Botswana was for me at least a career changing if not a life changing experience. After a few days in the wilderness I was finally able to let go control and to trust on the care of nature. I learned to rely on my intuition as a powerful source of wisdom. To make decisions with not only with your head but also with your heart. And to encourage and facilitate others to do the same. For me, that’s natural leadership.

The impact of the trail on my personal and professional life was stronger than any training I have ever joined before. It was the beginning of a journey of personal and professional development that is still continuing. I wish I had this experience earlier in my life and career so my mission is to offer this to a broad range of managers, professionals, entrepreneurs and anyone who wish to make an impact. 

Natural Leadership to me is listening to the inner voices and connecting from the heart with others and the roads ahead. In essence: to feel able to lead yourself. The trails help me to become silent and to see and to listen to what is there. Even if it surprises me, fear, weakness, joy or strength, it’s always okay.  Also being silent in nature brings out the playful child in me. It helps me to feel light and joyful, it helps me to be creative, to envision the future, see meanings and opportunities and to enjoy all the simple things in life. Being together on these journeys and sharing our thoughts and emotions help me to feel the next level of understanding myself and the connection with others.

To me this is also how Natural Leadership contributes to business or professional lives; leading others by envisioning together the roads ahead, embracing what is there and connecting from the heart: Natural Impact.

To me, Natural Leadership just means living from your heart, from your being. It means having a connection with yourself and with others and at the same time being aware of the connection with the wider society and the rest of the world. Actually, it’s nothing special, it’s just being conscious. So there’s no difference between the impact on my personal life and the impact on my professional life.

Taking a moment every day to connect with Nature so I can reflect and be conscious of where I am is actually the one thing that impacts my daily actions in a personal and professional capacity. Natural Leadership itself does not create an impact on society. It is the people and their choices that create an impact on business and society. For me, it means making my own choices every day.

Natural Leadership means consciousness to me. Conscious about my necessary time for reflection. Conscious about the decisions I make. Conscious about the impact I CAN make. But mostly, conscious about keeping the balance in the 3 P’s (personal, private, professional).  This consciousness allows me to – try to – act from my most authentic self. To continuously challenge myself on my potential and impact I can make. But also to for example fully trust in the power of intuitive decisions.

All of the people I met who are involved in Natural Leadership follow their own path. It’s my believe that all these paths contribute jointly to a society with more purpose where individuals and organizations thrive on their strengths. 

For me, Nature is a place where you will automatically connect with your purpose and essence. Nature and ‘non-doing’ will bring answers and clarity in a unique way for further direction in life. I believe that going on a trail or quest fully supports our leadership development and raises our consciousness. With a bonus: a strong desire to serve the world in a good way (in tune with our true nature, our relationships and our surroundings). To arrive at your essence through Nature is a great gift!’ 

Geert is an inspired trainer, coach and facilitator who embraces humour, quality and wisdom. He previously worked as a psychotherapist for twenty years in Amsterdam. For the last ten years, he has given many leadership development courses in the corporate world. Working through and with Nature is one of his passions. He serves the vision quest, the sweat lodge and the wilderness trail with full commitment. He augments this service with professional knowledge, openness, curiosity and modesty.

Authenticity is for me the most important element of Natural Leadership. This provides clarity and trust in and for -the people around me. Curiosity helps me stay on that course and leads me on my own natural path. There nature plays a very important role by providing beautifull symbols and colourfull insights.

By trusting others to follow their natural path, may it be an organisation, a team, or a person, I beleive that consideration and consciousness become an element of all decision making. This will help balance the values of all stakeholders in our environment.

For me, Natural Leadership is being connected to the power and the beauty of nature. And being aware that we are part of a larger system. Nature as a coach gives me power, calm clarity and many insights and lessons. From which I grow as a person, both in professional and private live. It is a privilege to experience this time after time, alone and with others. On the beautiful Utrechtse Heuvelrug, where I live. But also in a very special and powerful way on a leadership trail in the Alpes or in Africa.

When Natural Leadership becomes more and more part of our lives I believe that the world around us will be a better place. A world from cooperation, partnership and inspiration. In my opinion this is the way our organizations, society and environment will be more sustainable.

I believe Natural Leadership is about being yourself. A natural leader doesn’t lead, he or she just is, and others just naturally follow. A natural leader is inspired and inspiring. A natural leader is the heart, rather than the head, of an organisation, radiating both passion and love. A natural leader encourages, enables and empowers people. A natural leader holds a deep and dynamic vision, rather than authority. Natural Leadership is a way of engaging with your social network, community and colleagues to share a vision and unite people in pursuit of a common goal.

For me, being on the trail and connecting with Nature is a wonderful way of clearing out all the extra noise that rattles around in my mind, connecting back to myself, and solidifying ideas that support what is truly important to me in the present moment. I feel a great sense of interconnectedness. Being disconnected from home, family, work and social life makes me take a good look at my life and myself. ‘Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better’ [Albert Einstein] resonates greatly with me.

In the busy and globalized world we live in today, we are bound to forget about the human potential to develop itself, both socially and ecologically. We all are nature. If you ask me, natural leadership means being aware of the immense connection we have with nature. When I listen to its wisdom, when I reflect those bits upon myself, I feel energized, humble, inspired. Consequently, this paves the way of becoming a true natural human-being and reflecting this towards others. If you start paving it yourself, you will become an inspiring natural leader. Someone who doesn’t execute the leading role by pulling and pushing, but by inspiring.

The trail journey invites you to walk your own path, find your own pace, being with all your senses widely opened, connected to nature at its finest, without the communication of mobile devices. As a facilitator we guide you in being there. But actually nature is in the lead, questions arising are truly answered by nature. It serves your transformation.

Nature is where we as human beings originate from. Nature is also the source where during 4 industrial revolutions have deviated from. Personally, as a participant in the daily “pursuits for a career” or our “drive for personal success” we have lost touch with nature, we hardly have time for it. Collectively, the ongoing change in climate and diminishment of nature is only brushed away by the real stubborn and ignorant amongst us. 

Nature is the source of life and an inspiration for leadership. If you respect nature, as a favor nature will respect you. That respect made me more balanced as a leader and as a person. I fundamentally believe that true nature experiences make us individually and collectively better leaders and better people in our personal lives.  

Being actively busy with Natural Leadership means, in my professional life, supporting (management) teams and individuals in their leadership development. Nature has an important place literally and figuratively in the programmes I facilitate. Using Nature as a mirror and learning from that is inspiring and miraculous. My mission is to bring people to Nature to unleash their power within. Nature doesn’t judge, Nature IS….

I believe leaders & organisations can grow by being aware and by reflecting the impact of their behaviour on their team development. As a leader, you can choose your behaviour and the effect you want to create. Helping leaders and teams to create more love and happiness, which forms the foundation for successful organisations, is my passion!

How can Natural Leadership create impact to our businesses and/or society? Nature helps leaders to feel part of a larger system. The importance of survival and co-operation in Nature is evident. There is also more space in Nature to feel and to connect with yourself and others. When there is real connection in a team and the objective is clear, creativity can arise which may result in co-creation. In my opinion, this leads to more love, freedom, effectiveness and innovation in organisations and society.

Natural Leadership for me is knowing my natural values and act upon them accordingly. It gives me a clear compass which I use both in professional and in private life.
In my professional life as a trainer and teamcoach, knowing where I am coming from, supports me practically to create space for others - individuals and teams - to growth. To dare to show themselves and to create exciting results.

Natural Leadership is inspiring us to develop an environment that works for everyone, where people can simply be at their best.
I believe that this way we really can make a difference.

There was a moment during the trail in Spain when I suddenly realised I had no feeling of time, space or pressure. There was just silence, peace of mind and the beauty of Nature. It sort of overwhelmed me. This experience made me feel humble, grateful and contented. At that moment I felt we are all part of a bigger whole. And Nature helped me to feel on a deeper level and explore more what’s inside of me. My first FNL trail in that sense was a life-changing event for me and has helped me to close the gap between my head and my heart.
 
I have the strong belief that Natural Leadership can impact the way we work and live together. In my opinion it can help leaders to find their own truth and purpose in life. Natural Leadership affects the way we see ourselves and others as well. It creates awareness about what is important, helps us to see the opportunities we have and can help us make the right choices. From the heart.

This natural leadership program has been a life-changing experience for me. In connection with nature, without stimuli from the outside, with real time and peace for myself. I have really gained new insights and life lessons. I reflect more on who I am and who I want to be. I have started to feel more and I make more active choices guided by my own innervoice. My personal development has gained momentum, which I benefit from every day.

The power of nature, the sound of silence, the vibrant energy which surrounds us all. When you really feel, listen, hear and see, it gives the reflection needed to become an inspiring and sustainable leader.

Natural Leadership to me means "cutting the crap". Daring to unveil all the layers that you’ve created to become socially desirable and trying to return to your essence, to your true authenticity. Once you are your true Self, connected with your passions, walking the walk and not just talking the talk, you are the perfect natural leader by just "being". This can often make you feel very vulnerable, being who you are and not pretending to be someone else. But Nature gives us plenty of powerful examples. An acorn becomes an oak tree and not a chestnut tree.

We’re all so diverse, we all shine a different light. If we take responsibility for shining our own light, those who are still in the dark searching, will be happy to follow that light, a natural leader, someone who inspires them. Good examples then follow. Showing an authentic path is powerful. This is how we can create a world full of Natural Leaders.

I believe natural leadership starts with yourself. That you can develop leadership to grow as a person and as a professional. I believe the world, our companies, our partners and children need leaders who inspire, who are sincerely passionate about sustainability, their families and their clients. Leaders who have the courage to develop themselves, to be vulnerable and to question their thoughts and feelings. Men and women who are willing to start with themselves.

On a trail our daily rhythm disappears, our senses go wide open and time slows down, with nature as our inspiration. As your facilitator, I want nature to guide you to experience what this journey has to offer you. To establish a connection between what your head thinks, your stomach feels and your heart knows.

The Wilderness Leadership Programme is about making a journey into your deepest consciousness and at the same time connecting with your surroundings. That’s how I like to describe the FNL trail. In the eighties I was fortune enough to live on a game reserve for a couple of years. This experience formed the basis for my annual return to Africa. I enjoy sharing this passion with new participants as they join me on the same journey. It’s all about going back to your true Self in a natural environment, which provides you with all that is vital. You’ll come back reborn and start the next part of your personal, private and professional lives with fresh insights and new zest.

Natural Leadership is being at ease with yourself, knowing what is most important to you, and feeling comfortable, solid and open.

For me Natural Leadership is being in close connection with my vision and inspirations, to share this with others, and be receptive to the inspiration and insights of others. This mutual engagement makes the journey of leadership so exciting, fun, and relatively effortless. While the outcome is uncertain, the journey in itself is by definition meaningful. On a personal level this requires courage, openness and honesty, -courage to also turn towards and engage with uncertainty, rather than opting to ignore it-, and to share not only the successes but also disappointments and mistakes.

The trails into the wilderness, where life is abundant and grows without effort, where all forms of life are intrinsically connected, and where death evolves without judgment, have greatly fueled my personal trust and good spirit. Moreover, sharing these intimate moments of deep insights with each other has been very previous to me.

During my trails in Africa and the Alps I have experienced the immense power of nature as a means for personal growth. In my view, true leadership comes from the 'authentic self’ that we all carry inside, but often are unable to sufficiently access in our day to day business. Leaving the material world behind, letting go of control and embracing the beauty of nature has proven a powerful tool in helping to redefine one’s true purpose and values in life. The FNL programs have provided me with more balance and calm in my life and have helped me enhance my focus, both personally and professionally. I believe that being able to lead oneself is the key to leading others. My mission as an FNL facilitator is to help participants in incorporating nature as an essential part of their life and by doing so become authentic, inspiring and energetic leaders who can help create a sustainable world for all. 

 The FNL programs have had a lasting impact on my life, incomparable to any of the other training programs I participated in, and meeting people with very different backgrounds, ideas and professional lives has broadened my views. And besides all that… enjoying basic life together is fun!

'Nature knows the big secret and smiles' (Victor Hugo). That is what I believe. I also believe that we are all part of nature. And that it is up to us to live that smile.

As humans we are capable of miraculous accomplishments. At the same time, it is our path that chooses us and not the other way around. Exploring the paradox between the concept of free will and that what we can not change, I find infinitely fascinating.

Natural leadership for me is that immediate ability to connect with people and feel their hearts. Openness and honesty. Nature and the trail experience offers a very good opportunity for this to happen, people learn from each other, they learn from nature, they learn how to cooperate at the most basic level.

As individuals, the more we can connect with our inner selves, the better we are able to connect with other people. When on trail and in the wilderness, in nature, nothing is forced, everything flows. By taking this learning back into our lives as leaders and members of society, we are better able to act in a more natural, authentic and unforced way, when you do this, you’ll find that life flows freely. 

I have a background with nature as a leading topic. In fact, nature was leading me. My company organized a lot of challenging expeditions  to the Himalaya’s, North- or South Pole, Deserts or Amazone. I selected teams who were able to sense the power of nature. To be a part of nature, to be in their personal strength, to be part of a compelling team, a community. So Natural Leadership is a state of being aware that you have your personal daily things to cope with, but imbedded in your strength of being very close to yourself and your connection to mother Nature. I think it’s really the power of the current image of time.

Nowadays I attend teams and persons in their development. Always to where it hits, to where we feel grounded, to connect, to Natural Leadership.

It’s great to be on trail, on the road, to learn, to get stronger.

The FNL enriched my work as my work as management trainer and professional coach. The trails provide the opportunity for management and professionals to connect to their ‘natural’ self. It gives clear insights, focus and inspiration to shape the future. Results are sustainable on a personal level. In business it provides a strong base for proactive leadership and it reinforces the ability to connect to others.

It was an unforgettable and powerful journey through the Alps as well as through my own life and personality. Instead of harvesting some superficial insights of further competency development, this programme really made me access the core of my intention. I now live (at least I still try to live) most of the insights that I’ve gained.

Why should people enlist in the programme? Who would benefit from this experience? Everybody, without a doubt. The only thing is that, to harvest insights, I would say it's smart to already be at an average level of self-awareness. This should not be your first dive into personal development. In comparison to other programmes, I think the FNL approach is unique because it very lightly facilitates you in designing your journey from A to Z. You are in the driver’s seat the whole time. You decide what your intention is and the results will follow by walking through Nature.

At least once a year my trail group gets back together. Of course there's time for dinner and drinks, but at the start we reserve a moment to walk through Nature and encounter a couple of the success factors from our original journey. We each share our thoughts and dilemmas, show respect by listening to each other instead of sharing advice or judgements. The fact that we immediately create an intimate setting shows the power of the initial journey to the Alps. - Marleen Holtkamp Manager 1%Club -

The FNL trail in the Swiss Alps gave me valuable insights and learning experiences. And wisdom. Although the Alps are quite familiar to me, this time was different. The combination of the beauty of Nature, the silence and the coaching provided a wonderful mirror and a platform for deep introspection and self-reflection.

‘What is really important?’ ‘What actions am I impelled to do?’ ‘And why?’ I worked on these kinds of fundamental questions during long hikes or in moments of meditation. Not for the first time, but now with other outcomes. A deeper understanding and more guidance for all aspects of life: my role in relation to my family and friends, to work and working relationships, to society and - last but not least – to my own needs. Unexpectedly profound in its simplicity and practicality!

Okavango Delta with FNL: I was unsure for a long time whether I would go or not. But, my God, looking back, I wasted so much time. I have been carrying Africa and the group that I was part of around with me ever since my return from the trail.

The impact that my FNL trip had on me is difficult to put into words. How can I describe the feeling of being completely at home in the middle of the African wilderness?  How can I describe those four hours spent quietly sitting on a termite hill while elephants, eagles and lizards charmed me? How can I describe the way Nature wrapped me lovingly in her arms and reveals herself in all her glory? How can I describe the way the connection between people grows seemingly unnoticed yet will never be lost? How can I describe what that does for you as a person and therefore as a leader? I can't. You have to experience it yourself. Don't have doubts. I promise you, it is wonderful and worthwhile. - Jeroen de Haas CEO Eneco -

There was a moment during the trail in Spain when I suddenly realised I had no feeling of time, space or pressure. There was just silence, peace of mind and the beauty of Nature. It sort of overwhelmed me. This experience made me feel humble, grateful and contented. At that moment I felt we are all part of a bigger whole. And Nature helped me to feel on a deeper level and explore more what’s inside of me. My first FNL trail in that sense was a life-changing event for me and has helped me to close the gap between my head and my heart.
 
I have the strong belief that Natural Leadership can impact the way we work and live together. In my opinion it can help leaders to find their own truth and purpose in life. Natural Leadership affects the way we see ourselves and others as well. It creates awareness about what is important, helps us to see the opportunities we have and can help us make the right choices. From the heart.

For me, Natural Leadership is being connected to the power and the beauty of nature. And being aware that we are part of a larger system. Nature as a coach gives me power, calm clarity and many insights and lessons. From which I grow as a person, both in professional and private live. It is a privilege to experience this time after time, alone and with others. On the beautiful Utrechtse Heuvelrug, where I live. But also in a very special and powerful way on a leadership trail in the Alpes or in Africa.

When Natural Leadership becomes more and more part of our lives I believe that the world around us will be a better place. A world from cooperation, partnership and inspiration. In my opinion this is the way our organizations, society and environment will be more sustainable.

I believe natural leadership starts with yourself. That you can develop leadership to grow as a person and as a professional. I believe the world, our companies, our partners and children need leaders who inspire, who are sincerely passionate about sustainability, their families and their clients. Leaders who have the courage to develop themselves, to be vulnerable and to question their thoughts and feelings. Men and women who are willing to start with themselves.

On a trail our daily rhythm disappears, our senses go wide open and time slows down, with nature as our inspiration. As your facilitator, I want nature to guide you to experience what this journey has to offer you. To establish a connection between what your head thinks, your stomach feels and your heart knows.

Natural leaderships means to me be connected en consious. Being connected with myself, my heart - intuition - head, feeling trust and be myself,. Being aware that everything is already there and feeling to be part of something bigger, nature. 
For me it also means a true connection with others, sincere, warm, relaxed, and conscious.

To me, natural leadership in organisations means to be connected with yourself, be authentic and truly connect with others.  Real listening en being aware will help in decision making and focus in order to create a positive impact on business and society.

Natural Leadership means for me: connecting people with themselves and with each other through Nature. Oneness!
Natural Leadership is my passion and my inspiration, It should be the new standard in corporate life: leadership by connection!

Natural leadership is all about experiencing and understanding the mutual relation between nature, mankind and your own true nature. Mastering the skills of natural leadership is a journey of a lifetime, not an event, but rather 

Natural leaders are able to inspire themselves and their surroundings, because theu understand their own nature and the power of nature. The world is in need of leaders who are able to stand up and work together with others for the greater good of society, instead of just for their own benefits.

Working for the Foundation for Natural Leadership means that I can do the work that I like, for an organisation that gives me a lot of energy. I have experienced what it is like to be in the wilderness and to connect with yourself and others. Spending a number of days with Nature makes you let go of things, even things you didn’t know you still had to tackle.

I am very grateful that I have been able to experience this, and I would recommend this wonderful experience in and with Nature to anyone.

Natural Leadership means for me to be yourself and to live in connection with your environment.

Stop repeating. Learn and Start making new connections and finding future-proof solutions. I see people and organizations as living organisms that are constantly changing and connecting with their environment. It is time to use our creativity to redesign our way of working with Natural Leadership, and natural cycles are an 'obvious' starting point. We are, after all, part of Nature!

Nature facilitates the (re)connection with your inner wisdom, brings your
passion and purpose to the surface, so you can live your life to its full potential.

The trail itself is a great in-depth personal experience, joined by a few selected others, miraculously brought together on the same path. It is a profound journey which brings out your authenticity and a deep truth of knowing about what it is all about.

Natural leadership enables us to impact our businesses and lives, through the choices we make, in a valuable way, and to lead our community into a sustainable future.

For me Natural Leadership is being in close connection with my vision and inspirations, to share this with others, and be receptive to the inspiration and insights of others. This mutual engagement makes the journey of leadership so exciting, fun, and relatively effortless. While the outcome is uncertain, the journey in itself is by definition meaningful. On a personal level this requires courage, openness and honesty, -courage to also turn towards and engage with uncertainty, rather than opting to ignore it-, and to share not only the successes but also disappointments and mistakes.

The trails into the wilderness, where life is abundant and grows without effort, where all forms of life are intrinsically connected, and where death evolves without judgment, have greatly fueled my personal trust and good spirit. Moreover, sharing these intimate moments of deep insights with each other has been very previous to me.

Authenticity is for me the most important element of Natural Leadership. This provides clarity and trust in and for -the people around me. Curiosity helps me stay on that course and leads me on my own natural path. There nature plays a very important role by providing beautifull symbols and colourfull insights.

By trusting others to follow their natural path, may it be an organisation, a team, or a person, I beleive that consideration and consciousness become an element of all decision making. This will help balance the values of all stakeholders in our environment.

For me, Natural Leadership is knowing what my essence is and acting accordingly. By being natural, I am an instrument for transforming people and businesses into their true nature.

For me going on trail for the first time in 2009 in Africa has made a big impact on my life. Real connection with my heart, nature meets nature. Taking nothing with me but myself I experienced deep feelings of belonging. In that big space I found my own space. After all these years I can still clearly remember very specific moments when questions where answered and I received true insights on how to follow my own path. I have been on several trails both as facilitator and participant and every time it has been a big present and a personal investment. I see the tremendous power nature has in mirroring our personal strengths and weaknesses so we get to know our self intensely. Becoming the leader of our own life and in doing so being able to lead others. Not by creating followers but in creating other leaders.

The FNL was a starting point in my own personal transformation. As one of the founders, it was a fascinating journey. It was a steep learning curve, but we understood that, by connecting and being open, “synchronicity” would lead the way… and take us to where we are today.

I’ve completed six trails, but every time I came back I can take another step away from the old linear world (full of ego, macho, power and money) to a more balanced sustainable and circular world. The founding of the “Circle Economy” was very much inspired by Nature, the thinking behind the FNL, and the many trails I’ve experienced.

All that I do in my current life is now entrenched in this feeling of “oneness and connectivity”, makes me feel a more balanced person and – frankly – makes me feel a hell of a lot better.

The FNL and its wilderness trails play an important role in helping many people and businesses to transform. To become aware of our connection and of our own role in Nature, and to resist the urge to control Nature. That is why it’s necessary to find new economic, business and social models that allow future generations to have a happy and healthy life on our planet.

Natural Leadership allows me to operate from a deeper consciousness through self-concept clarity and presence, i.e. attending others with pure intention.

Contemporary challenges, such as increasing pace of change, uncertainty, complexity and mistrust call for a shift in leaders’ mind-set, more than educating competences, i.e. skills, abilities (skill-set).  Yet, how leaders’ shift of mind-set, that is, (re-) discovering one's authentic roots or inner self, can possibly be achieved remains questionable.

Leadership transformation toward Natural Leadership is advocated as a desirable shift that responds to today’s leadership challenges. Especially spending time in nature could act as a trigger event that could foster authentic (natural) leadership.

“The study’s findings demonstrate that a nature-based training pro­gram can increase authentic (natural) leadership. Immersion in wilderness is possibly conducive to change in leadership style, and could be considered as a strategy for fostering leadership change.”

                                               (Journal of Leadership Studies; Van Droffelaar & Jacobs, 2018)

Due to the challenges our society is facing we need leaders who have the ambition and feel the sense of urgency to create positive change. That’s where natural leadership comes in. For me, Natural Leadership is about understanding from a humble point of view that each one of us is part of a big universe. That comes together with a responsibility to preserve the life we appreciate in that universe and the possibility to enact this responsibility.

In our hectic and fragmented society we easily get distracted from the things that really matter. A trail in nature is an impactful way to reflect upon the things that matter and to make choice about the way we want to show leadership. I have met many people through the foundation for natural leadership where the trail was a turning point in their life or an important stimulus to continue on a path that was chosen before.

Natural Leadership invites me to search and research my true purpose in life. Together with valuing the ability to be silent, experience and respect the strength and never ending cycles of nature, I’m travelling on a life time learning journey to become an engaged leader both personally and professionally. The trail experience challenged me to make a real connection with my heart. The immense strength of nature and its ever transforming and adaptive capability has become one of my sources for hope and inspiration. Eventually, the choices and decisions I need and want to make for business and society become more resilient.

Leadership at this juncture in time is about leading the way in the transition to a Circular Economy and sustainable life styles. Leaders have to prepare and equip themselves for that role by (re)connecting to Nature. Wilderness trails are a very powerful way of doing that.

Jane Goodall is a primatologist most known for her long-term study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. The Gombe chimp observation, which Jane began in 1960, is the world’s longest running continuous wildlife research project.  Through her Jane Goodall Institute, she has become equally well known as a conservationist and a champion of human rights.

In April 2002, Jane Goodall was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace by Secretary General Kofi Annan. In 2004, she was invested as a dame of the British Empire by Prince Charles. Today, she continues to travel and lecture throughout the world. As Jane says, “to achieve global peace we must not only stop fighting each other, but also stop destroying the natural world.” On April 3, 2014, Jane will celebrate her 80^th birthday. She is still doing her part.

Natural Leadership helps to remind me of my natural inner strength. It also helps me nurture Nature to reinforce this natural force. The inner aspect of Natural Leadership helps me make choices that reflect more closely Nature’s natural cycles.

Natural Leadership is my second nature, both as senior citizen and as executive coach. Natural Leadership is the ultimate solution for many of the problems and possibilities in business and society.

Joseph Jaworski is a founder and the chairman of both Generon International and the Global Leadership Initiative and is the founder of the American Leadership Forum, an NGO responsible for developing the practice of collaborative leadership. He has led the Royal Dutch/Shell Group’s renowned team of scenario planners, served as senior fellow and board member for the MIT Center for Organizational Learning, and co-founded the Society for Organizational Learning. He is also author of Synchronicity, Source and co-author of Presence.

Joseph Jaworski has devoted much of his life to exploring the deeper dimensions of transformational leadership. As founder and chairman of both Generon International and the Global Leadership Initiative, Joseph collaborates with leaders who are committed to developing the capacities for innovation and transformation that result in fundamental change both in themselves and in their organizations.

Antony  Burgmans was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1947. After his education he joined Unilever as a marketing trainee in 1972 where, over the course of his career, he was based in Rotterdam, London, Jakarta and Hamburg. During the first 20 years he worked in marketing, sales and general management and became Chairman and CEO of Unilever in 1999. 

In 2007 he received the United National Humanitarian of the Year Award and was Appointed Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau. This was followed in 2009 with the Appointment as Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE).

Antony Burgmans is currently a non-executive board member of BP and a member of the Supervisory Boards of Akzo-Nobel, Aegon and SHV.

Natural Leadership has enabled me to become a more effective leader. I’ve gained better insights through deeper observation and inquiry and this has led to more effective connection between people. This holistic approach to what we do and the impact we have on the world around us helps the integration of “head, hand and heart” in how we act and lead. I also seek out the Natural Leaders among my own talent pool: who has the best insights? Who builds the most effective networks? The best teams? Who demonstrates the most empathy with our customers? And then I do all I can to nurture and draw out this talent.
 
Principles of Natural Leadership have helped us in Philips to develop a crucial programme called “Accelerate Team Performance”, aimed at improving leadership, developing stronger team work, and solving problems more effectively across organisational silos. This approach has already played a key role in helping us to make real changes to the way we work. For example, we have built upon our awareness of our ecological impact by driving our business in an even-more increasingly sustainable manner, embracing Circular Economy concepts to reduce waste and the use of scarce materials.

The trails in Africa have taught me the lessons of Nature. They have strengthened my professional life by enabling me to work on and make a contribution to issues that matter, given my competences and strengths. I have learnt that Natural Leadership re-connects business with society at large. It shows that businesses are also part of the ecosystem that we all belong to and are not isolated entities. It enables businesses to take responsibility for mitigating their negative impact on society and our planet. Natural Leadership can inspire businesses to create a positive impact whilst safeguarding their own sustainable future.’  

Elfrieke van Galen is an entrepreneur at TheRockGroup, specialising in sustainability and innovation through consultancy, venturing and education. She has held several non-executive positions in a diverse range of companies.

Natural Leadership means to me: acting from within and connecting with the core of myself. Connecting my head, heart and belly. Natural Leadership inspires me to connect with other people and with all living creatures on this planet. From this perspective I like to contribute to a better world.

Natural Leadership in the business environment helps us to focus on relevant issues in the here and now. We do not just live in a time that is experiencing changes; we live in a changing time, period. That new era demands, among others things, authenticity, dialogue, a balance in female and male values, respect for People, Planet and Profit and a place for the soul, which is the source of our real meaning, inspiration and innovation.

Dr. Laszlo is generally recognized as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory. His work in recent years has centered on the formulation and development of the “Akasha Paradigm,” the new conception of cosmos, life and consciousness emerging at the forefront of the contemporary sciences. He serves as President of the Club of Budapest, Chairman of the Ervin Laszlo Center for Advanced Study, Chancellor of the Giordano Bruno New-Paradigm University, and Editor of World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research.

For many years he has served as president of The Club of Budapest, which he founded. He is an advisor to the UNESCO Director General, ambassador of the International Delphic Council, member of both the International Academy of Science, World Academy of Arts and Science, and the International Academy of Philosophy.

Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (2004, 2005), he got Goi Peace prize (2001). He has authored more than 70 books, which have been translated into twenty languages, and has published in excess of four hundred articles and research papers, including six volumes of piano recordings.

The FNL was a starting point in my own personal transformation. As one of the founders, it was a fascinating journey. It was a steep learning curve, but we understood that, by connecting and being open, “synchronicity” would lead the way… and take us to where we are today.

I’ve completed six trails, but every time I came back I can take another step away from the old linear world (full of ego, macho, power and money) to a more balanced sustainable and circular world. The founding of the “Circle Economy” was very much inspired by Nature, the thinking behind the FNL, and the many trails I’ve experienced.

All that I do in my current life is now entrenched in this feeling of “oneness and connectivity”, makes me feel a more balanced person and – frankly – makes me feel a hell of a lot better.

The FNL and its wilderness trails play an important role in helping many people and businesses to transform. To become aware of our connection and of our own role in Nature, and to resist the urge to control Nature. That is why it’s necessary to find new economic, business and social models that allow future generations to have a happy and healthy life on our planet.

Natural Leadership invites me to search and research my true purpose in life. Together with valuing the ability to be silent, experience and respect the strength and never ending cycles of nature, I’m travelling on a life time learning journey to become an engaged leader both personally and professionally. The trail experience challenged me to make a real connection with my heart. The immense strength of nature and its ever transforming and adaptive capability has become one of my sources for hope and inspiration. Eventually, the choices and decisions I need and want to make for business and society become more resilient.

Natural Leadership means for me: connecting people with themselves and with each other through Nature. Oneness!
Natural Leadership is my passion and my inspiration, It should be the new standard in corporate life: leadership by connection!

Due to the challenges our society is facing we need leaders who have the ambition and feel the sense of urgency to create positive change. That’s where natural leadership comes in. For me, Natural Leadership is about understanding from a humble point of view that each one of us is part of a big universe. That comes together with a responsibility to preserve the life we appreciate in that universe and the possibility to enact this responsibility.

In our hectic and fragmented society we easily get distracted from the things that really matter. A trail in nature is an impactful way to reflect upon the things that matter and to make choice about the way we want to show leadership. I have met many people through the foundation for natural leadership where the trail was a turning point in their life or an important stimulus to continue on a path that was chosen before.