Board Retreats Don’t Have to Suck

This was originally posted as a LinkedIn article in 2022.

Let’s be honest. Not a lot of people get excited about board retreats. You know you have to do them but you really would rather not sit in a room for hours rehashing the same old points of view. Part of this dread is what makes board retreat really suck. There, we said it.

But board retreats don’t have to suck.

Here are some things that can help your next board retreat be engaging for everyone while conserving your time, effort and brainpower.

Plan ahead - If you’re trying to get a board retreat on the calendar, don’t wait until the last minute. Your board members all have busy schedules and you need to bring them together! Feeling like something was thrown together last minute can easily lead to disengagement and disinterest.

Set expectations - Share with your board what they can expect from this retreat. Send them an agenda ahead of time, maybe even some homework so they’re not walking in totally in the dark.

Give it time - In any competition cooking show, the biggest competitor is the clock. Any talented chef can make a meal with days to prepare, so let’s give them twenty minutes! When we dread an activity, we can be tempted to give it the least time possible. That only adds to the pressure. Instead of condensing the time, focus on finding the right structures to allow your team to process their ideas and their emotions.

Be intentional - Are there some big conversations you need to have? Are there hard decisions that need to be made? Be mindful about how you create space for and guide conversations that respond to the varied communication styles within your group. If there are some strong emotions involved, create ways to help people take a step back and look at things from a different angle.

Find the right facilitators - Finding the right facilitators means everyone (even the board president) can fully participate in the process. Involving someone from outside of your organization brings an unbiased perspective that can help guide your board through those big conversations. Remember, you may not be the unbiased facilitator you think you are!

Be open - Go into your next board retreat with an open mind. Sometimes the biggest impediment to progress is the one person in the corner who refuses to engage. Our receptivity can set the tone for the group. When we stay open we can fully engage with one another and create change for our organizations.

At Quire Consulting we have spent a lot of time working with nonprofit boards and leaders helping them solve big problems using human centered research and design. We have found that board engagement can make or break an organization. One way you can invest in the health and success of your board is making sure your meetings and retreats are engaging and effective. Our Board Retreats are interactive, engaging, and challenging sessions that will help your board step into the ring and move your organization forward.