Key points
- A leadership retreat is for stepping back and making decisions, not for handling day-to-day business.
- Set two or three objectives and one deliverable per objective.
- Choose a quiet, confidential venue available for exclusive use.
- An external facilitator allows the CEO to take full part.
What a leadership retreat is for
- Defining or reviewing the strategy, the year’s priorities, the budget.
- Preparing a transformation: reorganisation, acquisition, new market.
- Resolving disagreements and aligning the leadership team.
- Strengthening the cohesion of a new or reshaped leadership team.
Preparation
- The objectives: two or three, phrased as decisions to be made.
- Preliminary interviews: a few minutes with each member to gather expectations and points of tension.
- The documents: sent a week ahead, short, read before arriving.
- The agenda: alternate plenary sessions, work in pairs or threes, and informal time.
- The deliverable: a record of decisions and an action plan, with an owner and a date for each action.
Sample agenda
| Time | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Context and shared diagnosis | Trade-offs and decisions |
| Afternoon | Workshops on the strategic options | Action plan, communication to the teams |
| Evening | Dinner, open discussion | — |
Choosing the venue
- Confidentiality: a secluded meeting room, no other group in the shared areas, ideally a venue booked for exclusive use.
- Comfort: a bright, quiet meeting room, single rooms, quality catering.
- Balance: a setting that relaxes without distracting; outdoor space for breaks and walking conversations.
- Access: close to a TGV station or an airport if members are coming from several cities.
For a leadership team, the estates and mas available for exclusive use in the Luberon, the Alpilles or the Var are particularly well suited. Describe your project and tick “Offsite or leadership meeting”.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a leadership retreat last?
One to two days, often with a night on site: enough time to step back without disrupting the business. Any longer, and the prolonged absence of the entire leadership weighs on day-to-day operations.
Do you need an external facilitator?
It is recommended when the CEO wants to take full part in the discussions or when the topics are sensitive. An external facilitator ensures everyone gets their say and the agenda is kept to.
Which venue should you choose for a leadership team?
A quiet venue, small or available for exclusive use, with a bright, secluded meeting room, single rooms and quality catering. The estates and mas (traditional Provençal farmhouses) of the Luberon, the Alpilles or the Var are well suited.
