Have you ever sat through a board development retreat and thought, \u201cWhat a waste of time!\u201d You\u2019re squished in a windowless room, squirming in a chair that feels like granite, and longing for the next break. Worse yet, the facilitator is boring, the content is useless, board members are texting, and the food is stale!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re in the process of planning a retreat, don\u2019t settle! It\u2019s possible to put together an amazing day that\u2019s engaging, meaningful, memorable, and fun. All it takes is a little planning and ingenuity. Use the following checklist to make sure you have all the essential elements in place to ensure the boad development retreat is a resounding success.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n1. Find an inspiring venue<\/h2>\n
If you operate a hunger relief organization, hosting a retreat where you serve food could provide inspiring reminders of why everyone is passionate about the mission. But offsite venues can be powerful too. They can provide beautiful and neutral settings: a retreat center with lake views, a boutique hotel with city views, or a country club. Look for a venue that\u2019s roomy with windows and has additional space for small group work. If the venue has outdoor access for team-building exercises, group work, and breaks, that\u2019s even better. Budget is always a factor, so tap into your board; they might have a connection to secure the perfect spot.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n2. Prepare the board<\/h2>\n
The last thing you want to do at a retreat is spend half the time reading and reviewing material. Boring! The best board retreats prepare board members before<\/i> the retreat. Depending on the nature of the retreat, board members may be required to take a survey, review material, complete worksheets, read books, and participate in interview calls. They should know in advance the theme and purpose of the retreat, including the agenda, and should be told\u2014in detail\u2014how to prepare for the retreat so everyone is clear about the purpose of the retreat and the outcomes it hopes to achieve.<\/b><\/p>\n3. Unify your nonprofit board<\/h2>\n
Division and discord are surefire ways to squelch the productivity of a board. A healthy board should be diverse (people, experience, background, thought), but it should also be unified so it can work collectively<\/i> to effectively fulfill its obligations and propel the organization\u2019s mission. The root of a unified board is its culture, so the best board retreats address the fundamental culture questions, \u201cWhat should it mean to be part of this board?\u201d and \u201cHow should our culture be manifested in board behavior and contributions?\u201d Culture is one of the most important issues to address at a retreat because board culture establishes the ethos of how and why a board operates. Everything stems from this.<\/b><\/p>\n4. Include key staff<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s a \u201cboard\u201d retreat, so why include staff? Key staff, those with supervisory roles, are essential cornerstones that help keep an organization running smoothly. They often have relationships with board members and many make frequent presentations at board meetings. Include key staff at your retreat because they can provide invaluable insights about important operational issues that most board members can only guess at\u2014programming, human resources, volunteers, operations, facilities, etc. But most importantly, staff participation can help unite the board and staff, and increase the organization\u2019s overall impact.<\/p>\n
The best board retreats<\/a> have the courage to address uncomfortable issues facing the board. Topics such as engagement, fundraising, responsibilities, and performance are often brushed aside at retreats because they ignite emotional flare-ups. But a retreat isn\u2019t about beating down a board with its troubles; it\u2019s about inspiring and motivating a board to be more effective. The best facilitators will address these issues in a sensitive, thoughtful, and helpful manner so the board can snip the ropes that tie these touchy anchors. They will also send out a pre-retreat survey to solicit thoughts and feelings about uncomfortable issues.<\/b><\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it, the majority of board members loathe fundraising. And for good reason, most stink at it. And if a board member isn\u2019t good at asking people for money, then you risk getting no money, less money, or upsetting donors. Not good. However, fundraising is a primary responsibility for most board members so how do you iron out the tension in this dichotomy?<\/p>\n The best board retreats find ways to uncover their board members\u2019 personal strengths and interests to engage them in the fundraising efforts of the organization. Some members may be great speakers and can make presentations at corporations and civic functions. Some may be great hosts and could throw fundraising parties. Some may have influential connections to potential supporters. And yes, some may be \u201cclosers\u201d and enjoy asking people for money (rare, but loved!). Come up with exercises and forms that allow board members to choose ways that will excite and motivate them to support your fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n Bringing in an outside facilitator can crack the humdrum atmosphere often found at board meetings, where the same people tend to lead and dominate conversation and the same baggage and drama deaden the mood. The best facilitators<\/a> are objective, providing a fresh vibe for the day with new insights and perspectives. When scouting, look for someone with credibility and a long history of working with nonprofits and managing boards. These facilitators can draw on their successes and failures to provide firsthand understanding, perspective, and advice on the issues you\u2019re facing and concerns that pop during the day. They should also be inspiring to make the day high-impact, remarkable, and fun.<\/p>\n All board members should be enthusiastic ambassadors of their organizations. This requires board members to be armed with a quiver of key facts, accomplishments, and information, yet most board members know far too little about such things. The best retreats design short, fun games that help board members learn important information about their organization. Have members pick a partner and practice reciting the mission. Play speed games to learn things like: the number of beneficiaries you serve, the size of your operating budget, and the percentage of funds that go to administration costs. Practice giving a brief overview of the programs you offer or a summary of your history. At the end of the exercise, pass out a sheet with all answers so members can take it home to study.<\/p>\n Another skill of being a good mission ambassador (and fundraiser) is the ability to tell stories. Sharing information about an organization will satisfy people\u2019s rational questions, but what emotionally moves people to give money, inspire commitment, and incite action, are compelling stories. Set aside time at the retreat for board members to break into pairs or small groups to share their \u201cpersonal connection\u201d stories: how they got involved, why they got involved, and what is their favorite way of being involved. Then have them share an \u201cimpact story.\u201d This type of story is about the work and impact they\u2019ve seen at the organization. It may be a firsthand experience they had while volunteering, or maybe it\u2019s an emotional story of a beneficiary who went through one of your programs.<\/p>\n Many boards have \u201cseat warmer\u201d board members. These people pat themselves on the back and tell all their friends they sit on the board, but when it comes to helping, they\u2019re nowhere to be found. When called out, they\u2019re quick to say, \u201cWe\u2019re volunteers\u201d or \u201cWe\u2019re a governing board\u201d so we shouldn\u2019t have to \u201cwork.\u201d Phooey.<\/p>\n Today, the best boards, no matter how big the organization, do work. At the end of the retreat, pass out an \u201cengagement form,\u201d listing dozens of ways members can get involved and contribute to the work of the board and the organization. Break the lists into categories (fundraising, advocacy, volunteering, committees, other work, and skills you\u2019re looking for). Collect the responses and assign a committee to oversee members\u2019 commitments and see to it that they fulfill<\/i> their commitments.<\/p>\n The best board retreats spend lots of time having people work in pairs and small groups (occasionally switching pairs and groups). This structure deepens personal relationships and allows quieter people the opportunity to share opinions that might otherwise get muted in a large group setting. Most small group talk is dominated by one or two people. Therefore, encourage everyone at the retreat to ask at least one person in their small group the four-word conversation starter question, \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d This is a simple and effective technique to involve all people in the important discussions of the day.<\/p>\n Studies show that the deeper and more authentic the relationships between board members, and between board members and key staff, the more cohesive and effective the entire group will be. There will also be less drama and more fun. This is why it\u2019s imperative to carve out time at your retreat for people to make personal connections.<\/p>\n Besides small group work, have board members pair up with a different person every 30 minutes or so to share an answer to a fun question that can be answered in less than 30 seconds. For example, \u201cWhat are your favorite interests or hobbies?\u201d or \u201cWhat food do you detest and why?\u201d For laughs, have a few people share the unusual responses they heard from their partner.<\/p>\n Board retreats<\/a> can be a lot of fun, but the best board retreats<\/a> achieve specific outcomes and impact. This is why it\u2019s important to assign a notetaker who can track the retreat\u2019s key takeaways and To-Dos. Most retreat facilitators<\/a> complement this process by providing step-by-step instructions on ways to implement the outcomes from the day. This often includes a combination of tools such as a dashboard, an accountability process, and a variety of management templates. Yet, outcomes are meaningless unless they get implemented. Therefore, you\u2019ll want to assign a person, team, or committee that is responsible for managing the outcomes of the day and see to it that the assigned work and tasks get completed.<\/p>\n You create themes for fundraising events because they establish mood and atmosphere. When hosting a board retreat, you don\u2019t need to festoon the room with streamers and party favors (but some people do), but a good theme title and some exciting swag can set the tone and inspire a vision for the day. Think of a theme title that is aspirational. For example: \u201cImpact Leadership: Ownership, Action, Results!\u201d<\/p>\n Development retreats are powerful and meaningful, but they can also be FUN! Besides asking goofy \u201cget-to-know-you\u201d questions, plan two or three team-building exercises. There are hundreds on the web. Choose exercises that take 10 minutes or less and get people laughing and out of their comfort zone. Yes, get a little wild and crazy. If you do this, the day will fly by, no one will get tired, and everyone will be walking around with smiles saying, \u201cWhat a great retreat!\u201d<\/p>\n A surefire way to put people asleep at a retreat and dull everyone\u2019s enthusiasm is to serve heavy food. Forget the eggs, bacon, and cinnamon rolls at breakfast, and the spaghetti and meatballs at lunch. Instead, serve yogurt, fruit, and small muffins for breakfast. For lunch, think tasty salads, soups, and small<\/i> finger sandwiches. Use small plates. Serve water and diet drinks, and keep fatty snacks to a minimum. Offering light and nutritious food and beverages will ensure sharp minds and high energy throughout the day.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve hosted an outstanding retreat, those who attended will be fired up and ready to act. They will also feel a deep sense of connection with one another. To keep the momentum of your team spirit alive, it\u2019s important to make time to celebrate your culture and achievements on a regular basis. At the retreat, create a game to brainstorm outings the board and key staff (or entire staff) can do to have fun and connect with each other. For example, you could host a barbecue, go bowling, attend a sporting event, or do a wine tasting. You may even want to include spouses\/partners. It\u2019s all about spending time together to smell the roses, nurture relationships, share experiences, and have fun.<\/p>\n The best board development retreat will unite and inspire a board and key staff. They are strategic, yet practical. They are fun, yet bold. But most importantly, a meaningful and memorable retreat will leave everyone feeling motivated, passionate, and committed<\/i> to making the changes necessary to take your board to the next level of performance, engagement, and impact so your mission can soar!<\/p>\n Have you hosted a successful board development retreat? Let us know in the comments.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever sat through a board development retreat and thought, \u201cWhat a waste of time!\u201d You\u2019re squished in a windowless room, squirming in a chair that feels like granite, and longing for the next break. Worse yet, the facilitator is boring, the content is useless, board members are texting, and the food is stale! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":261,"featured_media":61505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"cause":[],"article_author":[],"webinar_host":[],"topic":[352],"class_list":["post-117449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-nonprofit-boards"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6. Discuss fundraising<\/h2>\n
7. Hire an experienced facilitator<\/h2>\n
8. Learn institutional knowledge<\/h2>\n
9. Practice telling stories<\/h2>\n
10. Provide engagement opportunities<\/h2>\n
11. Work in small groups<\/h2>\n
12. Make time for personal connections<\/h2>\n
13. Assign a notetaker and change champion<\/h2>\n
14. Create a theme<\/h2>\n
15. Have fun!<\/h2>\n
16. Serve light food<\/h2>\n
17. Keep the spirit alive<\/h2>\n
Summary<\/h3>\n