As destinations go, Tenerife has to one of the best for work getaways.
A host of five star hotels are ready to host your corporate conferences
or perhaps your retreat would better suit a luxurious private villa
with pool?
For an unforgettable incentive trip you can take advantage of all
the varied activities that Tenerife has to offer from Quad biking and
horse riding to corporate golf tournaments or ocean trips.
The following tips from respected motivator, Ron Kauffman, will help
make your retreat a roaring success whether in Tenerife or at your
own home office.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Circulate
Post-Retreat Actions and Agreements:
Put decisions
and new action plans in writing. Send copies to retreat participants
with an encouraging or congratulatory note from the top.
Gather
Inputs and Recommendations:
After the event,
gather ideas for further improvement. Ask what participants want more
of, and less of, at your next management retreat.
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.
Ron Kaufman
- Active Learning!
E-Mail: Ron@RonKaufman.com
Web: http://www.RonKaufman.com
© Copyright 1996 - 2007 Ron Kaufman.
All rights reserved.