Create greater connection, alignment and clarity for your next gathering by incorporating these four activities.

In our earlier post on 5 Practices You Need to Include In Your Next Team Retreat, we share some important lessons we walked away with from our leadership retreat for organizations wanting to facilitate a more intentional and productive gathering.

We follow that up with specific activities you can incorporate alongside those steps to identify team gaps, build awareness of team dynamics, repair and strengthen relationships, and commit to an action plan that benefits the entire group.

Try these 4 activities at your next team retreat and let us know if there’s anything else you would add.

#1 Define Goals and Objectives

Conduct a brainstorming session to generate ideas for achieving the desired outcomes. For virtual brainstorming, use a Jamboard or other digital collaboration whiteboard tool.

#2 Create a Safe and Inclusive Environment

Set a container. Use ground rules or team norms to set intentions and expectations and make agreements for how team members will interact with each other.

Use active listening exercises to help team members practice listening and responding to each other.

#3 Surface Team Strengths and Gaps

Conduct a session where participants write down their individual strengths and gaps, and team strengths and gaps on sticky notes. Participants take turns expressing what needs to be elaborated or discussed as a team, focusing on both team strengths and opportunities for growth as both individuals and as a team.

#4 Close the Container

Close the container by making sure everyone understands where the team is at. Make sure there is a plan to get to a resolution, agreement and a commitment to next steps.

Check in quarterly to see what progress is being made and how everyone has been accountable to their commitments.

Want to include Different in your next team retreat? Book a call with us today!