By Tammy L. Aagard, Ed.D, Managing Consultant, ̽»¨Â¥ Consulting
Since 2020, the amount of stress experienced by faculty and staff in higher education has increased significantly, with reporting that they are often or always emotionally exhausted.
Leadership and staff retreats are powerful tools to inspire, refocus, and energize teams. By stepping back from daily pressures, teams can regroup, heal, and plan strategically. Retreats are effective at building or strengthening teams, breaking down silos, and giving staff time and space to recharge. Organizational psychologist and author notes that retreats foster creativity, boost productivity, and build a healthy and sustainable work environment.
Planning Your Retreat
Once you have determined that a retreat would be beneficial for your team, consider these key elements for a successful retreat:
Goals. Clearly defined goals influence the content, structure, and even the location of the event. Common objectives include team building, training, professional development, and planning for the upcoming academic year.
Timing. Summer is ideal for retreats due to a slower pace and fewer campus meetings, allowing for time and space for people to reflect, engage, and focus. This timing supports focus, engagement, and preparation for the new academic year.
Location. Moving the retreat off-site enhances focus and encourages fresh perspectives. On-campus venues are often cost-effective, whereas off-campus locations require additional planning for travel time and catering. Consider staff obligations, such as family responsibilities, when scheduling to ensure accessibility and a standard end time aligned with the workday.
Structure. It is essential to consider the retreat's structure. Many leadership retreats are merely off-site meetings. There is nothing gained by just changing the location for a standard planning meeting, as it does not yield creative thinking or provide what is needed to re-energize the team. The retreat should have a purpose, and every activity should have a purpose. A theme, while not mandatory, can center the agenda and activities, as well as create excitement and anticipation for the event. Incorporating a pithy, short book is one strategy. During a past retreat, we utilized the book titled "" by Walter Nusbaum and Daren Martin, Ph.D. It was a quick read, but it provided a springboard for activities and discussions around process improvement and investing in the division's success.
Content. Designing activities to engage attendees with a balance of professional development content, team-building activities, and opportunities to freely share ideas with each other is critical. Content might include:
Having the leader provide short insights into the direction of the unit for the next academic year helps the team pull together to support that direction.
Holding short professional development sessions in a TED Talk format, followed by discussion, helps to cultivate the next generation of leaders.
Creating unconventional activities and play that can increase interaction between team members and help to cross division lines and leadership levels. They provide the vehicle for team members to work together, to get to know one another, and to challenge and support each other. Example opportunities for play are:
Having a four-square tournament (based on the “” book by Kevin Carroll),
Solving an escape box with a clues scavenger hunt
Incorporating an Apollo 13 activity where attendees build something to solve a problem from a box of random items and explain it to the group.
Activities may also include more physical (and costly) actions, such as ropes courses (both low- and high-ropes), miniature golf, bumper boats, and bowling. When including more physical activities, ensure accessibility for all participants.
Leading the Event. The retreat does not need to be a top-down event. Initially, the retreat may be planned and conducted by senior leaders in the division. As a retreat becomes integrated into the organization's culture, incorporating more individuals into content development and presentation is optimal.
Tips for a Successful Retreat
Designate a technology parking lot. Providing a cell phone and computer parking lot permits participants to focus on the task at hand. Incorporating time for people to check messages during breaks can provide a balance between focus and remaining connected.
Allow for organic interactions. There is a tendency to schedule every minute of the retreat and to overproduce the event. Avoid overscheduling and embrace flexibility to allow for spontaneous connections. This can lead to some unexpected and delightful outcomes, like a buttoned-down registrar leading a dance party to “.”
Include others in the planning and execution. Engage team members in planning the retreat. With clear goals, a budget, and guardrails, a retreat planning team can be very effective.
Be authentic. Letting your team see the human side of the leaders behind the decisions strengthens trust and culture.
End thoughtfully. If content is covered early, conclude the retreat rather than returning to the office. Allow attendees time for reflection to maximize the day’s impact.
Well-planned and thoughtful retreats can produce immediate and long-term benefits including breaking down silos, strengthening teams, developing the next generation of leaders, and creating or enhancing a healthy office culture.
To learn more about how ̽»¨Â¥ can support your planning efforts, visit ̽»¨Â¥’s Resources online and contact ̽»¨Â¥ Consulting for more information on our professional coaching support, or contact us via email at consulting@aacrao.org.