Think You Cant Afford It Staff Retreat Ideas on a Budget

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Think You Cant Afford It? Staff Retreat Ideas
on a Budget

• Amy Crowley- Montgomery College
• Kevin Webb- Towson University

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Have you ever attempted an office retreat?

• -Where did you do it?
• -All day or half day?
• -Close the office?
• -How much did you spend?

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What is a retreat?

• An opportunity for office mates to interact in a
  less-formal, stress-free environment
• Educate about new policies and changes
• Expound on existing policies
• Create dialogues
• Improve inter-office relationships and
  understanding

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Where do you begin?
Remember the six Ws.

• -Who? -What?
• -Where?
• -When? -HoW?

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Who?

• -Who will be in charge of planning the day?
• -Who will be attending? How many?

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What?

• What are your goals?
• What outcomes are you expecting?
• What do you want your staff to experience?
• What will decide that the day is a success?

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Where?

• Where will the retreat be?
• On campus/ Off campus
• Conference center
• Other.?
• Will transportation/carpooling be necessary?

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When?

• When will the retreat be?
• Scheduling around critical dates
• Avoiding holiday/vacation times
• Avoiding popular campus events

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How?

• How much are you willing to spend?
• How much can you rely on campus people and
  resources?
• How much can you do yourself?

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Why?

• Why do a retreat?
• -Staff has the opportunity to interact in a more
  casual setting.
• -Establish a better understanding of each other.
• -Get a break!
• -Are there particular issues that you want to
  address?

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Planning for YOUR retreat will likely be dictated
by one factor-

• MONEY!!

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COSTS

• Speakers- 400- 1000 (half day)
• Space- up to 1000
• Catering- 35 per person
• Special Sessions- 100- 500 (hour)
• Materials- starting at 100
• Give-aways (shirts)- 10 per person

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ProblemI dont have the money

• Solution
• Get Creative
• Do it yourself

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COSTS

• Speakers- Volunteers (campus)
• Space- Office/Lounge/outside
• Catering- Deli Platter/Covered dish
• Special Sessions- Volunteers
• Materials- Take from office supplies
• Give aways (shirts)- Beg for freebies

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Recommended working principles for your retreat

• Commit the funds
• Close the office
• Open your eyes and ears
• Be prepared to give more than take
• Staff only have to be present
• Have fun!

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Identify problem areas

• Communication issues
• Conflicts between staff members
• Conflicts between administrators and staff
  members
• Dissatisfaction with pay and/or benefits

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Before the retreat.

• Create excitement! Send periodic emails or
  invitations
• Ask for issues to discuss
• Anticipate the needs of your staff

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Speakers/Sessions (1-3 hours)

• Ideas
• Meyers/Briggs test
• Hire someone off campus
• Hire someone from on campus
• Get a book and do it yourself!
• Roundtable discussions
• Role-Playing
• Play out situations from the office

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Speakers/Sessions (1-3 hours)

• Ideas
• Human Resource issues
• Invite someone from Human Resources
• Dissatisfaction with environment/equipment
• Explain how budget is spent

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Speakers/Sessions (1-3 hours)

• Ideas- Bring in the campus!!
• Bring people in from Fine Arts
• Upcoming performances/shows
• Bring people in from Facilities Management
• What is being planned for the campus?

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Speakers/Sessions (1-3 hours)

• Ideas- Dont be afraid of personal development!!
• Time management session
• Off campus speaker
• Faculty member?
• Stress reduction session
• Yoga instructor

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Catering

• How much do you want to pay.?
• Feed them!!! Full entrees or deli
  platters/drinks
• Have lots of snacks!!
• Candy, cookies, snack bags always on tables
• Constant drinks coffee

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Space

• Be mindful of the environment- make sure it is
  comfortable and pleasant
• Meeting room on campus or off campus
• Outside?
• Someones home?

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Give Aways

• Souvenirs for day
• Freebies from University Store
• Freebies from Athletics Department
• Freebies from Academic Departments (grants)

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Follow up

• Follow up on any issues discussed during the day
• Create a questionnaire- evaluate yourself!
• Plan early for next year! Let your retreat
  become part of your office calendar.

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Exercise.

• Role-playing-
• Three people are selected from the audience to
  play a role that is taken from their work
  experience
• Try to mix both staff and administrators
• Try to reverse roles!