A successful Board Retreat provides a number of very positive benefits, however a mediocre or poor one will haunt you for what will seem like forever! This is a great article from Kasey Nishimura…………………
With this being the season of Board of Directors to assimilate smoothly and effectively meld with those continuing their terms, a question is asked about what constitutes a successful Board Retreat. After many years of assisting organizations with their retreats and soliciting their feedback on best practices and those that are most productive, there are some important points to consider:
- Location – the most productive outcomes usually involve taking your Board out of town. Remove them from the lure or ease of running back to the office or even home. Immerse them in a different setting without distractions. Bonding, networking and productivity will come together naturally.
- Venue – When choosing a venue, keep in mind the seasonality of their rate structures. Are you paying top dollar due to your preferred dates being considered high season? Are discounts offered for patterns involving weekdays or weekends?
- Packaging – does the venue offer packaging that involves accommodation, meeting room rental, audio visual and food & beverage on a per person basis to assist you with budgeting?
- Facilitator – A skilled facilitator is an important component to a successful retreat and can ensure valuable meeting time is kept on track and on task. They can assist in setting the tone for the term ahead.
- Pre-Work – Ensure you’re new and continuing Directors are given the pre-work and background information well in advance of the retreat so they have sufficient time to review the details. This would include the objectives and strategies that are wanting to be achieved. With having time with this information, everyone can be prepared and discussions can hopefully produce outcomes and consensus where needed.
- Team Building Activity – Consider bringing your new board closer together with a team building activity. This has proven to be a very worthwhile investment to get everyone acquainted and engaged.
The retreat could also serve as a potential site inspection should the location be in consideration for your organization’s AGM or Annual Conference. Guest room rates and meeting room rentals could be potentially discounted should this be a scenario that the venue wish to entertain.
Is your organization looking for new or “outside the box” retreat ideas or suggestions? Are you looking for creative ways of increasing the attendance for your Continuing Education events with a possibility of having attendees involve their families and with a potential incentive included? If so, please get in touch with Kasey Nishimura by email at knishimura@sunpeaksgrand.com.
