Objectives: Retreats play a major role in the rejuvenation of high
performance teams and YPO forums. Help from a professional facilitator
can make a major difference and yield long lasting results.
Executive Summary: As a professional facilitator, Eva helps corporate
teams and YPO forums plan their retreats. Planning involves defining
the purpose and goals for the retreat and the selection of committee
members, budget, geographical location, venue and correct balance
between "work" and recreational team building activities. Eva can
either be involved in the planning and facilitating of the entire
retreat or she can assist just in the planning phase.
It All Begins with Attitude:
A great attitude does much more than turn on
the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to
all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent
before the change.
When forum/team members come to a retreat with an open mind, a positive
attitude, a willingness to engage and a sense of humor, they'll
have a successful retreat. When each forum member has a specific
role to play in the retreat, they each have a stake in creating
a productive experience.
From There We Add Some Balance:
Striking the right balance between "fun", recreational
and social activity and "work" is very important. Work
in retreats includes exercises to create a united vision, foster
team connectedness and creativity, instill trust and respect, commitment
and personal insights among members. Fun activities bring humor
and laughter that promote learning and teamwork and community building.
Retreats that are packed with "too much," feel over-structured,
rushed and can be very exhausting. This is at odds with the original
purpose of the retreat. On the other hand, working after dinner
into the “magic” of the night with a blazing campfire,
can be a winning combination.
And a Hefty Dose of Creativity:
The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new
landscapes but in having new eyes.
The most successful retreats are those where the activities and exercises
are most memorable (our minds tend to forget the ordinary). Ways to
expand learning and creativity include making use of creative, "right
brain", artistic expression. Incorporating drawing, acting, articles
of clothing, and various "personality objects" to help participants
describe their style can be stimulating ways to tap into the unconscious
and our creative sources. Effective ways to foster exploration and
laughter include engaging in "out of comfort zone" activities
such as cooking or gardening for men and hunting for women. Collaborating
together in creative, unique ways ultimately becomes ingrained into
the DNA of the team/Forum that bonds the group together.
Outcomes:
Shared vision
Energized Forum/team members
Deepened connectedness and creativity
Strengthened commitment
Time Frame: Retreats can range from 1 day to several days in length.
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