Having facilitated literally dozens of retreats, I have learned some important “Don’ts” that make a huge difference.
         1. Don’t plan a retreat without a full commitment. It is important that as you plan it, everyone is committed to having the retreat.
         2. Don’t wait until the last minute to find a facilitator. Your facilitator can help you with so many aspects of the retreat. Engage her early! Pre-work is important!
         3. Don’t plan a retreat without objectives. One of the first questions that I ask is “What do you want to accomplish at the retreat?” Do you want to refocus on fundamentals like the mission, vision and values? Is this a time for strategic planning and/or to revisit strategic goals? Do you need the time to strengthen trust and relationships among members and/or unite a divided executive team? These are but a few of the goals that can be accomplished with a well-run Board retreat.
         4. Don’t give excessive pre-retreat homework. If you give people too much to do before the retreat, they often won’t do it. If the member does not do the homework, there is a greater chance they will find a last-minute excuse to not attend the retreat, so it is a double loss!
         5. Don’t have an inflexible schedule. Sometimes things come up at the retreat that are worth spending on … then and there. I have found that it is important to build in some time flexibility so that the Board members can deal with worthwhile spontaneous issues.
         6. Don’t forget fun! Fun is important. Fun builds relationships. There is a difference between fun and silly activities. A good facilitator builds in fun opportunities that can also serve a purpose. And remember… fun is why people will attend in the future!
         (From the seminar “Creating Successful Board Retreats” by Dr. Mimi Hull)