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September 2006, Team Retreat

Musing

Summer is coming to a close and it has been a grand one! Lots of great weather for hiking, biking, kayaking, and picnicking.

A disturbing report came out last week, that the majority of Americans have unused vacation building up. I want to make a plea for making vacating a priority. I acknowledge the world of business and work is moving faster than ever and that technology has become umbilical cords tying us to our jobs. Our productivity escalates, however, when we make time for leisure and play activities, anything that feeds our soul. I hope you played with gusto this summer.

September means that students go back to school. I am committing to conferences and classes that will upgrade my skills and feed my passions. Are you? A commitment to lifelong learning is a great strategy for a rich, satisfying life.

How do you plan to upgrade your knowledge and skills this coming year?

How will you go back to school?

Tool

When was the last time your work group, department, team, business spent quality, uninterrupted time focused on "retreating", or "teambuilding"?

Retreats (or "advances") are opportunities for dialogue, connection, and focusing on the important, but not urgent, issues at work. It is a time to reconnect with the mission and values of the business or department. It is a time to look forward and to create a vision or a preferred future.

When a group of employees are clear about the meaning and purpose of their work and have a powerful vision that is pulling them forward, magic happens.

I often get calls to facilitate these retreats when there are problems or a crisis brewing. In those situations people don’t feel free to focus on the bigger picture, they are in survival and other interventions are often more appropriate. I see a retreat or teambuilding as a proactive process, do it to prevent breakdowns in communication or morale. When and how often? Certainly when there are new employees on the team or a new manager or leader.

When a team is facing a major transition or has just survived one, a retreat can be useful for focusing on ways to support each other during transition or to explore the lessons learned. I strongly believe this work should be done at least on a yearly basis. In order to do quality work, four hours is the minimum, ideally one or two days. Yes, it takes effort and creativity to have everyone together, away from their desks, for that period of time. If done well, the ROI can be huge. Some lessons I have learned:

Have it facilitated. It is very difficult to be a participant and facilitator at the same time. A split focus doesn’t work.
Make sure you get buy-in from everyone. Find out their needs and desires for this time. Involve them in the planning.
Have it off-site. A new environment stimulates creativity.
If you bring an outside person in to the retreat, don’t invite a "motivational speaker". Find out what motivates your folks.
It is a time for celebrating what is working well, and looking at how the team could be more excellent.
Create lots of time for dialogue: getting to know each other better; brainstorming solutions, etc.
Some time can be used for skill building, such as communication skills, time management skills.
Don’t do a teambuilding when the real issue is conflict between employees. Deal with the conflict first.
Make sure there is time for play and laughter.

September is the beginning of a new work year. If you are not in charge, ask for a retreat. If you are in charge, schedule it now. Make it great!

Food for Thought

The inferior teacher tells you that something is wrong with you and offers to fix it. The superior teacher tells you that something is right with you and helps you bring it forth.
— Alan Cohen

Laughter

Some work puns, might be familiar, but still good. . .

My first job was working in an Orange Juice factory, but I got canned. I couldn't concentrate. Then I worked in the woods as a Lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe.
After that, I tried to be a Tailor, but I wasn't suited for it - mainly because it was a sew-sew job. Next, I tried working in a Muffler Factory, but that was too exhausting.
Then, I tried to be a Chef - figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme.
I attempted to be a Deli Worker, but any way I sliced it, I couldn't cut the mustard.
I studied a long time to become a Doctor, but I didn't have any patience.
Next, was a job in a Shoe Factory. I tried but I couldn't fit in. I became depressed and soulful. Then there was the Professional Fisherman job.
But I covered that I couldn't live on my net income.
So then I got a job in a Workout Center, but they said I wasn't fit for the job.
My last job was working in Starbucks, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind.

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