The Modern Manager

With the end of COVID coming into sight, now is an ideal time to plan for a team retreat that can help people reconnect after a long year of physical distancing or isolation. Whether you’re able to gather in person or limited to a virtual retreat due to COVID or geography, taking time to focus on relationships and team purpose can inspire and refuel us in powerful ways. 
In this episode I speak with Seth Linden. Seth is the founder and principal of Gather Consulting, where he advises philanthropists, foundations and nonprofits at the intersections of education, leadership, and community. He has a teaching credential and bartending credential - both of which come in handy while building community.
Seth and I talk about how to design and lead an effective and engaging team gathering or retreat whether in person or virtually. 
The full episode guide includes key areas to consider when planning an in-person or virtual retreat, along with ideas for activities to build relationships and how to make the retreat extra special. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  
 
Get free episode mini-guides at www.themodernmanager.com/miniguides.
 
Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 
 
Read the related blog article: How to Design a Retreat Your Team Will Love
 
KEEP UP WITH SETH

Website: www.gatherconsulting.org
Newsletter: https://www.gatherconsulting.org/newsletter

 
Key Takeaways:

Be really clear about what the purpose of the retreat is so that you can align the agenda with it. 
Co-create the agenda; ask your team what they want to get out of the retreat and design the agenda together. 
Set the tone and intentions of a safe space by having the leader be honest and open from the beginning. 
Set equity of voice as a value from the beginning to encourage louder voices to make room, quieter people to speak up, and to recognize publically the importance of including historically marginalized voices. 
To help people feel more

Show Notes

With the end of COVID coming into sight, now is an ideal time to plan for a team retreat that can help people reconnect after a long year of physical distancing or isolation. Whether you’re able to gather in person or limited to a virtual retreat due to COVID or geography, taking time to focus on relationships and team purpose can inspire and refuel us in powerful ways. 

In this episode I speak with Seth Linden. Seth is the founder and principal of Gather Consulting, where he advises philanthropists, foundations and nonprofits at the intersections of education, leadership, and community. He has a teaching credential and bartending credential - both of which come in handy while building community.

Seth and I talk about how to design and lead an effective and engaging team gathering or retreat whether in person or virtually. 

The full episode guide includes key areas to consider when planning an in-person or virtual retreat, along with ideas for activities to build relationships and how to make the retreat extra special. Get it when you join the Modern Manager community or purchase the full guide at www.themodernmanager.com/shop.  

 

Get free episode mini-guides at www.themodernmanager.com/miniguides.

 

Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and free mini-guides delivered to your inbox. 

 

Read the related blog article: How to Design a Retreat Your Team Will Love

 

KEEP UP WITH SETH

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Be really clear about what the purpose of the retreat is so that you can align the agenda with it. 
  • Co-create the agenda; ask your team what they want to get out of the retreat and design the agenda together. 
  • Set the tone and intentions of a safe space by having the leader be honest and open from the beginning. 
  • Set equity of voice as a value from the beginning to encourage louder voices to make room, quieter people to speak up, and to recognize publically the importance of including historically marginalized voices. 
  • To help people feel more comfortable opening up, set a casual dress code, use outdoor settings to lighten the mood, and offer “walking workshops”. 
  • Choose team-building activities like karaoke and ropes courses if it aligns with your purpose and is something the participants are comfortable with. 
  • Consider mailing or providing ‘goodie bags’ that contain little gifts that make the event feel special.
  • Set up accountability partners after the retreat to help people carry their learnings forward. 

 

Additional Resources:

mamie@mamieks.com

What is The Modern Manager?

Host Mamie Kanfer Stewart shares practical approaches to help you be a great manager. Learn more at: https://themodernmanager.com/

Solo episodes are like mini-courses, providing actionable tips based on experience and research. Guest episodes are engaging conversations that elicit insights and suggestions for how to apply the ideas.

Learn more about effective meeting practices, communication skills, managing conflict, team building, time management, group dynamics, goal setting and accountability, team competencies, productivity and collaboration technologies, organizational culture, and more.

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