Whit Monday marked the debut of my first-ever coaching hike workshop – and overall, it was a great success. Six participants, including myself, set off for the Brauneck-Summit and the Mountains around Lenggries to experience a day where coaching met nature, movement, and meaningful group connection. The group size turned out to be perfect: small enough for depth and intimacy, yet large enough for dynamic exchange. Working in pairs allowed for focused dialogue, and a warm, open atmosphere emerged naturally.
The Route and the Setting
The hiking route covered about 15 kilometers and was physically quite demanding – especially the steep ascent on a plain gravel path. While that particular section wasn’t the most scenic, the vibrant greenery, fresh air, and positive group energy more than made up for it – also the broad road made it possible to change conversation partners flexibly and made it easy to walk side by side. We paused at a mountain hut for lunch and eventually even reached the summit to enjoy the view. To round off the day, some of us jumped into the Isar river – the perfect refreshing end to a fulfilling experience. After that, in order to fetch the train in time, we had a spontaneous run in our hiking gear to the train station – as a team and with the time pressure it felt a little bit like a military drill and marked a cool way to lift the collective spirit and end the day on a high note.
The Coaching Elements: Theory, Practice, and Connection
The day was split into two main parts. In the morning, I gave a short introduction to coaching fundamentals – including how it differs from consulting and mentoring. I presented coaching as a solution-oriented thinking process where the coach acts as a thinking partner, primarily through questions. This was followed by our first practical exercise: active listening. One person shared a story while the other simply listened – no feedback, no comments – and then repeated what they had heard as accurately as possible. This simple yet powerful exercise led to immediate insights about how rarely we truly listen, what nuances we can sense this way – and how healing it can be to just be heard.
In the afternoon, we explored powerful questioning techniques and a systems thinking approach. The group then practiced real coaching conversations, using personal topics and working in pairs. What stood out to me was how open and brave everyone was in sharing their stories – and how attentively and empathetically they coached each other. There was nothing forced or artificial about it – genuine depth and connection emerged. Also bearing in mind that this was the first time coaching for most of them, they were brilliant – and already new perspectives where explored and innovative solutions for problems have been found.
My Personal Takeaways as Facilitator
It was an intense day – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I realized how demanding it is to lead a workshop while holding space for the group, managing time and logistics, guiding exercises, and also participating in them. Especially during the hike, I often had to make spontaneous decisions: Are people still in their coaching sessions? Can we continue walking? Where is the group right now? At times I found myself walking back and forth, calling people or signaling with a whistle – I hadn’t quite anticipated how much coordination would be required on the move.
Content-wise, I learned that less is more. I had initially prepared additional material on topics like leadership and coaching in business settings – but it became clear that alternating between short theory inputs and hands-on practice was the right choice. That was also reflected in the feedback I received. The exercises took center stage, and the group reflections afterward were often the most impactful moments.
Looking Ahead
I’m genuinely proud of how well the format worked – and of how deeply the participants engaged with coaching as a topic. Coaching plays such a key role in leadership and personal growth, and I’m seriously considering making it an even stronger focus of future sessions. It’s a space where I feel confident, experienced, and able to provide real value.
This first edition was an intense and inspiring starting point. I’m taking a lot of learnings with me – on a content, facilitation, and organizational level – and I’m already looking forward to developing the format further. This won’t be the last one – and I’m excited for what’s to come.
