10 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT RETREAT
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Motivation |
Enduring Motivation
Unmotivated Employees
Motivating Yourself
Maximum Motivation
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Success |
Success From Scratch
Lessons For Success
Success Secrets
Successful Life Choices
10 Keys to Success
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Management |
Building A Better Boss
Skills of an Effective Manager
Fortune Cookie Management
Managing Fairness
Management & Training
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Leadership |
Unifying Leadership
4 Lessons for Leaders
Take Action
Leadership Behind the Walls
Leadership Pitfalls
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Goal Setting |
Commit To A Goal
Work Smart
Choosing a Profession
A Determined Will
Be A Goal Getter....
One Race at a Time
Management retreats are tremendous opportunities to review, assess, align and move forward. Get the most out of your next retreat through effective planning and preparation.
1. Select your site with care.
* Your management retreat can be held on-site (at your place of work), or off-site (at a home, hotel or conference venue). Each has its advantages. * On-site events keep costs low and familiar business facilities close at hand.
* Off-site events reduce distraction and
can promote
a "big picture" perspective.
* Be careful not
to mismatch
your event theme
and conference
facility. If your
theme is "nose
to the grindstone", don't hold your retreat at
Disneyland. If your theme is
"stepping back to view the horizon",
don't hold your retreat in a busy downtown
conference center.
2. Design your sequence with care.
* The timing of activities is a key to your success. Decide up front whether you want a high-intensity working event, a laid-back and relaxing retreat, or a balanced program combining both worlds. * If you intend to combine work and play, consider
carefully which should go first.
* "Work first, play later" gives participants
something
to look forward to, and a reason to
get through
business issues quickly.
* "Play first, work later" sets a tone of
enjoyment for
the program and puts work issues closer
to your
return to the office.
* "Work, Play, Work" lets you get started
on business issues, take a break, and
then come back to
complete your work after gaining some
recreational perspective.
3. Circulate a Pre-Retreat Agenda.
* Let people know what your objectives are for the retreat. Give them an opportunity to prepare for full and constructive participation. 4. Use Meal Breaks to your Advantage.
* Use meal breaks to continue your program. Arrange seating to foster appropriate communication. Turn some coffee breaks into "working breaks" with refreshments served inside your
conference room.
* Select food carefully. Avoid fried foods
and heavy gravies - both put participants
to sleep!
* Start lunches with a salad, never soup.
Salad can be served in an instant, or
be ready on the table when your participants
arrive. Soup takes time to come hot from
the kitchen, and can set your entire agenda
back by 10-20 minutes.
* If you plan to have drinking during dinner,
let the evening events be fun!
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Miscellaneous Articles |
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Learning For Success |
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Self Assessments |
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Mind Openers for Managers |
5. Present New Perspectives. * Create perspective not usually seen at the office. Use examples outside your industry to highlight key points. Engage external speakers to share cross-industry knowledge and experience.
6. Involve Customers as your Guests. * Bring in customers for specific portions of your retreat. Golf games are traditional, but customer panels and discussion groups can also bring good results. 7. Involve Suppliers as your Guests. * Strengthening your partnership with suppliers makes good business sense. Suppliers can bring unique value to your management retreat through industry perspective and competitive awareness. * Put decisions and new action plans in writing. Send copies to retreat participants with an encouraging or congratulatory note from the top. 9. Gather Inputs & Recommendations. * After the event, gather ideas for further improvement. Ask what participants want more of, and less of, at your next management retreat. 10. Use an Outside Process Facilitator. * It may be useful to engage a professional facilitator to help with your retreat. Outside talent can bring years of experience to help design your event. A competent outsider can also serve as the "impartial party", keeping your group on focus and making sure that everyone speaks, and is heard. * If you use an outside facilitator, don't let him be caught uninformed! Provide detailed briefings about your business and about the management personalities involved. v
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