Our very first Call of the Wild x Hensol Castle Quarterly Networking ‘Breakfast Serial’ took place last Friday morning — and what a way to kick things off with some leadership lessons from Antarctica!
News
Why Time and Space Matter in Difficult Conversations
Looking for the best way to handle difficult conversations at work? Creating the right time and space for difficult conversations can make those tough talks more productive and less stressful.
Earth Day 2025: The Quiet Strength of Nature
This Earth Day, we’re taking a moment to pause.
To appreciate the quiet strength of nature.
Everything it gives us and how it feeds into sustainable leadership and resilience.
What Is the Toxic Leadership Triangle? A Quick Guide
Toxic leadership doesn’t always show up as one bad apple. Sometimes, it’s a dynamic — a system that allows harmful leadership to take root and grow. This is where the Toxic Leadership Triangle comes in.
From Valley Views to Vision-Setting: How Netwalking Inspires Bigger Thinking
Looking for a meaningful way to bring people together? Netwalking in the Brecon Beacons could be exactly what you need.
In a world of back-to-back meetings, endless notifications, and hybrid working challenges, creating space for fresh thinking and fresh conversations can feel impossible. But what happens when you step away from the screens and into the wild?
3 Ways to Build Resilience with Your Team This Quarter (Without Breaking the Budget)
As we settle into the new financial year and the sunshine lifts our spirits, it’s the perfect time to focus on what really makes teams thrive: resilience. In the face of rising costs and tighter budgets—especially with the recent increase in employer National Insurance contributions—organisations are looking for smart, impactful ways to develop their people without stretching resources.
Spotting and Developing Future Leaders
Spotting and developing future leaders is about more than filling senior roles—it’s about empowering individuals with the skills and confidence to thrive. Yet, many talented people are overlooked for leadership, not because they lack ability, but because they aren’t given the opportunity or support to step up. By recognising potential early and creating the right development pathways, managers can build a stronger, more capable workforce ready to lead with impact.
Unlock Your Future with Call of the Wild This National Careers Week
It’s National Careers Week (NCW) 3-8th March, a dedicated annual event aimed at empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed career choices. NCW highlights the importance of career education, providing students, job seekers and professionals with access to valuable insights, industry trends and expert guidance to support their future aspirations.
At Call of the Wild, we’re here to help you take the next step in your professional journey. Whether you’re looking for expert Career, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG), nationally recognised Level 6 Career Guidance & Development qualifications, or dynamic apprenticeship opportunities, we’ve got you covered! Our tailored career services support individuals and businesses in unlocking their full potential.
Are We Doing Enough to Support Women in Leadership?
With increasing political polarisation, and extreme views are gaining traction, the role of leadership has never been more critical. With figures like Donald Trump shaping global discourse, decisions made thousands of miles away are having ripple effects across businesses, economies, and societies worldwide. Against this backdrop, it’s crucial to ask: are we doing enough to support women in leadership and how can we effectively support the next generation of leaders, particularly women, in navigating these turbulent times?
Unlocking the Future of Careers Advice: How AI is Transforming Career Guidance and Opportunities
In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is often discussed for its potential to cause job losses, one sector is uniquely positioned to harness this technology for good: career advice. AI is not here to replace human advisers, but rather to enhance their ability to provide more personalized, timely, and cost-effective support. By doing so, AI can help more young people and unemployed adults build fulfilling futures.
Harnessing the Power of Hwyl in Team Development with Call of the Wild
Discover the transformative power of hwyl in team development with Call of the Wild. This uniquely Welsh concept of joy, energy, and connection is the key to aligning teams to a shared vision while creating unforgettable moments. At Call of the Wild, we specialise in fostering hwyl through immersive experiences in the stunning landscapes of the Bannau Brycheiniog, helping teams build trust, energise collaboration, and achieve their full potential.
Are Hybrid Workers Not Doing Proper Work? Here’s How to Get It Right
The debate around hybrid working has been reignited recently by comments from Lord Rose, the former boss of Marks & Spencer and Asda, who warned that remote working is creating a generation “not doing proper work.” Speaking to BBC Panorama, he suggested that home working is part of the UK economy’s “general decline” and that employee productivity is suffering.
A Reflection on Kingswood’s Closure: The Importance of Team Building in the Outdoors
We were saddened to hear about the closure of Kingswood, an organisation that has been delivering outdoor experiences across the UK for 40 years. The Kingswood outdoor team building closure is a stark reminder of the financial challenges facing organisations in this space. Rising operational costs, coupled with increasing financial pressures on businesses and individuals, have made it harder for outdoor centres to keep their activities accessible and affordable. The difficult decision to close is a testament to how challenging this market has become.
From Goals to Greatness: Why Your Team Needs a Big Vision for 2025 and Beyond
In a rapidly evolving business landscape, having a bold, long-term vision isn’t just inspiring – it’s essential. Big vision planning for 2025 helps align your team’s goals with the future needs of your organisation and the shifting demands of the market. A clear and ambitious vision energises your team, creates a sense of purpose, and positions your organisation to thrive in the years ahead.
Recharge Over the Festive Break: Get Outdoors
As the year draws to a close it’s crucial to recharge over the festive break, and there’s no better way to disconnect from work stress than by reconnecting with nature. Stepping away from the desk and into the outdoors can boost mental clarity, creativity, and overall well-being. So, over the festive break here are some simple outdoor activities that will leave you refreshed and ready for the new year.
You’ve Made a Difference – Your Growth, Their Futures
Thank You from all of us at Call of the Wild
As we come towards the end of the year and we reflect on the year we’ve had, we want to share some wonderful news with you all. At Call of the Wild, developing people is at the heart of everything we do – not just in the workplace but also in our communities. That’s why we created the Call of the Wild Development Trust, born from our passion for helping people grow.
Leaders and managers need to create ‘clear blue water’ in the workplace
A difficult relationship
During the course of collecting research data for a number of reports, I discovered some common practices amongst senior managers and leaders who were struggling with their relationships with their teams. Many of them were operating in close proximity to the middle or junior managers who were directly reporting to them. They were aware of every action, every decision and, of course, every error. Often they would step in and ‘help’ through all good intentions, and they saw themselves as hands-on and involved. These people were also under constant time demands to complete their day-to-day tasks, as they were spending a considerable time engaged in unproductive and unnecessary effort.
Balancing Wellbeing and Motivation: Hybrid Wellness Check
As the year draws to a close, leading a hybrid team comes with its own set of challenges. Ensuring your team’s wellbeing, while keeping them motivated to finish the year strong, requires careful planning. Call of the Wild’s Hybrid Wellness Check is a powerful tool that can help leaders overcome these challenges, enabling hybrid teams to thrive now and into the new year.
Leadership Lessons from a Snow Day
The first snow has graced the Brecon Beacons, turning the landscape into a breathtaking winter wonderland. As we take in this stunning transformation, we’re reminded of the valuable leadership and resilience lessons nature has to offer. Just like navigating a snow-covered trail, leadership requires adaptability, clarity, and the strength to overcome challenges—qualities that are tested and strengthened in the wild.
The power of accidental ideas – the Post-it® note
Cast your mind back pre-pandemic, and you’d regularly chat to Dave in finance at the water cooler, to Rachel from HR in the kitchen grabbing your sandwiches from the fridge, and to Shalisha from marketing while she’s smacking the printer in an effort for it to work! How many of these conversations were more than incidental chats? How many of them sparked ideas and follow-up meetings because you were relaxed and informal and asking about the person’s day, or what they were busy working on? They could be conversations of joy, or stress from things not going quite to plan.
Call of the Wild Who?
We’ve been running bespoke leadership and management development programmes to businesses and organisations across the UK since 1998 and we’re proud to call Vodafone, the BBC, Credit Suisse, Cable and Wireless and Babcock, TNT, and Barclays amongst our clients.
Our purpose is to create positive, memorable, measurable, and lasting experiences for clients by exciting, engaging, and energising people through activities and tasks! We focus on getting a return on your investment.
“Unforgettable Team Conference” by London-based Exigere
We recently had the pleasure of working with a London-based company, Exigere, for their annual team conference. We welcomed the 80-member group to the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and created an unforgettable experience for them. In the past, they used this time to visit a European city, focusing more on downtime and sundowners. This year, however, they were clear about their intention to maximise the opportunity for personal and team growth during this period of the company’s expansion.
Is hybrid working stifling your business culture?
“When managers create a safe environment to express ideas and make suggestions, employees are 31 times (!) more likely to think their workplace is a breeding ground for innovation. Workplaces that have innovative cultures inspire employee loyalty, confidence, and willingness to give extra.” Great Place To Work