• Change the game, Change your surroundings.
  Go somewhere fun that encourages everyone to engage.  Activities that are fresh
  and unique create a neutral playing field and promote group camaraderie which is  when creativity and teaming start to occur.

• Get clear on what you want to accomplish.
  Too many corporate retreats are purposely-bland affairs that tiptoe around the important issues and designed simply to reinforce the company line.  The problem lies not with the idea of an off-site meeting but rather with how most are conducted.  
• Tackle the tough stuff.
  Many retreats aim for consensus but avoid healthy conflict and controversy.  When complex subjects do come up, they are often ushered to a "parking lot" for discussion by a smaller group after the retreat.  At TRANSITIONS, Real agreement is built when different points of view co-exist in constructive conflict. Consensus isn't so much built as it is hammered out.
  
  
• Invite a crowd.
  In his book The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki demonstrates that the more minds you involve in solving a problem, the better result you will get -- Surowiecki says the keys are:
  
  
  1. Put together a group which has a true diversity of opinion
  2. Create an environment where people are willing to take a full swing at the issues (and not afraid to say what they really think)
  3. Make sure the information they bring comes from a lot of different areas (involve people from all functional areas, departments, and regions)
  4. Have a way of aggregating all of their input into a decision-making process.
     
     
• Plan the agenda -- but not the outcomes.
  Use the time together to genuinely look hard at the company's situation and stay open to the idea that the session might lead you in completely new directions.

• Get outside help.
  If want to really get your folks thinking outside of the box, you're going to need the help of a skilled facilitator.  This allows you to focus in on the real work: Strategic Planning, Visioning, Priority Setting, Role & Responsibilities Clarification and Decision-Making.

How You Will Benefit

• Strengthen Communication Effectiveness
• Improve Relationships
• Cultivate Essential Workplace Skills
• Achieve Greater Results

 “An investment of time for an effective, off-site retreat can be significant, and our goal is to ensure clients realize a return on that investment for the long-term.”

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What our clients say about coming to TRANSITIONS:

"…The setting itself is so great, you can’t help but be inspired!... “