Connecting company teams with nature in Swiss forests for transformative change

“Nature is a crucial building block, or dependency for virtually any company” and “biodiversity is the bedrock of life and a cornerstone of sustainable development”. Those two narratives, the first by André Hoffmann, vice-chairman of Roche Holding and former vice-president of World Wide Fund for Nature WWF, and the second, by António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, highlight that nature is not only highly relevant as an economic resource, but also for our well-being. As we face mental distress at the individual level and major disruptions in companies due to permanent global challenges, we need to build up resilience, flexibility, and agility. Being in nature favourably strengthens mental and psychological health.

Our approach of “conscious forest dialogue” promotes listening, reflection and change of perspective during guided team walks in Swiss forests. It is based on the "Theory U" approach by Otto Scharmer where we perceive, connect, let come and pursue the impulses for collective action to lead to transformation. We use analogies and metaphors about forest and forestry, mindfulness practices as well as theories and models that respond to the needs of teams and organisations.

Participants improve their perception and discover the forest with new eyes and increased natural intelligence. They recognise that many strategies of nature can be applied to human endeavours. Forest walks sensitize and inspire teams providing them with valuable ideas for their development, subsequently leading to higher resilience, effective communication and collaborative creative processes. Learning about nature and recognising its value for universal well-being and sustainable development, encourages transformation of human behaviour and collective action. 

In this regard, people start supporting narratives as mentioned above, will locally care more about nature and responsibly engage in the conserving and enhancing of biodiversity that is urgently needed. Our approach as a non-material Nature’s Contribution to People fosters transformative change for acting in a responsible and respectful manner towards nature and our society.