In this episode of WILD Walks, we explore a quieter—but powerful—truth:
Even when you say nothing, your pace, availability, and presence are setting the tone.
Cooling the Hive is a guided walking meditation for leaders who are always “on”—those holding it all together while unintentionally signaling that rest isn’t safe and burnout is just part of the job.
Through the metaphor of a beehive—and the climate it takes to sustain it—you’ll be invited to reflect on the energy you’re modeling for your team and shift toward a more sustainable rhythm.
Whether you're walking through city streets or a forest path, this episode is a reset. A reminder.
You are the climate.
In this 15-minute episode, you’ll experience:
✅ A breath-based intention setting practice
🐝 A nature metaphor rooted in the collective rhythm of the hive
🌀 Reflection prompts to help you reset your leadership pace
🌬 A walking mantra to cool the urgency loop
🌱 A mindset shift to lead with presence, not pressure
At Gather and Grow, we support leaders at pivotal growth moments—where alignment creates clarity, empowers teams, and fuels what’s next. Ready to grow? Get in touch.
Transcripts
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So if you're not already walking, go ahead. Get started now. Lace up. Bring your breath. That's all you need. This walk will take 10 to 15 minutes. Maybe your short [00:01:00] commute to the tube if you're in London like me, or a couple laps around the block in your neighborhood, or an intentional walk in your local park, or even a bigger hike around your space.
Wherever your nature is, get out in it
I wonder if you can hear the [:
today. Uh, this walk is designed for the leader who's always on, always responsive, always visible, always holding the weight of what it means to model leadership.
ork, but your availability at:
And we know that burnout is not just an individual issue, it's a systemic signal. And as a leader, you shape the climate more than anyone else. It's part of your [00:03:00] responsibility.
So as you continue walking, I want you to set an intention, not just for yourself today, but for the ecosystem that you're a part of. You might say. I regulate the pace that I set, or I create the conditions for others to thrive, not just survive.
And see if you can let your steps reflect that. Let this walk be where leadership doesn't mean effort. It means energy stewardship, energy management.
on to your body. Is your jaw [:
Are you already a few steps ahead of yourself?
Can you breathe a little deeper? Walk a little slower.
Now, a big part of these walks are a moment to connect with nature, so let's tune into your surroundings.
What's buzzing around you, literally and figuratively?
Are you walking through stillness or can you sense some subtle movements?
Notice what's moving [:
Now, let this moment tell you something about your own inner climate,
and just as we do for every walk, we're gonna connect with nature in an even deeper way. And today is all about the hive in a beehive, the internal temperature must stay within a really narrow but stable range for the colony to survive. And if the hive gets too hot, too much buzz, too much activity, the eggs can't grow.
The queen becomes [:
And the Hive is a system of collective care, not just relentless production, but collective care.
oducing you signal that rest [:
but when you pause, model presence. And protect your own rhythm. You give your team permission to regulate too. You are not the queen bee. You are the climate.
So as you continue walking, ask yourself gently, what kind of pace am I modeling for my team right now?
hat it means to succeed here?[:
Who might be mimicking my overextension thinking? It's the price of belonging.
No shame in these questions. Just awareness, because awareness creates a space for the new rhythms to emerge.
So as you continue to walk, imagine now you are regulating your own leadership.
A small wing beat. Each step is a chance to cool the hive.
Now I invite you to repeat [:
I lower the temperature,
I make rest safe again.
You are allowed to stop fanning the fire of urgency. You are here to fan the wind of sustainability. The whole, hi. Well, thank you.
looks to you to set the pace.[:
Return to your role, not just as a leader of task, but a tender of the climate.
Say quietly to yourself. Now I choose a pace that others can live inside.
Let that truth just settle in your body, like the honey and the comb. Slow, sweet, sustaining.
And as [:
What's one small behavior I can shift this week to signal a new rhythm?
Where can I actively cool the hive through rest, boundaries or invitation.
Anique: You're not leading in isolation. You're leading in. And your presences more than you know.
th me today. This is what it [:
If this walk shifted your perspective, come back anytime and share it with another leader who might be ready to cool the hive to. Until next time, stay present. Lead with heart and stay wild.
