Photo by Yan Krukov

A successful retreat doesn’t only come from the activities planned for the weekend. It comes from having a leader who has a good understanding of the needs of their group and the activities that will support them. It comes from creating a retreat experience that supports the group. Here are 5 key tips on how to lead a successful retreat for your professional group:

Plan ahead

The first tip on leading a successful retreat is to plan ahead. Planning ahead doesn't just mean setting dates and making sure the location — such as the one over at https://www.evinsmill.com/meetings —is available, it also means understanding the needs of your group. If most of your group members are introverts, they may not want a weekend full of activities while if most of your group members are extroverts they may want more activities.

Stay involved

The best way to lead a successful retreat is to be present. Whether it’s going on walks, engaging in the activities of the retreat, or just being attentive in general, always be engaged and involved with your group. This will give them confidence in you as a leader and create a sense of closeness.

Communicate

It’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey. If you want your group to feel satisfied at the end of the weekend and be open to returning in the future, you need to make sure they know why they’re there. What are you hoping to achieve? Create goals with your group so that everyone knows what they are working towards.

When structuring your retreat schedule, it's important to consider how activities can support your goals and objectives for the retreat weekend. If one goal is team-building, then one activity might be a scavenger hunt where teams work together to find clues in order to discover hidden gems around campus or in town. If another goal is relationship-building, then one activity might be playing games as a family together or enjoying dinner and drinks with peers under the stars. 

Differentiate your retreat

It’s important to differentiate your retreat from other group retreats. If you do the same activities as someone else, your group will feel like they are at a generic conference, not a retreat. The point of a retreat is to enjoy what you are doing and leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Ideas Include:

• Planning the weekend around an activity like hiking that supports your group 

• Offering special events such as keynote speakers or inspirational messages

• Providing personalized experiences such as cooking classes or wine tastings in order to cater to the various preferences and interests of your members.

Wrapping up

If you want your retreat to be a success, think about it as providing an experience for the group. As the leader of the retreat, it’s your job to convey your understanding of what will make this retreat successful. It’s your job to create activities that support the group and not distract from them. Use the needs of your group to create a successful retreat experience that has meaning and promotes growth.