Impactful Retreats

A well-planned and executed retreat achieves three key objectives:
•  Provides focused time to achieve a specific goal (a new direction, a complex problem solved, etc)
•  Builds stronger relationships
•  Builds a more cohesive and aligned team

When time or budget are significant constraints, it is possible to put together on-site retreats.  (Post-COVID, we no longer recommend virtual retreats.)

Taking time off to participate in a retreat is one thing, but taking the time off to plan the content and logistics for a retreat is another. This is where we can help.

Our approach is flexible, and depends on your needs. There are three ways we can work together:

•  Plan the agenda: We'll do the heavy lifting, and plan the activities, workshops, pre-work – even the fun activities.  We work collaboratively to ensure that the retreat agenda supports your overall objectives.

•  Deliver the presentations: We'll customize our programs, arrange pre-work, present the content, and run the workshops.  For workshops that are beyond our direct knowledge, we will tap into our wide network of professional trainers and subject matter experts, and bring them to the retreat.

•  Facilitation Support: It's challenging for leaders to participate fully in the sessions when they also try to be the facilitator.  We can either directly facilitate the entire event, facilitate key sessions only, or provide "behind the scenes support" if you would prefer to do it all yourself.

Before the event:
•  Pre-reading specific articles
•  Small group assignment

Arrival:
•  Kick-off presentation by CEO
•  Session 1:  Trends, or topics
•  Dinner
•  Team-building social activity

Day one:
•  Early morning: Yoga or other fitness activity
•  Breakfast
•  Session 2:  Presentations of small group assignment
•  Session 3: Skill-building session
•  Lunch
•  Team-building activity
•  Session 4: Facilitated brainstorm session on topic
•  Free time
•  Dinner
•  Small group work on "project" based on earlier sessions

Day two:
•  Early morning: Yoga or other fitness activity
•  Session 5:  Presentations/discussions from evening project work
•  Session 6: Next steps planning/Implementation
•  Session 7: Motivational presentation
•  Lunch, Closing presentation by CEO
•  Check-out and departure

One week after the event:
•  1h session to review retreat outcomes and re-focus 

This example agenda is based on our management training program, but adapted for a retreat.

Two weeks before the event:
•  Pre-reading specific articles
•  Attend in-person Critical Thinking workshop "set up" virtual session (30m)
•  Small group assignment:  Issues and Trends

Arrival:
•  Kick-off presentation (by CEO, HR leader, or senior manager)
•  Session 1:  MBA in a day, part one
•  Dinner
•  Team-building social activity

Day one:
•  Early morning: Yoga or other fitness activity
•  Breakfast
•  Session 2: MBA in a day, part two
•  Session 3: Critical Thinking Workshop (including Issues and Trends assignment)
•  Lunch
•  Session 4: Management Essentials
•  Team-building activity
•  Free time
•  Dinner
•  Small group work on Issues and Trends report

Day two:
•  Issues and Trends report due
•  Early morning: Yoga or other fitness activity
•  Session 5:  Presentation Skills training
•  Session 6: Presentation of Issues and Trends
•  Session 7: Motivational presentation
•  Lunch, Closing presentation (by CEO, HR leader, or senior manager)
•  Check-out and departure

One week after the event:
• 1h coaching sessions with each team member