We've all heard the term "out of office" before. We've also probably been on a few road teams throughout our careers. They are a necessary and integral part of what it means to be part of a team. They help us align with our vision and goals, grow together as a team, get to know other team members, and most importantly, lay the groundwork for what we'll be working on next year.
It's not that different in management teams. Almost all management teams around the world spend one or two days a year to get together and plan for the future of their company.
What do my field manager's management teams do?
Unlike other group meetings, the executive team will work on their strategic vision, address key issues, spend time on creative teamwork, and even allocate space for team building. However, the bottom line is that the leadership team retreats will focus on the big picture. This will be much larger than the regularly scheduled leadership meetings usually held on site. They often provide a key opportunity for senior management to set specific deadlines for this.
They usually touch on some of the most important issues for the company. What direction is the company heading in? Is our corporate culture growing and evolving with us? Where will we take this company in the next five to ten years? These meetings aim to look beyond the horizon and present a vision of the future that will guide decision making in the coming months and years.
How do you create external leadership that has lasting impact?
What do successful leadership teams look like? It's not just about choosing the right hotel and ideal dates. You want to create an external website for your leadership team that will have a lasting impact and create the right conversations that will lead to the desired results. So how do you do it?
1. Find out where this meeting will lead
Before you even start planning for the CEO to leave, understand what the leadership or management team should get out of it. Generally, these jobs tend to focus on short, medium and long term strategic planning, but the real aspect depends on the team member. This is why your first step should always be to meet with each person to understand their needs and expectations.
2. Prepare an action plan
Once you understand what attendees expect from this important meeting, prepare a checklist of actions. What is all you need to do to make this external website a reality? Here are some examples:
- Venue and Services : Depending on your goals for this event, you will need to find a suitable venue. For example, if executives want to focus on brainstorming and problem solving, you'll need a hotel or Airbnb with a comfortable conference room. If the team also wants to add team building, you need to make sure your location is suitable for this.
- Transportation: It can be difficult to figure out how to conveniently get your team back and forth. While you want a difficult position, you also don't want them to have trouble walking back and forth.
- Placement: This is another good example of a tool to help you achieve your goals. For example, an open-air Airbnb site with lots of common areas is a great way to encourage group connections!
3. Have a clear agenda for the retreat
As with anything, the agenda for your meeting should be based on the goals your leadership team wants to achieve. You can create a detailed agenda consisting of chat groups, each dedicated to a different topic. Your agenda should also include goals for each box, not just time and speakers. By explaining what needs to be done in each session, the agenda serves as a facilitator for a focused meeting.
It can also be useful to provide members with a tool like Miro, which gives them access to templates for various frameworks. Things like a SWOT table, a BCG matrix, or a drawing board are just a few examples of useful tools that make every session more rewarding.
4. Appoint a moderator for each discussion
Often in a face-to-face meeting, live conversations can become chaotic, no matter who is involved. It's very easy to veer off topic or unknowingly steer the conversation to a topic that the person would like to discuss in more detail. Designating a moderator for each session among a group of participants will help keep the conversation relevant and on track.
This person may also be responsible for ensuring that all views are heard equally, that all planned topics are covered, and that all relevant statements are submitted in a timely manner. They can also help keep the pace of a particular discussion or prevent a topic that would be better discussed at another time.
5. Help Management Prepare Content
It is imperative that every member of the management team is prepared to make it off the field. When you are planning an event and setting the agenda, it makes sense that you would need help agreeing on the content. It is likely that a different team member will lead the conversation in each session, so clear messages and perhaps even visual aids are required.
Now you don't need to write content for them. Many members of the management team prefer to do this alone or among a small group of colleagues. However, making sure everyone knows what is expected of them and is willing to contribute is an essential part of planning a successful work trip.
Do you plan to create a field management team in the near future?
When you're tasked with planning ahead for your management team's departure, it can be hard to know where to start. More and more companies are organizing in-person events to bring people together in a post-pandemic world. If you need help getting started, feel free to contact us or request a demo as soon as possible!
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