What Makes a Great Executive Retreat

After a two-year hiatus, the annual executive retreat is making a comeback. In theory, the CEO gathers company executives off-site to focus on strategy, and the team returns with clear goals and a sense of camaraderie. In reality, wall-to-wall PowerPoint presentations are often the order of the day. Information flows in one direction, followed by improvised, open-mic Q&As. Executives fight for their individual fiefdoms. Teamwork is often notable by its absence. The ultimate output is a list of ambiguous messages that are scarcely actionable and rarely followed up. In short, retreats are often an expensive waste of time. The author presents a more creative approach CEOs can take to make the most of this annual opportunity with their executive teams.