Family Business Retreats for Clients
08/16/2024
A family business retreat is often a multi-day event that brings together key people in the business for an in-depth discussion about possible topics such as business strategy, current challenges, upcoming opportunities, succession planning or redefining the long-term vision and mission of the business. Typically, this retreat focuses on one or two of these topics at a location and in an environment that stimulates creativity and visionary thinking.
Our clients sometimes find themselves a bit “stuck” on a situation, problem or challenge that they have struggled to resolve, or have had difficulty in making regular progress. We can encourage them to plan this type of retreat, and offer our services as facilitator to ensure that the discussions stay focused, key goals are established and accomplished, and there are action steps after the conversations to ensure forward progress.
Go Off-site
Holding the retreat off-site gives them more freedom, provides a more relaxed atmosphere, can provide a higher level of creativity and inspiration, reduces distractions, and provides time for reflection and relaxation.
The choice of sites is important. Returning to a place that has meaning to the family might create a more enjoyable, relaxing and creative environment for problem solving and long-range planning, especially if they are recasting their vision and mission or creating these for the very first time.
How Much Time is Appropriate?
At a minimum, a retreat should be held over at least two days, perhaps from the middle of one day to the middle of the next. After a significant amount of discussion, participants should be allowed an opportunity to break into small groups, spend time as couples, or review their thoughts on their own so they can come back the next day with additional ideas and process the previous day’s discussions to ensure they were thorough and comprehensive. Ideally, three or four days are better to allow ample time for reflection, building camaraderie and creating a clear implementation strategy.
It is beneficial to plan a variety of events such as cookouts, going out to a nice restaurant, taking in a recreational activity or something to provide relaxation and stimulate additional conversation. Other options include fishing or hunting trips, recreational activities, touring a local business, hiking, scenic drives or visiting local attractions.
Specific Retreat Topics
There are a variety of topics to consider deliberating in a retreat setting. These can include business strategies such as doing a SWOT analysis, finalizing decisions on upcoming major purchases, analyzing and adding additional enterprises, reorganizing the business structure, establishing accountability, reallocating resources, a review of the core values, and major modifications of long-established activities and procedures.
This is also a great time to provide training for participants. Topics could include effective communication, understanding different personalities, improving family business meetings, resolving and preventing family conflicts, enhancing and establishing the workplace culture, crisis management and leadership development.
Potential Long-Lasting Impacts of Family Retreats
In leading and facilitating family retreats it is rewarding to break through communication barriers, the negative effects of past conflicts or resolve an impasse over differences of opinion that has existed for far too many years. These types of conversations can be challenging and even a bit uncomfortable at times but overcoming these barriers can be therapeutic and invigorating.
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This article is the opinion and perspective of the author and may or may not be consistent with those of other ASAC Members. Mention of specific products, opinions, strategies or companies in this article is in no way an endorsement of them by ASAC. ASAC as an organization does not advocate opinions or positions on issues.
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Don Tyler
ASAC Board Member
Tyler & Associates
A family business retreat is often a multi-day event that brings together key people in the business for an in-depth discussion about possible topics such as business strategy, current challenges, upcoming opportunities, succession planning or redefining the long-term vision and mission of the business. Typically, this retreat focuses on one or two of these topics at a location and in an environment that stimulates creativity and visionary thinking.
Our clients sometimes find themselves a bit “stuck” on a situation, problem or challenge that they have struggled to resolve, or have had difficulty in making regular progress. We can encourage them to plan this type of retreat, and offer our services as facilitator to ensure that the discussions stay focused, key goals are established and accomplished, and there are action steps after the conversations to ensure forward progress.
Go Off-site
Holding the retreat off-site gives them more freedom, provides a more relaxed atmosphere, can provide a higher level of creativity and inspiration, reduces distractions, and provides time for reflection and relaxation.
The choice of sites is important. Returning to a place that has meaning to the family might create a more enjoyable, relaxing and creative environment for problem solving and long-range planning, especially if they are recasting their vision and mission or creating these for the very first time.
How Much Time is Appropriate?
At a minimum, a retreat should be held over at least two days, perhaps from the middle of one day to the middle of the next. After a significant amount of discussion, participants should be allowed an opportunity to break into small groups, spend time as couples, or review their thoughts on their own so they can come back the next day with additional ideas and process the previous day’s discussions to ensure they were thorough and comprehensive. Ideally, three or four days are better to allow ample time for reflection, building camaraderie and creating a clear implementation strategy.
It is beneficial to plan a variety of events such as cookouts, going out to a nice restaurant, taking in a recreational activity or something to provide relaxation and stimulate additional conversation. Other options include fishing or hunting trips, recreational activities, touring a local business, hiking, scenic drives or visiting local attractions.
Specific Retreat Topics
There are a variety of topics to consider deliberating in a retreat setting. These can include business strategies such as doing a SWOT analysis, finalizing decisions on upcoming major purchases, analyzing and adding additional enterprises, reorganizing the business structure, establishing accountability, reallocating resources, a review of the core values, and major modifications of long-established activities and procedures.
This is also a great time to provide training for participants. Topics could include effective communication, understanding different personalities, improving family business meetings, resolving and preventing family conflicts, enhancing and establishing the workplace culture, crisis management and leadership development.
Potential Long-Lasting Impacts of Family Retreats
In leading and facilitating family retreats it is rewarding to break through communication barriers, the negative effects of past conflicts or resolve an impasse over differences of opinion that has existed for far too many years. These types of conversations can be challenging and even a bit uncomfortable at times but overcoming these barriers can be therapeutic and invigorating.
***********************************
This article is the opinion and perspective of the author and may or may not be consistent with those of other ASAC Members. Mention of specific products, opinions, strategies or companies in this article is in no way an endorsement of them by ASAC. ASAC as an organization does not advocate opinions or positions on issues.
= = = = =
Don Tyler
ASAC Board Member
Tyler & Associates
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