How nature can change the nature of company culture

Taking breaks outdoors to enjoy nature can reduce your team's stress and improve their well-being, especially during dreary winter months, writes leadership coach Karen Liebenguth, who recommends taking team walks, creating outdoor working spaces and offering flexible schedules. "Just 20 minutes outside can make all the difference to concentration and productivity levels, especially in the afternoon," Liebenguth notes.

Put it into practice: Lead by example by conducting one-on-one meetings during an outdoor walk and encouraging managers to do the same, Liebenguth writes. "Senior leadership can emphasize the importance of nature and well-being in their communications, setting the tone for a culture that prioritizes time spent in nature as a valuable part of the workday."

Return-to-office mandates could disadvantage some of your team members, including those with disabilities, older employees and women who were able to participate more fully while working remotely, writes Gleb Tsipursky, the CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts. "Only by fostering a more inclusive and adaptable work environment can we ensure a thriving, dynamic workforce capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century," writes Tsipursky.

Put it into practice: Creating flexible work policies that include hybrid and remote work can meet your team's diverse needs and maximize their contribution, Tsipursky writes. "[B]usiness leaders must advocate for policies that recognize the value of all workers and embrace the flexibility that the future of work demands."

Asking your team open-ended questions can enhance dialogue by creating opportunities for more meaningful and engaging communication, writes David Grossman, founder and CEO of The Grossman Group, who offers a list of powerful examples including, "What do you think your team is doing well and how could the team improve?" and "What's one thing you wish you could do more of to grow in your current role?" As Grossman notes: "When you invite employees to share more, inevitably new insights will surface."

Put it into practice: When you use open-ended questions, make sure your body language communicates that you're genuinely interested in the answer, and never use such questions in a leading way to get the answer you want, Grossman advises. "Ensure employees feel safe sharing candid feedback."

A project early in his career showed Andrew Young, CEO of Conjugate Group, the power of strategic staffing that shaped his approach to leadership "by emphasizing strategic over tactical decision-making." Young says he leads with accountability and empowerment as his goals, which means fostering "a culture of transparency and continuous feedback, which I believe drives innovation and dedication across the organization."

Initial facial impressions shape how people perceive others' mental states, according to a study in Nature Human Behavior that used computational models to assess how facial traits affect inferences about emotions in different situations. Results showed that these impressions are consistent worldwide, suggesting a universal bias in interpreting others' feelings based on appearance.

Sustainable procurement is crucial for achieving climate goals, with chief procurement officers playing a pivotal role in this transformation by focusing on building resilient operations and optimizing supply chains, write experts from Kearney and World Economic Forum. The collaboration between procurement and finance is essential in balancing sustainability goals with business objectives, making sustainable procurement a strategic priority, they note.

Back when I worked an office job when 3 p.m. rolled around, you could find me heading out the door. Not to go home but to take a 20-minute stroll. I worked for a university, so I would head toward the beautiful quad on campus, where students would be lounging on the lush grass. There were also plenty of bushes, trees and other greenery around the campus that you felt like you were walking in a park.

Now that I work remotely, I make time in the morning to take my dog, Pax, for a walk around our neighborhood. It is much like the college campus, lined with trees and very walkable.

I can attest to the power of incorporating nature and some physical activity into your work day, as leadership coach Karen Liebenguth recommends. After a good walk, I always came back refreshed, my mind clearer, and my body more awake and alive.

Sitting at a desk all day can be exhausting, both physically and mentally. But taking a break in nature -- even if it's just to step outside and stretch for a few minutes -- can rejuvenate you and help you regain focus.

Think about how you, as a leader, can model taking nature breaks during the day. Do one-on-ones outside, either walking or sitting. Designate a time of day for your team to gather outside or take lunchtime walks together. Hold brainstorming sessions outside, where the change in scenery can help new ideas come to the surface.

"Research shows that spending time in nature can have a profoundly grounding effect, helping us to become more attuned to how we are feeling, calming the mind and reducing stress," writes Liebenguth.

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