A Board Retreat is one of those things that is so beneficial to an organisation, it’s Board and also to individual Board Members. Yet often Board Retreats get squeezed out due to too many things on for the Board, or the inability to find a time for Board Members to spend an extended time together.
Board Retreats can be expensive in terms of time and/or money, but in our experience they are very worthwhile!
A Board Retreat is a dedicated time away from the usual meeting environment for a Board and the organisation’s leadership team to focus on strategic planning, team building, and important discussions. The retreats often involve a mix of workshops, brainstorming sessions, and discussions aimed at reviewing the organisation's goals, assessing its current state, and setting future direction. It's also an opportunity for Board Members to strengthen their relationships, clarify their roles, and align on the organisation's mission and vision. Retreats can also be a valuable time for extended Board Training. All very worthwhile things, that often do not fit into a normal Board meeting time.
In a recent survey of Christian School Boards it was found that only 20% of Boards actually have a regular or annual Board Retreat, meaning that critical time is being missed by many Boards on what they should be looking at, as well as developing the Board’s own understanding and capacity.
The same survey found that for schools who do hold Board Retreats, that these were the most common activities they included in their retreats:
· Purpose/Vision/Mission discussions – 92%
· Strategic Planning – 88%
· Board Training – 52%
· Extended Bible reading/devotions time – 48%
· Board relationship building activities – 48%
· Extended prayer time – 32%
· Team building activities – 32%
Boards and management often manage and run their own retreats, but it is very often helpful to have an external person to come and provide training or to facilitate discussions and lead the group through key issues and processes.
If you would like to discuss how Resolve can assist you with your next Board Retreat (or perhaps your first one in awhile!) please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 4324 4800 or via our website www.resolve.consulting
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