• What mission critical issues will be addressed at the retreat?
• What are the desired outcomes; why are we havig a retreat?
• What will be the take away action items for each retreat participant, to execute upon return to business?
• What approach will drive outcomes that stick and translate to revenue and profit?
• Who will follow and how will they follow up in the weeks and months after the retreat, identifying performance-to-profit outcomes resulting from the retreat?
  

It is True! Some retreats result in stagnation or a move backward. 

Why?

The following retreat scenario is a familiar one...

Think about the last retreat you attended.  It probably went something like this.  Sessions were "team building" sessions.  Everybody had their figuritive pom-poms in hand, ready to cheer the retreat leader into the fun and creative activities of the day.  Lots of motivational music, plenty of high-fiving, back slapping, and self-congratulatory banter.  All participants were fired up,  and all thought "the retreat was great".  At the end of the retreat, everyone headed home energized and feeling renewed and invigorated. 

Once home, after a short time had passed, the realities of business life set in and "the newly energized team" realized that nothing in their real world had changed.  The same challenges they left behind before the retreat still existed.  They were no better prepared to handle real world issues than they were a few days prior.  After a few weeks, the excitement of the retreat slipped away. 

You, the retreat organizer, wondered if the expense of the retreat resulted in any long term positive impact.  Others in the company were left wondering the same thing. 

Sound familiar?