Corporate Retreat Tips and Client Quotes

Client Quotes

"I would absolutely recommend this trip to others."

"The guide was extremely knowledgeable re: All aspects of our hikes. The educational balanced the beauty of the Southwest to truly illuminate the area. The group was cooperative and caring and I believe this was partly the leadership & partly the mixture of individuals. A nice mix in every way!"

Retreat Tips

Retreats can be powerful tools to catalyze growth, improve communication skills, evolve organizational culture, and build a stronger team. Unfortunately, they can also be difficult affairs that waste valuable organizational resources, and without proper planning, can represent missed opportunities for growth. Here are some tips to assist you planning.

Have a Budget
A properly executed corporate retreat will have effects on your profitability and organizational culture as profound as any other budget line item, like marketing, or research and development. Budgeting for your retreat will encourage you to have high expectations for productivity, and for your team to take it seriously. Additionally, with your budget in mind, Four Corners School can craft an effective, extraordinary retreat within your price range!

Have Goals/Articulate Goals
Your team might spend as much time together during an intense 3-day retreat as they do during an entire work week. Try to define specific goals, or solutions to specific issues for your time. Whatever these goals are, communicate them to your team well in advance of the retreat, so everyone has the opportunity to be prepared to put their all into addressing them.

Make A Hit List
Now that you've defined and communicated your goals, make sure they're clearly written down. You can never tell when a brainstorm, impromptu breakout session, or a causal discussion will yield an insight.

Bring a Big Tent
Both figuratively and literally! Leaving the office environment is an opportunity to blur hierarchies, change the tone of social interactions, and smash knowledge silos. The more members of your team you're able to include in the process of participating in a well-planned and executed retreat, the better! 

Leave your Comfort Zone
One of the reasons for initiating a retreat is to leave familiar surroundings to stimulate creativity, and catalyze growth. So, in planning your retreat, look for a unique new environment. Why end up in a hotel boardroom that's not substantially different from your office, when you could raft an exciting river, reach new understandings next to a camp fire, or explore spectacular red-rock country?

Blur Hierarchies

Different organizations have different hierarchies. It doesn't matter if your organization is very hierarchical, or very casual, during a retreat, consider loosening traditional office hierarchies to promote open discussion, social interaction and out-of-the-box thinking.

Set Standards of Conduct
While it's useful to temporarily blur hierarchies during a retreat, don't blur them too much! Being able to dress casually, speak plainly, and joke around are important aspects of a retreat and can build a cohesive, creative, organizational culture. Nonetheless, head off the kind of behavior that bedevils office Christmas parties by clearly communicating standards of conduct before the retreat.

Interested in a Free Retreat?
Four Corners School is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating lifelong outdoor learning opportunities on and about the Colorado Plateau. Corporate Partners of Four Corners School enjoy many substantial benefits, including exposure to key demographics, and complimentary custom Corporate Retreats.  Visit our Partners Page to learn how to Partner with the Four Corners School.