Listen Closely: How Nature Refines Our Ability to Listen, Learn, and Lead

By: Dr. Kristin Johnson

In today’s fast-paced, hyperconnected world, the art of listening is in danger of being drowned out by the noise. We’re bombarded by notifications, multitasking demands, and constant stimulation—conditions that make it increasingly difficult to truly tune in. Yet, our ability to listen—deeply and attentively—is one of the most essential skills for learning, leadership, and human connection.

Surprisingly, one of the most effective ways to restore and sharpen this capacity doesn’t require another app or productivity hack. It requires something much simpler and older: time in nature.

🎧Tuning In

Listening is more than hearing. It’s a complex cognitive skill that depends on focus, emotional regulation, and executive functioning—mental processes that help us manage information, control impulses, and flexibly adapt to changing situations.

According to Dr. Adele Diamond (2013), executive functions like attention control and working memory are fundamental to both academic and interpersonal success. However, these cognitive abilities are easily taxed by stress, over-stimulation, and digital overload.

Nature provides a powerful antidote.

Attention Restoration Theory, first proposed by Kaplan and Kaplan (1989), suggests that natural environments help restore our directed attention—the kind needed for listening and focused learning—by engaging our minds in a gentle, effortless way. Unlike urban settings that constantly demand our attention, nature gives our brains a chance to reset, refresh, and refocus.

🌱Relearning to Listen at Genesee Valley

At Genesee Valley, relearning to listen begins with stepping away from the constant buzz of technology and into the calming rhythms of the natural world. Whether it’s listening to the crunch of leaves underfoot, the rustle of wind through the trees, or the subtle cues from teammates on a ropes course, participants are encouraged to slow down and engage their senses in more intentional ways. A key practice used at Genesee Valley is the "sit spot"—a quiet visit to a specific natural location that encourages stillness and sensory awareness. Research on sit spot practices, grounded in environmental education and mindfulness studies, shows that this intentional time in nature enhances observational skills, deepens ecological connection, and supports emotional regulation and attentional focus (Sobel, 1999; Greenwood, 2013).

Natural environments have been shown to reduce cognitive fatigue and restore attentional capacity (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989), offering the mental space needed for deeper listening and reflection. Being present in the moment is central to this process. Studies in mindfulness and cognitive neuroscience demonstrate that present-moment awareness improves focus, reduces stress, and enhances emotional regulation (Brown & Ryan, 2003; Tang et al., 2015). In this setting, listening becomes more than simply hearing—it becomes a full-body, present-moment experience that nurtures empathy, attentiveness, and trust. Nature becomes both the teacher and the classroom, helping individuals reawaken their capacity to truly listen—to themselves, to others, and to the living world around them.

🌳 Bridging the Gap Between Nature and the Workplace

Listening is consistently ranked as one of the most important leadership and workplace skills—and one of the most lacking. According to the Burning Glass Institute (2021), employers are increasingly seeking “soft” skills like communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence—skills grounded in the ability to listen well.

Nature-based leadership programs offer a unique and powerful way to cultivate these skills. Participants in outdoor experiential learning report increased empathy, improved communication, and stronger team dynamics (Neill & Richards, 1998). In natural settings, people slow down, tune in, and build relationships rooted in authenticity and mutual respect.

As organizations face rising burnout, fractured collaboration, and high employee turnover, investing in environments that support reflection and regulation is not just beneficial—it’s strategic. Nature provides a cost-effective, research-supported way to restore clarity, strengthen connection, and nurture the listening-centered leadership today’s workplace demands.

Stay connected for more in this series as we explore the powerful connection between nature and the development of executive functioning skills.

Sources

Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822

Burning Glass Institute. (2021). The human factor: The hard time employers have finding soft skills. https://www.burningglassinstitute.org/

Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750

Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from https://www.geneseevalley.org

Greenwood, D. A. (2013). A critical theory of place-conscious education. In R. B. Stevenson, M. Brody, J. Dillon, & A. E. J. Wals (Eds.), International Handbook of Research on Environmental Education (pp. 93–100). Routledge.

Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature: A psychological perspective. Cambridge University Press.

Neill, J. T., & Richards, G. E. (1998). Does outdoor education really work? A summary of recent meta-analyses. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 3(1), 2–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03400637

Sobel, D. (1999). Beyond ecophobia: Reclaiming the heart in nature education. Orion Society.

Tang, Y. Y., Hölzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015). The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16(4), 213–225. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3916