Since we don’t often get this level of undivided team attention and strategy time, it’s tempting to pack a team retreat full to the brim, so there’s no breathing room. This is one of the main cautions I share with people when I’m helping plan a retreat. It’s really defeating to see people dragging and drained at the end of the day.
For that reason, I like to add-in some short activities that give people a break from strategizing, brainstorming, and being productive. I know, I know… I just said to not overschedule things. But well-placed energizers and breathers will be additive and restorative, so you’re even more productive and creative for the sessions that count.
Here are some ideas to get a little extra with your retreat:
You’ve Got Mail
For this one, team members exchange personal notes about something they admire about their coworkers. This is something they can write ahead of time. During the retreat, give people quiet time to go off on their own and read their letters. It’s amazing how the feel good vibes from an activity like this can ripple into the rest of the day.
Diary Time
This one takes a bit more work up front, but can be a great way to allow people time to process the day. Before the retreat, create a booklet with prompts about the various objectives or activities planned for the retreat, plus blank space for doodles. Give people breaks between sessions to reflect on the previous activity and write down their thoughts in the journal. Sometimes these are just meant to be personal, though you may also set the expectation that people will hand them in. In that case, you can capture additional feedback and ideas.
Nature Walk
If you can swing it, plan your retreat near a park. There’s really nothing better for re-energizing than lunch and/or a walk in a park. Sometimes you just need unstructured walking time. In other cases, it might be fun to add a scavenger hunt or creative challenge, like making some Goldsworthy-inspired leaf work.
Show and Tell
This idea comes from my friends at Boardable. They had teams present creative skills or lessons in very short presentations. They could be work relevant, or just simply an expression of creativity. One gal led a breathing exercise that you can use to be a better public speaker. Some included song and dance. It was super fun and engaging to watch, like getting to watch tv after your homework is done.
Collaborative Dance
This one terrifies some people, but the movement and laughter that ensues can be so good for the weary-minded after 4 hours of ideation or debating. The instructions are simple: the goal is to build a dance one move at a time. One person starts by declaring an initial move (for example, a fist pump), the next person does a fist pump and adds their own move (let’s say a clap), the next person does a fist bump, a clap, and adds a stomp, and so on until everyone has taken a turn. This can be done in smaller groups, then you can have a dance showcase!
Whether you choose these or others, those few minutes carved out of the retreat here and there for the sake of the energy in the room will be well worth it. What has been your favorite retreat energizer or breather?
[Header image: Marott Park in Indianapolis, a great place for a nature walk break]