Making Retreats Successful

Source: Accounting Web

Retreats should be different from typical meetings, so make them special. Send invitations. Change the dress code. Time allotted for subjects should be different from that allotted at regular meetings (i.e., if regular meetings are usually an hour, make retreat segments less or more). Prohibit cell phones, pagers, and PDAs.

Don’t overload participants. Concentrate on just a few topics. Avoid the temptation to try to cover everything.

Asking each participant to provide input on topics to be covered and possible retreat locations will enhance the degree of buy-in. After the retreat, ask for feedback.

If you use an outside facilitator, be sure of his or her credentials. Experience with the accounting profession is a plus. Check the facilitator’s reputation with other firms, the Better Business Bureau, and professional associations.

From Accounting Web.com. The complete article can be found at http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=101087&;d=815&h=817&f=816&dateformat=%B%20%e,%20%Y. (This article is viewable by Accounting Web subscribers only. Subscription information is available at the site.)