THE OUTPOST

09.25

Welcome to September, 

September is when summer quietly begins to hand over to autumn.

Heather on Dartmoor

🌺Heather blooms purple across the hills,

🍄 Fungi emerge in the woods, and cool mornings reveal spider webs strung with dew.

When we notice small signals of change all around us, we are more present and more grounded.

I've shared a video on LinkedIn from my weekend on Dartmoor, exploring the Tors and enjoying moments of calm. 

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher"

William Wordsworth

Silver Linings on Dartmoor:

Chasing Light, Finding Clarity

Last weekend, I found myself on Dartmoor, chasing sunsets and sunrises. There’s something about the moor that slows time. Big skies, rolling granite tors, the hush of heather. At night, the world slipped into darkness; in the morning, light spilt across the horizon in silver-edged clouds.

From the doorway of my tent, kettle hissing for the first brew of the day, I caught the sunrise framed in mist and cloud. The moment was fleeting, and yet it carried a depth I’ve been holding onto since.

Silver linings remind us that light always finds its way through.

Too often, our lives and leadership are lived at full tilt: meetings are stacked, inboxes are overflowing, and calendars are over-crammed. In that blur, we rarely pause long enough to notice the edges of light that are always there. The quiet insights. The subtle silver linings.

On Dartmoor, with no deadlines but dawn and dusk, I was reminded of three truths that run through The Outspire ethos:

• Vision in the Fog Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from stopping, watching, and letting the fog thin in its own time.
• Calm in the Chaos. Even while the wind whipped across the moor, there was stillness in simply being there. Calm is less about escaping chaos, more about choosing how we meet it.
• Direction in the Drift When we drift in thought, in career, in life, it’s easy to feel lost. Yet drift can be an invitation to notice the subtle pulls: values, energy, the threads that matter. That’s where true direction is found.

The lesson from Dartmoor?

Chasing sunrises and sunsets isn’t about the spectacle. It’s about the pause it gives us the chance to reflect, to realign, to return to what matters most.

Like a silver lining on the clouds, reflection doesn’t erase the challenges. But it helps us see the light breaking through, and that can make all the difference.

So here’s the invitation:

Where might you carve out space this week, not for more doing, but for noticing? What silver linings might be waiting if you pause long enough to see them?

. 🪴

The Energy We Bring:

What Leaders Need to Know

Before a word is spoken, your team already knows how you've shown up.

They feel it in your tone. They read it in your posture. They sense it in your presence.

This isn't mysticism, it's science.

The psychology of presence

Our brains are wired for emotional contagion. Through mirror neurons, we subconsciously reflect the emotional states of those around us. If a leader enters the room stressed, distracted, or emotionally charged, the team often absorbs that oithout krealisingit.

Your mood sets the tone. Literally.

Polyvagal theory

Adds another layer: we are constantly scanning for signals of safety or threat. It's not just what you say, it's how you say it, and who you are being while you say it. A calm, grounded leader helps regulate others. An incongruent one (pretending calm while seething inside) creates confusion and subtle mistrust.

The science of coherence

Research from the HeartMath Institute shows our hearts generate electromagnetic fields that extend beyond our bodies. When we're in a coherent emotional state,  calm, steady, aligned, it positively impacts those around us. People feel it, whether they understand the science or not.

Leadership energy is felt before it's understood.

Nature knows

In nature, presence matters. Animals, especially herd animals like horses, are acutely sensitive to the energy of others. They respond to congruence, not performance. A nervous person pretending to be calm won't fool a horse. The same is true in human systems, whether we name it or not.

This sensitivity is primal. We've just forgotten how to listen to it.

What this means for leaders

Whether you're leading a team or walking into a tough conversation, your energy goes ahead of you. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be:

• Present
• Honest about what you're carrying
• Willing to regulate before you react

Ask yourself:

• What am I bringing into the room today?
• Am I creating safety, trust and clarity, or tension and urgency?
• What needs to settle in me before I can lead others well?

Because people remember how you made them feel far longer than what you said.

A practice

Before your next meeting, take one minute to pause. Feel your feet on the ground. Notice your breath. Let your nervous system catch up with your intention. Then lead from there.

New retreat design: being anchored

This September, we’re piloting a new retreat in the Dales: Being Anchored.

To be anchored is to feel steady, clear, and connected even when the world around us is shifting. In leadership and in life, it’s easy to drift: pulled by demands, noise, or uncertainty. Anchoring helps us hold fast to what matters most  - our values, our vision, our presence.

This retreat creates the rare space to do just that. Away from daily pressures, in the stillness of the Dales, you’ll pause, reflect, and reconnect with the thread that holds you steady. Anchoring here gives you clarity to carry back into your work, your leadership, and your life.

The design blends the Outspire ethos vision in the fog, calm in the chaos, and connection where it counts  with the unique strengths of your guides:

Richard Marshall brings the depth of a business psychologist and executive coach, with a focus on practical insight and leadership impact.

Katy Murray brings her rich experience as a facilitator and retreat leader, creating the kind of space where openness, reflection, and meaningful connection naturally flourish.

And I bring the Outspire approach of nature-based coaching with candid, compassionate conversations held in the clarity of the outdoors.

The pilot retreat this September is already full, and we’re excited to share that details of its launch in Spring 2026 will follow.

Why Coaching Outdoors?

Encourages reflection
When coaching happens side-by-side, as it does during a walk, the usual pressures of sitting face-to-face in an office or meeting room fade away. 

Walking shoulder-to-shoulder creates a sense of partnership rather than scrutiny. This subtle shift often helps to move past rehearsed answers or surface-level thinking and instead opens space for more profound honesty.

Many clients notice that, in the rhythm of walking, their inner voice becomes clearer and they’re able to articulate thoughts and feelings they hadn’t fully acknowledged before.

By stepping outside of a formal setting, you may feel safer exploring vulnerabilities, testing new perspectives, and reflecting on the patterns that shape your leadership. 

Taken at the River Lea

The very act of walking together encourages you to lower your guard, lean into authenticity, and discover insights that might remain hidden indoors.

Downloadable resource for you- Befriending the Inner Critic: From Survival Voice to Inner Guide

Transforming it from a source of shame into a guide for self-awareness, growth, and authentic leadership.

Nature-led coaching in wild places, for calm, clarity & lasting impact. 

The Outspire: vision in fog, calm in the chaos,

direction in the drift.