How often do you slow down long enough to notice what’s quietly thriving beneath the surface—just out of view? Sometimes, the best leadership lessons aren’t found in boardrooms or books, but in simplicity and awareness that’s often found through everyday chores or hobbies.

Last year’s mushrooming season in the Northeast was abundant—full of surprises tucked beneath bark and leaves, just waiting to be discovered. This year? Not so much. A dry summer has left the forest floor quiet… stingy with its gifts. For those of us who love the hunt, it’s been harder to find those little specks of joy that might make for a delicious dinner (or at least a good story!).

Even in a sparse season and as an amateur forager, I find mushrooming offers something very special. It forces you to balance a deep sense of connectedness with what’s around and under you while disconnecting from the pressures and noise of day-to-day. You can’t rush through the woods and expect to spot anything. You must take time to notice subtle shifts in color, texture, and shape. You must train your subconscious to catch what doesn’t quite belong – what nature is offering up, if you’re paying attention.

I’m sure the pros have a better system. They know which trees host which fungi, which weeks are best for which species, and often have marked locations that spore year after year like a trusted friend who always shows up for you …. quietly, reliably, ready to give. But for a newbie like me, it’s less about the harvest and more about the experience. The musty smell of soil and decay. The quiet thrill of finding something unexpected behind a tree or nestled in moss. The surprise of looking up to stare into the face of an observant Bard Owl, watching me…watching it. And then, of course, the cautious ritual of flipping through guidebooks to make sure I’m not about to poison myself. My edible list is short—three or four mushrooms I trust completely. That’s my comfort zone.

So, what does mushrooming have to do with leadership?

1. Slow Down

We move fast. Too fast. In our rush to check boxes and meet deadlines, we miss the small cues all around us… body language, tone shifts, moments of hesitation or energy shifts in a room. We forget to listen to our instincts. We overlook the emotional landscape of our teams, our clients, ourselves. Mushrooming reminds me that insight often lives in the subtle, and that slowing down is a form of respect. Consider what times in your day or week allow you to slow down and take stock of how your body feels, where your energy lies, and what your instincts might be telling you. Hold space for these.

2. Stay Humble

Even the experts will tell you: there are hundreds of mushrooms they can’t identify. Thousands of species across the U.S. alone. The field is vast, and no one knows it all. Leadership is the same. We gather knowledge, yes – but we also learn to discern what’s worth keeping, what’s worth passing on, and what we need to let go of. Not every experience deserves permanent shelf space in our memory. Some things are better composted. Be intentional about what falls “above the line” and “below the line” and let go of things that do not justify your mental or emotional energy.

3. Be Alone Sometimes

There’s power in solitude. When I walk alone in the woods, I drop into a kind of flow … my body moves, my mind processes, and something instinctual takes over. It’s not unlike the clarity that comes during a long bike ride, a walk on the beach, or a quiet drive. In leadership, we need those moments. Time to reflect, to feel, to listen inward. Time to notice what’s shifting in us. If you don’t have this built into your daily operating system, look for a good window of time (often in the morning or evening) to consider the day, celebrate your wins, give grace to your losses, and consider what’s next.

 My invitation to you?

Slow down. Let some things go. And be okay with your own thoughts and feelings. They have a lot to teach us – when we’re willing to listen.

What’s one quiet moment you’ve had recently that taught you something unexpected about yourself? Your leadership? Your team?