Outside insight for business.

The traditional approach.

White board. A stuffy conference room. Florescent lights. Congealed take out food. Dried out markers. Illegible scribbles and erase marks. Another late night. And though you might love the people you work with - there’s got to be a better way to crystalize a vision, tackle a strategic problem, or come up with fresh innovative ideas.

The HEAD LANDS approach.

Blue sky. The team meets at a trailhead in the morning, and sets out silently on a hike. Throughout the hike, each person is handed printed cards, customized with questions and ideas around the challenges the team is facing. These are meant to spark thinking and reflection. We hike for a couple of hours, taking breaks to check out the scenery. Then we stop. The team is different than when they started. More connected. More awake. Even though no words have been spoken. It is from this place we start to talk - to generate ideas, capture insights, and create an action plan for moving forward.

Small purple mountain flowers

HEAD LANDS is the secret weapon of innovative organizations.

While modern business runs on modern technology - smart phones, tablets, computers - there's a point where those get in the way of generating good ideas, seeing new angles, and staying focused on what's important. There are other intelligences we can tap into, if we give ourselves the right space and setting.

On guided hikes, HEAD LANDS works with forward-thinking teams who are looking to:

  • Crystalize a vision or mission
  • Find creative solutions to strategic problems
  • Brainstorm (Hikestorm!)
  • Learn new ways of working together
  • Grow business amid shifting landscapes and markets

Outcomes:

  • Clarity around strategy and how to implement it
  • A re-energized team with a renewed sense of purpose
  • Marching Orders for who’s going to do what and when
Small red flower

Silence? Really?

We spend a portion of every hike moving silently. Because there is a lot more intelligence available to you beyond your rational mind if you just get quiet enough to hear it. Because moving as a group without speaking connects you in ways you can’t understand until you experience it.

Why outside?

  • Because fresh air gives you fresh perspective.
  • Because nature is a great teacher.
  • Because when you stretch your legs, you can stretch your mind, and go back inside inspired to do the best work of your life.

What is a team outing like?

What’s an outing with HEAD LANDS like?

Before:

We meet with key leaders to determine the goals for the team and the business.

We map out a route tailored to suit all fitness levels, and create a series of cards that will be passed out during the hike.

During:

The team gathers in the morning and we go over desired outcomes for the day and logistics. We set out on the trail, silently. During the hike we pass out customized cards to prompt thinking. We take rest and snack breaks. One of the leaders takes pictures throughout the hike. 2-3 hours later, we stop hiking and start talking. We have a focused conversation about what people thought, felt, and observed during the hike, and how it applies to work. We focus the conversation and capture insights. We come to some working agreements and marching orders for when people get back to the office. A gourmet picnic lunch is served, and folks can relax and enjoy the afternoon.

After:

All team member receive Outside Insights, a detailed, colorful report designed to help everyone successfully integrate the key learnings from the hike back inside the office.