Senior Leadership Retreat: Sailing Towards Professional Development Aboard a Private Charter
Do you want a unique venue for your corporate retreat this year? You may even want to pay for a private charter, where you take your team on a private yacht away from other people so you can all focus on the retreat goals. However, do you understand all the steps in building a successful retreat?
What Is a Leadership Retreat?
When you plan a leadership retreat, you plan to take your leadership team out of the office. During the retreat, you work on teamwork strategies and use play to build relationships and solve problems. These events get your staff out of the stress and diligent work of the office and away from distractions. You may invite your executive staff, managers, supervisors, team leads, or any aspiring leaders you recognize in your company.
Define the Goals for Your Retreat
When you plan a company retreat, define your event goals. Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Encourage your attendees to develop their retreat objectives, e.g., meeting individuals from other departments to encourage collaborations or learning key leadership characteristics and strategies so they can move up in the company.
Start your goal development by holding a meeting with your company stakeholders. Determine who will attend and why. Clarify the demographics of the group, including their locations. Calculate the time you need and how much you want to spend.
Create an Agenda
As you plan your leadership retreat, create an agenda to share with everyone you plan to invite. You must inform them what to expect, especially if they need to pack specific items and the retreat’s goals. Therefore, start your agenda with your objectives and goals.
An agenda also helps you develop an accurate budget. You choose the activities that you want to provide and determine their exact costs. You can also choose activities that fit your budget if it is tight. Also, plan any meals you hope the staff will eat together.
Your agenda should include all your planned meals, tasks, activities, and time off. You can break it out into hours or a timeline to clarify what you expect from your attendees. Consider asking for feedback from those attending and adjusting your agenda accordingly.
Leadership Retreat Activities
Your leadership conference or retreat should have plenty of activities. Include wellness strategies that help your staff relax and release their stress. Consider exercise classes, guided cooking tasks, or a massage. Build icebreakers that help your leaders get to know each other better and start learning in a fun, lighthearted spirit. Give them opportunities to learn junior and senior leadership skills.
Include time for your leaders to meditate on what they learn and time to rejuvenate alone. Plan activities that push the attendees out of their comfort zones, such as a ropes course, scavenger hunt, or water skiing. Include conversations and tasks that encourage your staff to consider their futures, where they want to be and grow, and future plans for the company. Finally, include evening or down-time activity options and arts and crafts ideas.
Bonding Moments Aboard a Private Charter
If you are in an area where you can lease a private charter, you can use this time to help your team bond. First, they can use the time on board to relax and unplug while enjoying the scenery and weather and getting to know each other better. However, you can also work with the charter company to help them learn to work as a team to sail the yacht or boat. Not only is this a team-building opportunity, but it also pushes your team out of their comfort levels.
Preparation is the key to a successful retreat. Take your time and explore your options for your next leadership event.