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CUSTOM RETREATS
Are you planning or considering a team retreat?
We can help with a custom retreat focused on your goals.
We'll be pleased to work with you in planning a custom retreat that will have long-term impact for your group. In considering preliminary aspects of a retreat let's go back to basics. What is a retreat and what is its purpose? As defined in Merriam-Webster dictionary a couple of definitions are:
 1: an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable
2: a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director
- Your retreat may be for either of these reasons. The approach to be taken to each would certainly be different. If your reasons slant toward #2 above, you might anticipate that team response to the plan is favorable. Alternatively, there are certainly times when there is conflict in a group or there are roadblocks to productivity. In these cases definition #1 may apply and you might feel uncertain about how your team will respond. On the other hand, your retreat may be a yearly one that you take for the purpose of reviewing progress of your last year and considering direction for the future.
Whatever your reasons may be for your retreat, it is important to have a game plan in place to effectively guide your team toward solutions and growth. We will be pleased to help you move in the direction of your goals.
"We liked that Suzanne Boswell and Jean Corcoran were willing and able to customize their programs to our specific needs. With our small group, we were able to learn by utilizing the reference material, interactive conversations and role playing. The classes were informative and fun. They are a great team and each has different insights to offer."
--John M. Williams
Client: Niamtu, Alexander, Keeney, Harris, Metzger, Dymon & Associates, P.C., Richmond, VA
- Retreat location: Disney ship "Wonder" - Topics: Dream Team and Maalox Moments (see below)
What topics are offered for retreats?
 The topics we offer relate to interpersonal communications, teambuilding, and conflict management. These topics may comprise the entire retreat or be a part of it, with your own issues comprising the balance.
Well in advance of any retreat we will conduct a needs analysis to understand the issues to be addressed and to determine your primary goals for the sessions. In some cases, we may conduct a survey of employees or management to better understand your group.
There are many options in the topics; Below are a couple of ideas. First consider what your goals are, then consider what topics fit into that overall picture. Details on all topics can be found in the "Seminar" links.
.jpg) SINGLE PROGRAM TOPIC:
Overcoming and Managing 5 Team Dysfunctions
HOURS: 6-12 classroom hours
FACILITATORS: Suzanne Boswell & Jean Corcoran, Ph.D.
DUAL PROGRAMS*:
TOPIC #1: Developing the Dream Team
HOURS: 3-5 classroom hours
FACILITATOR: Suzanne Boswell
TOPIC #2: Managing Maalox Moments
Hours 3-6 classroom hours
FACILITATORS: Suzanne Boswell & Jean Corcoran, Ph.D.
*Alternative topics are found on the Seminar topics pages related to your profession.
Why consider an offsite retreat for your team?
- An off-site retreat helps teams focus on a particular issue, goal or concern. If a team meeting is held at your workplace, it is probable that people will be distracted by their own workloads, phone calls, emails, paperwork etc. When this happens, focus is broken and the distractions are counterproductive for all involved.
- Meeting in a new environment, one that is unrelated to the work environment or political turf, can provide a leveling influence and help people to think more clearly and speak more freely. In their traditional work environment they are surrounded with symbols of hierarchy and it may be hard for them to break out of a political mindset.
- A break from the business routine can help your team think more creatively.
- Retreats can provide opportunities for teams to bond and to strengthen relationships.
- An offsite retreat can provide a "break" from the traditional workplace that balances work with enlightenment and social interaction
Bottom line is that a retreat at your workplace may not truly be a retreat in the team's mind. If it's at their workplace, it may be seen as a meeting that can carry with it the dread some people have of meetings. The term "retreat" does carry with it certain expectations. One of those expectations relates to the word "retreat" which means "group withdrawal". To your team, that hopefully means, away from the workplace to a location of less pressure.
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