3 Steps to Creating Strategic offsites

When you get together to focus on things other than the day-to-day, you create an opportunity for making updates to HOW you work. Here is how to build transformational offsite programming:

Step 1, before the offsite:

• Learn what is top of mind for folks (this could be the challenges associated with an ongoing project, reviewing what worked during a client engagement, general items you don't often discuss but need attention, etc.)

• Create an agenda with sessions focused on the topics that matter to your team

• Get agreement on the agenda

Step 2, during the offsite:

• Create a comfortable and safe space for folks to discuss agenda items

• Remind people why you are there - to effectively address topics that matter to the team

• Work through each topic for about 1 to 2 hours, holding space for discussion, exploration, and action planning next steps

• Hold a final session to discuss how each topic fits into the larger whole of the team and integrate action plans to reduce overlap and develop a broader "go forward" plan

Step 3, after the offsite:

• Implement actions determined during the offsite

• Keep track of how things are going between offsites

• Leverage offsite practices to keep the conversation going

• Have folks keep all of the above in mind when considering topics for the next offsite

Repeat steps 1 through 3. Through practice, offsites can become your vehicle for change.