"The world glorifies hustle. But the smartest leaders know that time for thinking and reflection drives real performance."
“I see it every week,” says Jane, smiling.
“Leaders working harder. Non-stop days, cluttered with interruptions, firefighting and noise. The constant pressure draining focus and judgement. But the fix isn’t another meeting; it’s a change of environment.”
For Jane Fisher, founder of Fresh Perspectives North East, the outdoors isn’t a perk, it’s a leadership performance tool.
“Getting outdoors enhances how we think, plan and collaborate,” she explains. “Yet it remains one of the most underused, proven performance tools we have.”
The Leadership Problem
Leadership capacity is stretched. Recent surveys reveal more than half of business leaders feel overworked or burnt out, many considering stepping back or changing direction. Global insights echo this, with senior executives citing decision fatigue and shrinking headspace as barriers to performance.
“Leaders are operating in a constricted environment of persistent stress,” Jane observes, “still having to make those critical decisions. Yet you can’t think clearly in such captivity.”
The Science of Stepping Outside
“I’m a scientist at heart,” laughs Jane, “which matters, because everything I advocate is backed by evidence.
“For example, strategic rest isn’t downtime, it’s a strategic advantage. The brain’s default mode network – the part that joins ideas, fuels creativity and supports good decisions, switches on when we pause and step away.”
And stepping outdoors is one of the quickest ways to activate the system.
“Even 10-30 minutes a day outdoors, barely 2% of your time, can lift clarity, focus and mood, while lowering stress – all boosting performance.” she adds. “Build that habit, and the gains compound. That’s not indulgence – that’s investment!”
Better Judgement, Sharper Strategy
“When I take leaders outside, the shift is visible,” Jane says. “Shoulders drop, breathing slows, reactions give way to reflection and exploration. Within minutes, clarity and ideas appear.”
This is leadership in motion – turning movement into strategic momentum and business results.
“It’s not about slowing down,” she adds. “It’s about speeding up the right way. Getting outdoors strips away distraction, stimulates innovative thinking and resets fatigue to sharpen judgements and strengthen strategies.”
Make Outdoors a Habit
Jane’s advice? “Stop waiting for the big away day! Use small steps daily: take a short strategy walk, a call on the move, a step outside before big decisions. For habit is where performance builds.”
And that’s the rationale behind The Fresh Perspective 90- Day Challenge, a business-led initiative helping North East leaders develop an Outdoors Habit.
“Many of the world’s most progressive businesses – brands we know, are getting outdoors already.” highlights Jane, “And I believe that within the next 5 to 10 years, all forwardthinking businesses will spend at least 20 percent of their working week outdoors. Habitually.”
To find out more about Fresh Perspectives NE, and the 90-Day Challenge, contact Jane: 07837 024 374, hello@fpne.co.uk or visit the website www.fpne.co.uk