I just returned from a few days camping and hiking along the North Shore of Gitchi Gummi (Ojibwe for Lake Superior) in Northern Minnesota. I was eager to spend time in nature surrounded by waterfalls, stars, trees, and stillness. Time in nature always reconnects me to something deeper. On this trip, the leadership lessons were almost jumping out at me.
Here are seven leadership lessons that nature offered me on this trip.
1. The Power of Collective Action
This is the rushing waterfall of the Cross River. Each drop of water on its own is small and quiet. But when hundreds, thousands, or millions of drops move in the same direction, they become a powerful force.
As leaders, it’s easy to over-focus on individual effort or capacity. But real impact often comes from organized, aligned, collective action—many small contributions adding up to something transformational.
2. From Doing to Being
A long exposure photo of a tent as the kids settled in for bedtime.
Early in our careers, we’re often rewarded for doing—checking tasks off a list, producing visible results. But senior leadership calls us to the power of our being. Being doesn’t mean inactivity. As I shared here, “In senior leadership, success is less about what you do and more about who you are. Your impact isn’t measured by your personal productivity but by your presence, your influence, and your ability to show up with intention across diverse contexts.”
3. Perspective
In nature, away from city lights, the stars come alive.
As leaders, we can become so focused on one meeting, one crisis, or one moment that it feels all-defining. However, zooming out reminds us that we are part of something much larger and more interconnected. Whether it’s a moment of cosmic humility or awe at the miracle of our consciousness, this kind of perspective can bring both grounding and a sense of wonder.
4. Adaptability
This tree has been through some stuff. Although a tree is firm, strong, and seemingly immovable, it shows us that it has been through some tough times and has adapted significantly more than once.
Leadership often asks us to bend without breaking—to adjust, be nimble, and flexible without abandoning our core purpose. Nature models what it means to be rooted and responsive.
5. We’ll See (Good or Bad?)
One cold morning at 4:19 am, I reluctantly crawled out of the tent. I was tired, frustrated, and uncomfortable. The last thing I wanted to do was get out of that tent. But when I did, this is the sunrise that greeted me. What felt like a miserable defeat became a beautiful gift.
Leadership is full of moments that seem like setbacks in real time. But the truth is, we don’t know what any one moment will lead to. Sometimes, the struggle reveals unexpected beauty.
6. Endings Are Beginnings
Here is a sunset from the dock on a quiet lake.
As the sun dropped behind the trees, I felt the day ending—and with it, a small sense of loss. But the evening brought quiet joys: conversation, connection, and moments of stillness. The next day offered new challenges and moments of beauty. In leadership, endings are often just thresholds into something else. A program closes, a leader departs, a chapter ends. But what comes next can hold just as much promise.
7. We Can Do Hard Things
This tree has grown to its full height out of this massive boulder. No soil, no shelter—just stubborn persistence. It didn’t flourish overnight, but it had clearly been growing there for decades.
That tree reminded me: transformational leadership is hard. It asks us to navigate complexity, hold tension, and believe in better tomorrows. But we are capable, even of what might seem impossible. We can do hard things.
Nature as Teacher, Leadership as Practice
These moments weren’t part of a curriculum or retreat. They just happened—because I slowed down enough to notice. Leadership doesn’t always need new theory or frameworks, though I love those too. Sometimes it needs attention, presence, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, relearn, and unlearn.
