Business and Strategic Planning Retreats
We offer offsite business and strategic planning retreats including strategic planning, project development and creativity and design.
Strategic Planning Retreats
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” -Albert Einstein
Strategic planning is not something that can be done by somebody locked in a tower. It takes collaboration between departments. Organizations have created silos and these need to be broken down and ideas need to be shared between the stakeholders. This is no easy task. The process we take in our strategic planning retreats brings together the best of our other retreats, trust building and conflict management before we ever get to work on the strategic plan. Most organizations will tell themselves our interdepartmental communication is fine, and most organizations are lying to themselves. This strategic planning retreat lasts a minimum of 4 days and 3 nights but many decide to stay another day. This is an intense program, that we insist incorporates no more than 6 hours a day in session, and builds in time for recreation, both adventure as well as leisure time and of course great meals.
Project Development Retreats
“Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by the occasion.” –Benjamin Franklin
Lean methodology is utilized to work through the steps of bringing a product or idea to bear. This program utilizes a combination of strict process adherence combined with brainstorming. These combinations at first glance do not seem to mesh, but the process of divergence leads to synergistic ideas that simply would not come forth otherwise. The process takes time, but the results are worth it. The program seems a bit too messy at first for some, but as the concepts come together and the plan is developed we not only create projects that stimulate the group, we build a strong coalition in the process. This coalition becomes the evangelists and champions of the newly defined project creating the path forward for its implementation.
Creativity and Design Retreats
“Rational thoughts never drive people’s creativity the way emotions do.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson
There are times when the creative team just needs to get away from the office. They may need to smell some fresh mountain air, go on an adventure or just relax around a fire without any phones ringing. The creativity and design retreat does contain facilitator led discussion, but it is our most relaxed retreat program. Our goal is to provide the creatives the space and a place to collaborate to unlock their brilliance. The sessions encourage free thinking utilizing brainstorming, nominal group technique, roll playing and improv exercises in a unique combination that will stir the juices of the creative mind. build a relationship. This retreat can last anywhere from a day to three days and it will transform your organization.